Application · Specialty & Low-Temperature
WPC Pelletizing: Wood Powder 40–60%
Wood flour is 40–60% of a WPC compound and it must arrive dry, enter through a side feeder, and never see 190 °C — above that the wood starts to scorch and the pellets come out grey. A reference wpc pelletizing page from Kerke.
Quick answer
WPC compounding runs 40–70% wood flour with L/D 44–52, side feeding for the flour and air-cooled hot die-face pelletizing to prevent moisture-driven degradation. Output 300–1,500 kg/h. Wood flour dryness below 1% is the single biggest quality factor.
Workshop photos and a running video — shot on our own lines, not stock images.
What sets the limit
Wood flour is dried and side-fed into the melt, compounded with coupling agent and lubricant at controlled temperature below 190 °C, devolatilized and hot die-face pelletized with air cooling.
| Parameter | Value / range |
|---|---|
| Wood flour | 40–70%, 40–100 mesh, < 1% moisture |
| L/D | 44–52 |
| Feeding | Side feeder with crammer |
| Pelletizing | Air-cooled hot die-face |
| Output (reference) | 300–1,500 kg/h |
| Model | KTE-65B, KTE-75B |
Output figures are measured on the reference material stated above. Filler grade, bulk density and moisture move output by ±15% — that is why every quotation we issue is tied to a trial report.
Process flow, step by step
- FeedingLoss-in-weight dosing of polymer and filler; side feeder or liquid injection where the formulation needs it.
- Melting and dispersingScrew geometry with 45°/90° kneading blocks; barrel profile set by the polymer.
- DevolatilizationVacuum vent at −0.06 to −0.09 MPa removes moisture and volatiles before the die.
- Pressure build-upThrottle or discharge section stabilises die pressure; a melt pump where gauge control matters.
- Pelletizing and packingAir-cooled hot die-face; then centrifugal dryer, vibrating screen and bagging.
Equipment configuration
| Stage | Equipment | Why this choice |
|---|---|---|
| Main machine | Co-Rotating Twin Screw Extruder | Architecture follows the filling level and the mixing duty, not the required tonnage. |
| Screw geometry | Building-block elements, W6Mo5Cr4V2, bimetallic liner | Wear package for abrasive filler; mixing blocks only where dispersion demands them. |
| Feeding | Loss-in-weight feeder, side feeder where needed | Recipe accuracy: ±0.5% short term on the weighed component. |
| Pelletizing | Pelletizing system | Chosen by polymer and filler ceiling — water contact is the deciding column. |
| Downstream | Centrifugal dryer, vibrating screen, bagging | Fines below 2% and moisture below the specification of your downstream process. |
Output by model
| Model | Dia. (mm) | Speed (rpm) | Motor (kW) | Torque (N·m) | Output (kg/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KTE-50B | 50.5 | 500–600 | 55–75 | 2×525 | 80–200 |
| KTE-50D | 50.5 | 300–800 | 75–90 | 2×860 | 100–300 |
| KTE-52B | 51.4 | 500–600 | 55–75 | 2×720 | 80–200 |
| KTE-52D | 51.4 | 500–600 | 75–110 | 2×1050 | 100–400 |
| KTE-65B | 62.4 | 500–600 | 90–110 | 2×860 | 200–450 |
| KTE-65D | 62.4 | 300–800 | 132–160 | 2×1530 | 350–600 |
| KTE-75B | 71 | 500–600 | 132–160 | 2×1530 | 300–800 |
| KTE-75D | 71 | 300–800 | 200–315 | 2×2100 | 500–1000 |
| KTE-85B | 85 | 500–600 | 220–315 | 2×2100 | 550–1000 |
| KTE-95B | 93 | 500–600 | 250–315 | 2×3000 | 800–1500 |
| KTE-95D | 93 | 500–800 | 315–500 | 2×4800 | 1000–2000 |
| KTE-135B | 135 | 500–600 | 315–500 | 2×4800 | 1500–3000 |
| KTE-135D | 135 | 500–800 | 500–1000 | 2×7800 | 1500–4000 |
Three mistakes that cost the most
1. Wet flour causes steam voids, rough surface and dark streaks in the final profile.
Wet flour causes steam voids, rough surface and dark streaks in the final profile.
2. Temperature above 200 °C scorches the wood and the smell never leaves the product.
Temperature above 200 °C scorches the wood and the smell never leaves the product.
3. Standard barrels at 60% wood flour
Standard barrels at 60% wood flour — the mineral-rich composite wears them within two seasons; bimetallic liner and PM elements in the melt zone, or output sags mid-contract.
FAQ
What moisture is acceptable?
Below 1%, ideally 0.5%. Above 2% the pellets show voids and the decking surface fails.
Can the line run 70% wood?
Yes with a crammer feeder and a wear package; the practical limit is feeding stability, not the extruder.
What output can you guarantee for this application?
The reference band is 300–1,500 kg/h, measured on the stated material. We quote a guaranteed figure only after a trial on your own material, because filler grade, bulk density and moisture move output by ±15%.
Can we run our material before ordering?
Yes — send 25–50 kg. We return pellets, a running video and a report with temperatures, screw speed, feeder settings and output per hour. The trial is free; you cover the freight.
What is the delivery time?
30–45 working days for standard configurations, 45–70 for custom screw geometry and ODM work. Voltage and frequency are built for the destination country.
Where these numbers come from
Parameters are taken from the Kerke product parameter table and the product master data sheet, and cross-checked against commissioning records for lines in the same application. Formulations and temperature windows are typical industry values, not a recommendation for your specific compound — every figure marked reference must be confirmed on a material trial before it becomes a contractual number.
Reviewed by the Kerke process team, Nanjing. Page updated 6 November 2026.
Send 25–50 kg and we run it on our lab extruder: pellets, running video and a capacity report back in 3–7 days.
WPC pelletizing — the short version
Note on wpc pelletizing: the numbers above are reference ranges from Kerke's own trial runs, not catalogue promises. Screw geometry, wear package and pelletizing method are set on the trial bench first, so the output you compare is the output you get. If your grade is not in the tables, send it — the closest configuration is usually a change of screw set, not a different machine.
Related on this site: Machine range: KTE-50B to 135D · Pelletizing methods compared · quotation and free trial · Wikipedia: Masterbatch






