Patent Description:
In a second aspect, the invention relates to a flange device suitable for carrying out the method.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to the use of a flange device.

In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a final product obtained according to the method.

A known method for adding and mixing catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides to/with a liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives prior to a filling process is known per se. A known method comprises adding the catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides during mixing of a liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives in mixing vats provided for this purpose. The catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides are added and mixed with the sealants and/or adhesives by means of a rotating agitator. The liquid fraction is then pumped from the mixing vats to a storage tank. If the liquid fraction from the storage tanks has to be used for a filling process, the fraction is pumped from the storage tanks to a dosing installation. This known method involves some problems and drawbacks.

Catalysts make sealants and/or adhesives more sensitive to moisture. The purpose of a catalyst is to accelerate the final curing upon application/use of the sealants and/or adhesives. The known method is particularly disadvantageous for the addition of catalysts since premature curing can occur. This can occur during the pumping of the liquid fraction, as a result of which conduits can become clogged. Premature curing can also occur during mixing or in the storage tanks, with the result that the fraction has become unusable and there is an increased risk of clogging.

<CIT> discloses a process for continuous manufacturing of moisture curable polyurethane formulations used as sealants and adhesives.

<CIT> describes a device for feeding the individual components of liquid multi-component plastics via connecting pipes to a multi-component mixing head. The multi-component mixing head is designed with valve seals with a minimum of two component containers.

<CIT> describes a machine for filling viscous sealing compound, using a motor-driven gear pump as a dosing pump for the main component in combination with a plunger pump.

A disadvantage of these devices is the difficulty of cleaning, poor mixing, incorrect dosing and rapid wear.

An additional disadvantage of the known method is that one storage tank contains only one fraction with a fixed volume percentage of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides. Consequently, several storage tanks are required, each filled with a fraction with a different volume percentage of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides, in particular when final products with different volume percentages of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides are required during the filling process. There is therefore a need for a method that makes more efficient use of storage tanks and can continue to meet orders with final products containing variable volume percentages of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides.

An additional disadvantage of the known method is that when a fraction is stored in a storage tank, the homogeneity of the fraction is lost over time. In concrete terms, heavier components of the fraction could settle, causing a phase separation. This preemptively requires an additional agitation operation before a fraction can be used for a filling process. This additional agitation operation is therefore not economically efficient. There is therefore a need for an economically more efficient method for adding and mixing catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides to/with a liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives whereby premature curing of the sealants and/or adhesives can be avoided.

The present invention aims to find a solution for at least some of the above problems.

The invention relates to a method according to claim <NUM>. In particular, in a first aspect the invention relates to a method for in-line addition and mixing of one or more catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides to/with a liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives, prior to a filling process. The method comprises steps in a specific order.

In a first step, the method involves the in-line addition of a dosed volume, which volume comprises one or more catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides, to a conduit containing a liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives, the conduit being connected at its distal end to the inlet of a cylindrical flange for homogeneously mixing the components present in the liquid fraction.

A second step then involves setting a pressure at the inlet of the flange. Finally, a final step comprises mechanically pressing the liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides through the entire length direction of the flange, the flange being provided with an injection nozzle at a distal end, wherein the liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides are divided into different layers during pressing, so that the different components present in the liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides are spread over the whole diameter of the flange, resulting in a completely homogeneously mixed liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives with one or more catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides in the injection nozzle of the flange.

An advantage of the present invention is that in an economically advantageous and efficient manner, one or more catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides are added to a liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives. An additional advantage is that the added catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides are homogeneously mixed with the liquid fraction prior to a filling process.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that a specific dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides is added per final product, in particular per filling unit. This results in a flexible method whereby final products with different volume percentages of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides are simply filled in succession. There is no need for additional method steps or devices to achieve this.

An advantage of the present invention is that no storage tanks are required for the temporary storage of a liquid fraction prior to a filling process. This results in a space saving as well as a cost saving. A special additional advantage is that a catalyst is only added just before the filling process. This prevents premature curing of the liquid fraction in conduits or storage tanks. In addition, a catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides are homogeneously mixed with the sealants and/or adhesives immediately after addition.

A remarkable advantage of the present invention is that both the addition of a catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides and the mixing of this catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides with sealants and/or adhesives, as well as the filling of the final products, is carried out by means of one series of successive method steps. Moreover, these method steps can be carried out by means of one suitable device.

A surprising advantage of the present invention is that it is also suitable for adding other components than just catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides. In particular, the invention is also suitable for adding plasticizers.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a flange device according to claim <NUM> suitable for carrying out a method according to the first aspect, wherein a flange device comprises a hollow cylindrical flange housing, wherein the cylindrical flange housing extends along a longitudinal axis, said flange housing comprising at least one static mixing element, said static mixing element comprising a grid of rod-shaped elements, the grid extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical flange housing.

An advantage of the present invention is that an optimal mixing is achieved between sealants and/or adhesives with the catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides. An additional advantage is that the length of the flange device remains limited and a homogeneous mixing is still obtained in an injection nozzle of the flange device. A surprising advantage is that a flange device can be flexibly designed according to the requirements of the desired final products.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to the use according to claim <NUM> of a flange device for mixing or bringing media into contact with each other, at least one of which is a highly viscous liquid, preferably sealants and/or adhesives. An advantage of the present invention is that optimal contact between at least one highly viscous liquid and another media is achieved, wherein all media are mixed in an efficient way.

In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a final product according to claim <NUM> obtained by a method according to the first aspect, wherein a final product comprises a filling unit, which filling unit comprises a homogeneously mixed liquid fraction, which fraction comprises sealants and/or adhesives mixed with one or more catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides at a desired volume percentage.

An advantage of the present invention is that a final product can contain a wide range of possible catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides or combinations of these catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides. An additional advantage is that each final product can contain a different volume percentage of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides.

The invention relates to a method for in-line addition and mixing of one or more catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides to/with a liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives, prior to a filling process.

Under the present invention, a catalyst comprises a substance capable of accelerating the final curing of sealants and/or adhesives. The catalyst makes sealants and/or adhesives much more sensitive to moisture. A catalyst is therefore preferably added quite late in the manufacturing process, if possible even as the last ingredient just before a filling process to avoid premature curing.

The traditional catalysts were usually based on tin (Sn). More modern catalysts are based on titanium (Ti), preferably in the form of titanates, or on bismuth (Bi), and are preferred mainly for ecological reasons. Suitable catalysts can be found, for example, in the following product families: dibutyltin diacetate, dioctyltin diacetate, dibutyltin dilaurate, dioctyltin dilaurate, dibutyltin dicarboxylate, dioctyltin dicarboxylate, dibutyltin dineodecanoate, dioctyltin dineodecanoate, dibutyltin oxide mixtures, dioctyltin oxide mixtures, acetylacetonate and other titanium and/or bismuth based catalysts. Suitable catalysts based on calcium (Ca) and/or zinc (Zn) are also available.

Suitable products are, for example, catalysts available under the trade name TIB KATO, such as types <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, available from TIB Chemicals AG.

Sealants and/or adhesives are highly viscous liquids which essentially comprise a mixture. An example of such a mixture comprises at least one silane-modified polymer.

A silane-modified polymer comprises at least one silane group of the general formula:.

It should be understood that any silane group of the above general formula may act as a side group and/or an end group attached to at least one main chain of the silane-modified polymer.

The components of the at least one main chain of the silane-modified polymer as described above are not particularly limited.

Preferably, suitable backbone components of the silane-modified polymer are selected from one or more components selected from a group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyethers, polyesters, polyacrylates and polymethacrylates, polycarbonates, polyamides, polyvinyl esters, or a mixture of two or more thereof.

Alternatively, suitable backbone components of the silane-modified polymer are monomeric units selected from a group consisting of: acrylic monomers, silicone monomers, carboxylic acid monomers, alcohols, isocyanate monomers, epoxide monomers, allyl monomers, amine monomers, anhydride monomers, styrene monomers, vinyl monomers or mixtures of them.

A second example of a mixture of sealants and/or adhesives comprises one or more silicone polymers. An example of such silicone polymers are polysiloxanes and polysiloxane-urea/urethane copolymers.

A third example of a mixture of sealants and/or adhesives comprises a mixture of a polyol fraction with a diisocyanate fraction. Examples of diisocyanates are methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) or <NUM>,<NUM>-toluene diisocyanate (TDI).

A fourth example of a mixture of sealants and/or adhesives comprises a dispersion, preferably an acrylate dispersion or a polyurethane dispersion.

Under the present invention, a static mixing element comprises a precision-engineered device for continuous mixing of liquid materials, with no moving components. A static mixing element is preferably contained in a housing. Specifically, for the present invention, the housing is a cylindrical flange housing. The energy required for mixing comes from a pressure drop as the fluids flow through the housing containing static mixing elements. The size of a static mixing element can vary from about <NUM> to <NUM> in diameter, preferably up to <NUM>, more preferably up to <NUM>, even more preferably up to <NUM>, and even more preferably up to <NUM>. Typical construction materials for static mixing elements are stainless steel, polypropylene, Teflon, PVDF, PVC, CPVC and polyacetal. In the latest designs, the static mixing elements are made of glass-clad steel.

Under the present invention, a filling unit comprises a volume unit of a final product. A filling unit is preferably filled during a filling process by means of an injection nozzle.

When the term "around" or "about" is used in this document with a measurable quantity, a parameter, a duration or moment, and the like, then variations are meant of approx. <NUM>% or less, preferably approx. <NUM>% or less, more preferably approx. <NUM>% or less, even more preferably approx. <NUM>% or less, and even more preferably approx. <NUM>% or less than and of the quoted value, insofar as such variations are applicable in the described invention. However, it must be understood that the value of a quantity used where the term "about" or "around" is used, is itself specifically disclosed.

The terms "comprise," "comprising," "consist of," "consisting of," "provided with," "have," "having," "include," "including," "contain," "containing" are synonyms and are inclusive or open terms that indicate the presence of what follows, and which do not exclude or prevent the presence of other components, characteristics, elements, members, steps, as known from or disclosed in the prior art.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for in-line addition and mixing of one or more catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides to/with a liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives, prior to a filling process. The method comprises steps in the specific order of:.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a pressure set at the inlet of the flange is a pressure in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> bar, preferably in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> bar and most preferably in the range of <NUM>-<NUM> bar. With more viscous liquid fractions a higher pressure will be set within the specified range and with less viscous liquid fractions a lower pressure will be set within the specified range. Setting a pressure has the advantage that the viscous liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides will be pressed through a flange at an economically efficient flow rate.

According to an embodiment, the mechanical pressing of the liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides through the entire length direction of the flange is carried out by a piston pump with piston adapted to create a pressure by moving in a vertical direction. According to an embodiment, the piston is continuously flushed with plasticizer. This prevents curing components from adhering to the piston surface, which could cause wear and oxygen interference.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a dosed volume will be added radially before the inlet of the flange. In a further embodiment of the present invention, a dosed volume will be added to obtain a volume percentage of catalyst in the final mixed liquid fraction. This volume percentage is a percentage equal to or less than <NUM> vol%, preferably equal to or less than <NUM> vol% and most preferably equal to or less than <NUM> vol% of the volume of the liquid fraction. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a dosed volume will be added depending on a desired volume percentage in a final product.

An advantage of such a preferred embodiment is that a specific dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides is added per final product, in particular per filling unit. This results in a flexible method whereby final products with different volume percentages of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides are simply filled in succession. A special additional advantage is that a catalyst is only added just before the filling process. This prevents premature curing of the liquid fraction in conduits or storage tanks. In addition, a catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides are homogeneously mixed with the sealants and/or adhesives immediately after addition.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the liquid fraction and dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides comprises a flow rate through the flange of <NUM>-<NUM>/s, preferably <NUM>-<NUM>/s and most preferably <NUM>-<NUM>/s. These speeds are particularly achievable by means of a set pressure at the inlet of the flange according to a previously described embodiment. An advantage of such speeds is that an economically advantageous method is achieved, while the liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides are still uniformly mixed.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an initial liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives will be pumped from a storage tank or mixing vat through a conduit to the inlet of the flange. In a preferred embodiment, the liquid fraction is pumped by means of a piston pump, which is suitable for pumping highly viscous liquids. In another embodiment of the present invention, an initial liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives will be pumped directly from a mixing vat in which the sealants and/or adhesives are mixed. An advantage of these embodiments is that no or fewer storage tanks are required for the temporary storage of a liquid fraction prior to a filling process. This results in a space saving as well as a cost saving.

According to an embodiment, the method comprises the step of continuously circulating catalyst mixtures or pigment pastes in a closed circuit. In an embodiment, the method comprises the step of mixing catalyst mixtures or pigment pastes in a buffer vessel. As a result, there is no phase separation of the mixed components.

According to an embodiment, dry air is blown over the buffer vessel of the components to be mixed. Crystallization in the liquid to be dosed could clog the injection system, causing incorrect dosing. This is avoided by avoiding contact with humidity.

According to an embodiment, the method comprises the step of replacing the static mixing elements. A switch happens with color transitions when switching from dark to light colors. Dirty parts can then be cleaned. According to an embodiment, the static mixing elements are cleaned by pyrolysis and/or sandblasting. According to an embodiment, the pyrolysis continues at <NUM>-<NUM> under an oxygen-free atmosphere. Preferably, the pyrolysis continues until the weight of the static mixing elements changes less than <NUM>/hour. Because the static mixing elements are in the flange housing, they can be easily detached.

According to an embodiment, the dosed volume added in-line is measured by a flowmeter operating ultrasonically. According to an embodiment, flowmeters are used to measure the dose. This ensures correct dosing. According to an embodiment, flowmeters that operate ultrasonically are used. Known devices work with a gear counter, but this causes problems when liquid components such as catalyst mixture and fungicide are dosed. Problems identified include inter-gear leakage and jamming due to crystals formed in the liquid components. These problems lead to regular downtime and a lot of maintenance. The mass flow meters that operate ultrasonically have higher accuracy and fast response in case of incorrect dosing.

A remarkable advantage of the present invention is that both the addition of a catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides and the mixing of this catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides with sealants and/or adhesives, as well as the filling of the final products, is carried out by means of one series of successive method steps.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a flange device suitable for carrying out a method according to the first aspect, wherein a flange device comprises a hollow cylindrical flange housing, wherein the cylindrical flange housing extends along a longitudinal axis, said flange housing comprising at least one static mixing element, said static mixing element comprising a grid of rod-shaped elements, the grid extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical flange housing. A longitudinal axis comprises an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the flange device.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a flange device has a diameter, wherein the diameter is measured from wall to wall in the hollow cylindrical flange housing, wherein the diameter of the flange device is approximately equal to a diameter of the static mixing element. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the static mixing element is equal to the diameter of the flange device. An advantage of such an embodiment is that in this way an optimal mixing is achieved between sealants and/or adhesives with the catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two to four static mixing elements are provided in a flange device. In a particularly preferred embodiment, three static mixing elements are provided in a flange device. An advantage of such embodiments is that optimum mixing is achieved by means of an economically relevant number of static mixing elements.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a main flow direction for the liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides is determined along the longitudinal axis of the flange device. In a further embodiment, one or more static mixing elements are built in along the entire length of the flange device. In a preferred embodiment, therefore, the flange device is filled over its entire length with static mixing elements, wherein the static mixing elements have the same diameter as the flange device.

When a main flow direction, which preferably flows along the longitudinal axis of the flange device, is set, according to this preferred embodiment, each flowing liquid molecule of the liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides will touch a static mixing element. Each rod element of a static mixing element therefore forms an obstacle to the flowing liquid molecule, so that the liquid molecule is deflected before the liquid molecule hits the rod element. Within the static mixing element it therefore no longer applies that a liquid molecule flows in the direction of the main flow direction. The deflection of the liquid molecule from the main flow direction results in a thorough mixing of the liquid fraction and dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides. It follows that the mixing effect improves with increasing deflection from the main flow direction. Such a preferred embodiment has the advantage that the length of the flange device remains limited and a homogeneous mixing is still obtained in the injection nozzle of the flange.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a flange device has a length which is determined in relation to the viscosity of the liquid fraction to be mixed and in relation to the required homogeneity after mixing. An advantage of such an embodiment is that a flange device can be flexibly designed according to the requirements of the desired final products. Concretely, a liquid fraction with a higher viscosity or a higher required homogeneity will require a longer flange device. Obviously, the reverse also applies for a liquid fraction with a low viscosity or low required homogeneity.

According to an embodiment, the flange device comprises <NUM>-<NUM> static mixing elements in series. When mixing highly shear sensitive products, only <NUM> or <NUM> static mixing elements are used in series. Correctly aligning the various static mixing elements in series improves their efficiency. According to an embodiment, each static mixing element comprises a grid of rod-shaped elements, the grid extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical flange housing. According to an embodiment, the flange device comprises <NUM>-<NUM> static mixing elements in series wherein the various static mixing elements are arranged so that the direction of each grid is transverse to the direction of adjacent grids. Because the direction of the grids alternates, a better mixing is achieved. The static mixing elements fit together nicely. The correct placement is to rotate elements <NUM>° relative to each other so that the pattern continues nicely. According to an embodiment, the length of the static mixing element is <NUM>-<NUM>, preferably <NUM>-<NUM>. According to an embodiment, the width and height of the static mixing element is <NUM>-<NUM>, preferably <NUM>-<NUM>. According to an embodiment, the static mixing element comprises steel and is preferably made of steel.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a use of a flange device according to the second aspect, suitable for mixing or bringing media into contact with each other, at least one of which is a highly viscous liquid, preferably sealants and/or adhesives. An advantage of the present invention is that optimal contact between at least one highly viscous liquid and another media is achieved, wherein all media are mixed in an efficient way.

In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a final product obtained by a method according to the first aspect, wherein a final product comprises a filling unit, which filling unit comprises a homogeneously mixed liquid fraction, which fraction comprises sealants and/or adhesives mixed with one or more catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides at a desired volume percentage. Concretely, the final product comprises the mixed liquid fraction in the injection nozzle of the flange device. A final product can therefore differ from another final product in a volume percentage of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides, in viscosity or in the number of added catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a final product is suitable for a subsequent filling process, wherein desired quantities are dosed via an injection nozzle. The injection nozzle is located at the distal end of the flange device, wherein the injection nozzle is part of a dosing installation, which dosing installation will fill the final product in desired quantities or into a receptacle. Some examples of suitable receptacles are a filling tube, a sausage, a bucket, a bag or a barrel.

According to an embodiment, flowmeters are used to measure the dose. This ensures correct dosing. According to an embodiment, flowmeters that operate ultrasonically are used. Known devices work with a gear counter, but this causes problems when liquid components such as catalyst mixture and fungicide are dosed. Problems identified include inter-gear leakage and jamming due to crystals formed in the liquid components. These problems lead to regular downtime and a lot of maintenance. The mass flow meters that operate ultrasonically have higher accuracy and fast response in case of incorrect dosing.

An advantage of the present invention is that a final product can contain a wide range of possible catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides or combinations of catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides. An additional advantage is that each final product can contain a different volume percentage of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides.

The detailed description describes the present invention in its preferred embodiments wherein a catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides is added in-line to sealants and/or adhesives. It goes without saying that, more specifically, the described invention is also effective for in-line addition of a mixture of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides, wherein the catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides are dissolved in, for example, a plasticizer or other solvent before the mixture is added to a liquid fraction. In particular for adding pigments and/or fungicides. Adding and mixing pigment and/or fungicide into the liquid fraction on the way to the filling process enables the production of a wide range of different final products.

A surprising advantage of the present invention is that it is also suitable for adding components other than catalysts alone. In particular, the invention is also suitable for adding plasticizers by means of the current method steps and device.

In what follows, the invention is described by means of an example which will illustrate the invention.

In the example, the present invention is described for in-line addition and mixing of one catalyst to/with a liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives.

A conduit containing a liquid fraction of sealants is connected to the inlet of a flange device, which flange device in this example is filled over its entire length with static mixing elements. The flange device here has a length of <NUM> and a diameter of <NUM>. The static mixing elements have a diameter of <NUM>. Just before the inlet of the flange device, the conduit comprises a radial inlet for addition of the catalyst. First it is determined in what volume the catalyst must be dosed, in the current example this is at a catalyst volume percentage of <NUM>% of the liquid fraction. The catalyst is then added to the liquid fraction conduit via the radial inlet.

Subsequently, a pressure of <NUM> bar is set at the inlet of the flange device. Because of this pressure, the liquid fraction and the catalyst will be pressed through the flange device. During this pressing, the liquid fraction and the catalyst are divided into different layers, so that the different components present in the liquid fraction and the catalyst are spread over the entire cross-section of the flange, resulting in a completely homogeneously mixed liquid fraction and catalyst in the injection nozzle of the flange device. As a result, the catalyst is mixed with the sealants and/or adhesives.

In this way, a homogeneously mixed final product is obtained in the injection nozzle of the flange device, and which contains a catalyst volume percentage of <NUM>% of the liquid fraction. The injection nozzle is attached to a distal end of the flange device.

Once the final product leaves the distal end of the flange device, it can be used for the subsequent filling process by means of the injection nozzle.

Claim 1:
Method for in-line addition and mixing of one or more catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides to/with a liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives, prior to a filling process, comprising the steps of:
- the in-line addition of a dosed volume, which volume comprises one or more catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides, to a conduit containing a liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives, the conduit being connected at a distal end to an inlet at a proximal end of a cylindrical flange with static mixing element for homogeneously mixing the components present in the liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides;
- subsequently setting a pressure at the inlet of the flange;
- finally, mechanically pressing the liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides through the entire length direction of the flange, which flange is provided with an injection nozzle at a distal end, wherein the liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides are divided into different layers during pressing, so that the different components present in the liquid fraction and the dosed volume of catalyst and/or pigments and/or fungicides are spread over the whole diameter of the flange, resulting in a completely homogeneously mixed liquid fraction of sealants and/or adhesives with one or more catalysts and/or pigments and/or fungicides in the injection nozzle of the flange.