Putting the squeeze on drying costs

New Resilio roll covering technology brings major performance benefits and energy savings

(Figure 1). Trials have identified substantial performance benefits over the existing market-leading elastomer roll cover:

● Typically 40% better expression on knitted goods.
● Typically 18% better expression on wovens.

Cost savings are equally significant, potentially reaching as much as ?50,000 per year depending on the applications.
The Resilio roll will be officially launched at the ITM 2009 textile machinery exhibition, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey from June 6-10, when it will be the focus of the RHL presentation on Booth 611 in Hall 6.
RHL has applied for a patent for the new Resilio roll, which combines the company?s own expertise in mechanical squeezing and dewatering equipment with specially-developed dual-layer technology for the covering. The secret is in the integration of the squeezing power of the sub-layer with a revolutionary profile-hugging top layer, devised by RHL.
Says RHL?s Anthony Ashton: ?This greatly increases the surface contact in the nip, thus expressing the liquid from every void and undulation in the fabric, with microscopic efficiency.?
Other key features of the new Resilio roll include:

● Greatly improved ?gentle? squeezing performance compared to hard rubber rolls.
● Superb bond strength.
● Resistance to the majority of processing chemicals.
● Very hard wearing ? excellent abrasion resistance.
● Increased service life compared to standard hard rubber rolls.
● Uniquely-developed compound blends.

RHL, of Bolton, Lancashire, also manufactures the world-famous Roberto roll, as well as extra-tough Resistor roll coverings for use in demanding environments where harsh or aggressive chemicals and resins are used.
New compounds for the latest Resilio and Resilio-Resistor products have been developed and perfected through an intensive testing programme in Europe and the USA and RHL now believes machinery manufacturers need to respond quickly to the increasing need for greater fuel economy and lower emissions, driven by the long-term prospect of high oil prices.
Says Anthony Ashton: ?The new Resilio and Resilio-Resistor compounds will challenge textile finishing machinery designers to develop new energy-efficient and ?gentle? fabric-processing machines to suit the rigorous demands of the 21st century ? and the machinery manufacturer that chooses the wrong technology options may risk being marginalised.?

Resilio squeezing effect (Figure 2)-> see attached PDF-File.

The Resilio roll (1) has a dual layer covering consisting of a hard rubber (97° Shore A) sub-layer (5) at normally 10-20mm thick, combined with a relatively softer rubber (70° Shore A) top layer (6) at 2mm thick. At the critical thickness of 1-2mm, the elasticity of the top layer combines with the high density of the sub-layer. The effective Shore A hardness of the combination of the two layers falls in the range of 80-85°. The squeezing effect can be described as follows:
The softer outer cover is sufficiently resilient to conform closely to the textured surface of the fabric, thereby squeezing liquid out of the cavities between the warp and weft yarns or between the surface contours of the fabric. Also, the relatively thin and softer outer cover (6) makes the surface top layer to more ?deformable? than previous types of rubber-covered squeeze rolls and thus increases the efficiency of the squeeze nip between two such rollers by effectively increasing the area of contact between the rollers and the fabric with minimum loss of nip force. The relatively softer outer cover (6) also gives the added advantage of squeezing the textile fabric more gently than previous types of rubber-coated squeeze rolls, which have a significantly harder outer surface.
However, the relatively hard and thick underlying sub-layer (5) plays an important role in the improved performance of the Resilio roll (1) because it retains sufficient resilience to provide sufficient squeezing force. This squeezing force is concentrated into a very narrow nip line area due to the cushioning effect of the top layer. Effectively, therefore, the softer outer cover (6) is able to gently and closely conform to the textile fabric passing the roll, while the underlying relatively hard sub-layer (5) supports the thin outer cover (6) to provide
sufficient squeezing force.

Two versions

The Resilio for final squeezing and padding is available in two versions, Resilio 100 and Resilio 150, the latter having increased temperature and abrasion resistance for arduous applications.
Resilio-Resistor is offered in three types for harsher environments:

-- Resilio-Resistor A ? For running in a medium of hot caustic at 90° C or for hot hydrogen peroxide bleaching.

-- Resilio-Resistor B ? For running in acidic medium including pre-wash.

-- Resilio-Resistor C ? For running in medium or hot caustic at 90° C including pre-wash.

TABLE 1: RESILIO ROLL COST SAVINGS

-> see attached PDF-File.


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Contact:

Richard Hough Ltd

Anthony Ashton
Tel: +44 (0) 1204 526562
Fax: +44 (0) 1204 363191
www.richardhough.co.uk
e-mail: ajashton@richardhough.co.uk