SwRI: Extrusion, including microencapsulation, nanoencapsulation, extrusion, fiber extrusion, cengrifugal coextrusion, microcapsules, core-shell, and particle extrusion.

  image of how vibrating nozzle systems produce microcapsules or microspheres with a very narrow size distribution
 

Vibrating nozzle systems produce microcapsules or microspheres with a very narrow size distribution.

Several particle and fiber extrusion techniques are employed by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) personnel to solve product performance requirements. Extrusion processes include:

  • Stationary nozzle

  • Centrifugal extrusion

  • Vibrating nozzle

  • Submerged nozzle

  • Electrohydrodynamics

  • Single or twin-screw extrusion

  • Microextrusion

Extrusion processes produce matrix or core-shell morphologies, depending on nozzle configuration. Particle extrusion processes produce narrowly distributed particles. SwRI scientists have innovated particle extrusion processes to:

drawing of stationary and submerged nozzles that produce capsules of oils or aqueous fill materials using waxes or hydrophilic and lipophilic polymers

Stationary and submerged nozzles produce capsules of oils or aqueous fill materials using waxes or hydrophilic and lipophilic polymers.

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  • Produce capsules down to sub-micron sizes with small particle size variances

  • Operate with complex thermal profiles

  • Support production capacity

Fiber extrusion processes produce single or multiple fibers with diameters down to several hundred nanometers. SwRI personnel have devised fiber extrusion processes to produce:

  • Matrix fibers

  • Core-shell fibers

  • Multilayer, fibrous structures

Extrusion Applications

  • Narrow size distributions

  • Core-shell morphologies

  • Gas, liquid or solid cores

  • Variable shell thickness

  • Variable payload composition

     

    image of oil-filled microcapsules produced with centrifugal coextrusion

     

    These oil-filled microcapsules were produced with centrifugal coextrusion.

Extrusion Characteristics

  • Sizes from1 micron to 10,000 microns

  • Narrow size distribution

  • Material versatility

  • Scalability and high production capacity

  • Continuous production

For more information about microencapsulation or nanoencapsulation extrusion capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please fill out and submit the Microencapsulation Requirements form or contact Joseph Persyn, M.S., at jpersyn@swri.org or (210) 522-2691, or James Oxley, Ph.D., at joxley@swri.org or (210) 522-2913.

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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) is an independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 12 technical divisions using multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving. The Institute occupies more than 1,200 acres and provides nearly two million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices for more than 3,300 employees who perform contract work for industry and government clients.