PEBAX Multi-lumen Tubing Production Process

The production processes for PEBAX multi-lumen tubing primarily include extrusion and dipping, as detailed below:

Extrusion Process

Raw Material Preparation and Formulation Design: Select appropriate PEBAX granules as the primary raw material and examine their particle size, moisture content, impurity content, and other parameters. Design a suitable formulation based on the performance requirements of the multi-lumen tubing, such as flexibility, strength, and corrosion resistance. Additives may also be added to improve material properties.

Raw Material Mixing and Pretreatment: Mix the various raw materials according to the formulated ratio to ensure uniformity and stability during extrusion. Depending on the characteristics of the raw materials, pretreatment processes such as drying may be required to remove moisture and other impurities.

Extruder Equipment and Process Parameter Settings: Select an appropriate extruder type, such as a single-screw or twin-screw extruder. Set appropriate process parameters, including screw speed, extrusion rate, barrel and screw temperatures, and extrusion pressure, to ensure sufficient plasticization and extrusion of the PEBAX material while maintaining the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of the multi-lumen tubing.

Mold Design and Selection: A dedicated mold is designed and manufactured based on the shape and size requirements of the multi-lumen tube. The mold structure should ensure uniform molding of each lumen of the multi-lumen tube and feature an effective cooling system to improve production efficiency and product quality.

Tube Forming and Shaping: The plasticized PEBAX material is extruded through an extruder into a mold, where it is formed into a multi-lumen tube. The tube is then shaped using vacuum forming, internal pressure forming, and other methods. Parameters such as the forming temperature and time are controlled to prevent deformation and surface defects. After shaping, the tube is cooled and subsequently processed to ensure dimensional stability and performance.

Dip Molding Process

Inner Tube Forming: First, the inner tube is formed around the outer circumference of the secondary mandrel using a dip molding process. After molding, the inner tube is removed from the secondary mandrel.

Attaching the Auxiliary Mandrel: Attach the auxiliary mandrel to the end of the inner tube formed by the connecting section. Insert the inner tube into the receiving cavity through the opening of the primary mandrel.

Inner Tube Expansion: Gas or liquid is inflated into the inner tube via an auxiliary mandrel, causing it to expand until its outer wall aligns with the opening of the primary mandrel, thereby reducing outer tube molding errors.

Outer Tube Molding: The outer tube is formed around the primary mandrel using a dipping process. This process involves dipping a layer of adhesive around the periphery of the primary mandrel and drying it to form a primary adhesive layer. A reinforcement is then placed around the primary adhesive layer, and then a second adhesive layer is dipped around the reinforcement and dried to form a secondary adhesive layer. Together, the primary adhesive layer, reinforcement, and second adhesive layer form the outer tube.

Demolding: Gas or liquid is extracted from the inner tube via an auxiliary mandrel, causing the inner tube to shrink until its outer wall at least partially clears the opening of the primary mandrel. The outer and inner tubes are then separated from the primary mandrel, and finally, the inner tube is removed from the auxiliary mandrel to form a multi-lumen tube.