At Shini USA, we understand plastics processing is a delicate process. There are many factors that play a role in successful plastics processing and when utilizing plastics processing equipment. A major factor, for instance, is dew point.

What Is Dew Point?

Dew point is most often used by meteorologists to describe the amount of moisture present in the air. A more precise definition states that dew point is the temperature at which air needs to be cooled at a constant pressure to become saturated, and in turn form dew. The higher the dew point, the more moisture there is in the air.

How Dew Point Affects Plastic Processing

A major component of processing plastic is the process of drying. There are four fundamental parameters for drying plastic – heat, dew point, drying time, and airflow. Understanding how dew point can affect plastics processing is essential to the success of your processes and, ultimately, the success of your business.

Since dew point and moisture are directly related, as the dew point decreases the air becomes dryer, which is beneficial in the plastics drying process. Since many of the materials used in the industry absorb water naturally, they must be properly dried before proceeding to the next step.

For hygroscopic polymers, which have a strong attraction to moisture, the dew point of the dry air will cause the water molecules that have broken up by heat to migrate to the surface. At this stage and with a correct dew point, the water molecules are then carried away by the airflow within the dryer, ultimately drying the polymers.

Since dew point does not measure the moisture levels of a material directly, it is not a very useful measurement by itself. However, the dew point does show you how much moisture is in the air regardless of the temperature and this can indicate whether your dryer is working properly. A well-functioning dryer will produce a dew point between -10° and -50° Celsius. For the majority of hygroscopic plastics, a dew point temperature of -20° Celsius is sufficient for drying.

Dew Point Monitoring from Shini USA

Because dew point is such an integral part of drying in plastic processing, we have made dew point monitoring a top priority in our drying equipment. All of our desiccant dryers at Shini USA come equipped with a dew point monitor for accurate, real-time measurement. Our line of desiccant dryers includes:

Shini USA is proud to offer a wide variety of desiccant and hot air dryers, as well as other plastic processing products.

Plastic Processing with Shini USA

As a leading plastic processing and plastic recycling equipment supplier, Shini USA is dedicated to supplying our customers the best and most reliable equipment to help their businesses thrive. From desiccant dryers with built-in dew point monitoring to plastic granulators, our high-quality, cost-effective solutions are met with our superior customer service and support.

Contact Shini USA Today

To learn more about our plastic processing equipment or how dew point may be affecting your processes, contact us today. We can also help you get started on an order!