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IX - PRODUCTION PROCEDURE

To produce the fibers is a relatively simple process. It consists of 4 steps.

Materiales

Component Application
Cooking pot Preferably one that you don't need or that is old. It is best if it is small to medium in size.
a wooden spoon Igualmente es mejor si es antiguo o viejo.
Gas protection mask For safety, it is better to perform this procedure in open environments or with an exhaust fan.
Temperature gloves To manipulate the pot and whatever is required. That withstand 250 degrees.
Safety glasses For protection
Laboratory apron. For protection
Scissors. To cut pet bottles
Metal thermometer To read the temperature and control it

Clean and wash.

After collecting the bottles you must remove the:

  • Plastic labels

  • Bottle cap

This is done because these components handle another type of plastic.

It should be washed with water and allowed to dry for a few minutes.

Cut the bottles

If you do not have a shredder, you must cut it by hand using scissors, it will take time.

The bottle cuttings should measure between 5 to 15mm.

It weighs approximately 300 grams of the PET plastic that has already been cut into pieces of 5 to 15mm.

Cook the plastic.

Before starting to cook the plastic you must take care and use protection.

  • Gas protection mask.

  • Temperature gloves .

  • Laboratory apron.

  • Safety glasses

Heat and pour plastic

Heat the pot on the highest flame that your kitchen has.

After having heated the pot for a few minutes, you have to pour the plastic little by little, I recommend approximately 100 grams, wait a few minutes for it to melt and add another 100 grams more.

The temperature required to melt plastic is 250 to 265 degrees Celsius.

It is important not to stop beating when the plastic begins to melt.

  • Approximate cooking time on maximum flame: 15min

It is necessary that we reach the resin point, with the thermometer you can measure that your plastic is at a maximum of 265 degrees.

Do not leave the plastic cooking for more than 15 minutes, otherwise it will begin to generate toxic gases.

Do not exceed 270 degrees.

You should have a viscous liquid resin, when your mixture is homogeneous it is ready to pour it into the machine.

Pour into the machine

When you have your mixture already in a viscous liquid state and it is homogeneous you must:

  • Turn on the electric motor of the machine (With the configuration with the pulleys the rotation speed is approximately 6000 rpm).

  • After turning on the machine you must pour the liquid into the rotating plate.

  • You must pour it until your mixture runs out or the plastic has cooled and the machine no longer produces fibers.

Collect fiber

After finishing production and having turned off the machine, we can approach and collect the fiber.

  • The first 24 hours are the best to produce the threads.