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HIGH HEAT AND RESIDUE RESISTANCE IDEAL FOR HOT WATER DELIVERY
Massachusetts-based Keurig Premium Coffee Systems’ patented "Coffee House Taste by the Cup" brewing system uses a number of injection molded, heat- and residue-resistant hot water delivery components made from Solvay Advanced Polymers’ UDEL P-1700, a tough, rigid thermoplastic material. Keurig began commercializing its "perfect cup of coffee" single-serve portion pack system in 1998, when it designed the patented container, called a K-Cup. Each K-Cup contains an individual serving of freshly roasted, ground coffee, and a double paper filter that eliminates the three primary coffee contaminants--air, light, and moisture. Each Keurig brewing system features a direct line to the water tank, where the water is maintained at a constant 194°F. When a K-Cup is placed in the brewer drawer and the "Brew" button is pressed, the system sends the hot, pressurized water through a heating tank lid into a meter cup that measures out the exact amount of water needed for a cup of coffee. The water then continues through another component called a “mating fixture,” into a waiting K-Cup, which is nestled in the K-Cup holder. From there, the pressurized water flows over the uniform bed of grounds in each K-Cup to ensure maximum extraction. Once brewing is complete, a funnel directs the flow of coffee into the waiting coffee cup. The entire process lasts about 30 seconds. "When we designed the Keurig brewing system, we looked for a high-performance material to use for the internal components that could withstand prolonged exposure to high temperatures and resist residue buildup from mineral acids, alkali and salt solutions, typical contaminants found in water supplies," said Keurig cofounder Dick Sweeney, who also serves as the company's vice president of engineering operations. “We found those characteristics in UDEL polysulfone,” he added. "The parts made from UDEL polysulfone play a big role in ensuring consistent quality in our brewing process. The heating tank lid, meter cup, mating lid, funnel, and K-Cup holder are all made from this material,” Sweeney added. "We have an extremely streamlined piece of equipment; every part must either contribute to successful brewing, or prolong the system's operating life. These components fit the bill in both areas," Sweeney said. "They allow our system to continuously deliver just the right amount of pressurized water at a constant high temperature, without breaking down from or allowing residue buildup that could interfere with brewing operation or coffee taste." UDEL polysulfone excels in many fluid-handling applications. This tough, rigid, high-strength thermoplastic has a heat deflection temperature of 345°F (174°C), and maintains its properties over a wide temperature range. Transparent, opaque, and glass-fiber reinforced grades of UDEL polysulfone can be used for injection molding into complex parts or extrusion into forms such as rod, film, sheet, profile, and tubing. Shapes can be machined for prototype evaluations; film and sheet can be thermoformed on conventional equipment. UDEL polysulfone resin can also be blow-molded. http://www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com
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