Normally, the surface of the IXPE master sheets obtained from the IXPE extruder should be smooth. However, in over water-cooled IXPE master sheets, sometimes longitudinal lines resembling ripples (usually parallel to the traction direction) appear on the surface or inside the IXPE master sheets. This phenomenon is called "water ripples" in the industry. Water ripples visually affect the appearance and lower the grade of IXPE foam products; performance-wise, they indicate uneven thickness of the IXPE foam sheet and localized degradation of physical properties (such as tensile strength and barrier properties). In short, water ripples have a significant impact on the quality of IXPE foam products. This article, drawing on over ten years of experience from several senior process engineers at Qin Ding Company, will provide a brief analysis of the causes of water ripples on IXPE master sheets and how to handle them, hoping to help our customers.

From December 13th to 14th, 2025, Qin Ding Company organized a two-day team-building trip to Xiandu, Jinyun County for all employees of the Shanggao Business Unit of Qinding. The main participants in this activity were all employees of the Shanggao Business Unit (Main produts: XPE and IXPE Finished Foaming products) and some of their family members. The main purpose was as an annual employee benefit; to increase cooperation among team members; and to enhance the relationship between employees and management.

The structural design of the special extruder screw for IXPE foaming machine production is crucial to the plasticization uniformity of IXPE mixture materials. For example, the configuration of the threaded elements of the screw, the number and arrangement of mixing zones, etc. Multiple kneading sections and mixing elements are installed on the extruder screw dedicated for the production of IXPE foaming machines, which can realize multiple dispersion and mixing of IXPE mixture materials. But at the same time, if the IXPE mixture material is overmixed in the screw, it will easily decompose, causing the IXPE foam mother sheet to foam when it exits the extruder die (pre-foaming phenomenon). Therefore, the design of the mixing unit needs to be optimized. Our company has added innovative functions such as barrier threads, reverse elements and distributed mixing elements to the design of the extruder screw dedicated to the production of IXPE foaming machines, which can further optimize the design of the mixing unit and achieve the purpose of fully plasticizing the very good IXPE mixture without decomposition.

The IXPE foam coil unwinding and take-up auxiliary equipment under-beam system (arranged in order) consists of the first IXPE foam coil unwinder, the second IXPE foam coil unwinder, the IXPE foam coil storage rack (unwinding side), the EB electron beam under-beam system, the IXPE foam coil traction system, the IXPE foam coil guide system, the IXPE foam coil storage rack (rewinding side), the first IXPE foam coil unwinder, the second IXPE foam coil unwinder, and the electronic control system. The IXPE foam coil unwinding and take-up auxiliary equipment under-beam system is a key component of the IXPE irradiation process and, together with the accelerator mainframe, completes the physical cross-linking process of the IXPE foam mother sheet.

The above are the characteristics of IXPE foaming furnaces with three different heating methods. If you need more detailed parameters, please contact our company project manager: Mr. Henry He. Ningbo Qinding Company specializes in providing one-stop services for XPE factories and IXPE factories. Our services include: market research and planning for XPE foam and IXPE foam products; XPE foam and IXPE foam machine selection; overall factory layout; XPE foam and IXPE foam machine manufacturing; XPE foam and IXPE foam Machine installation and debugging; XPE foaming and IXPE foaming personnel training; XPE foaming and IXPE foaming technology and formula transfer; large-scale production. At the same time, we can provide special formulas and IXPP equipment and technical processes and formulas according to customer needs.

Recently, a set of IXPE electric heating vertical foaming furnace produced by our company was sent to the customer's factory and entered a 15-day installation cycle. This set of IXPE foaming furnace adopts the structure of horizontal furnace + vertical furnace. It uses an all-electric heating mode with a total heating power of 175kW. This type of electrically heated IXPE foaming furnace technology is very mature and is also one of the best in China. A very common electric heating IXPE foaming furnace. In order to fully cover the IXPE foaming industry, as for electric heating IXPE foaming furnaces, our company can also provide two furnace types: hot air circulation type and non-hot air circulation type. At the same time, our company also has gas-heated IXPE foaming furnaces for IXPE factories to choose from. IXPE production customers can choose any IXPE foaming furnace that suits them based on their factory site, equipment investment budget, production and operation costs, output requirements, etc.

The application of the floating blanket on the water utilizes the characteristics of closed-cell foaming, hydrophobicity and light weight of XPE foam material and IXPE foam material. In addition, XPE foam material and IXPE foam material also have thermal insulation, heat insulation, shock absorption and other properties. XPE foaming machine line will be used in the foaming process of XPE materials. XPE foaming machine line includes at least three major units: special granulator for XPE foam and IXPE foam, special sheet extruder for XPE foam and IXPE foam, special foaming furnace for XPE foam and IXPE foam.