2. Both Melt Flow and Rheology Tests can be very helpful
tools for QC monitoring and development of polymers.
This presentation is designed to be an informative
introduction and guide to Melt Flow test, and to assist
with troubleshooting inconsistencies in results.
3. MELT FLOW
Melt Mass-Flow Rate(MFR)
The mass of material flowing through a die at a specified
temperature (g/10 min)
Melt Volume Rate(MVR)
The volume of material flowing through a die at a
specified temperature (cm3/10 min)
MVR = MFR/density of material at melted state
โMeasure of the ease of flow of melted polymerโ
MELT FLOW: Typical
Index for QC of
thermoplastics
4. WHY MELT FLOW?
โข Melt Flow is a Typical Index for polymer materials
โข Verify incoming/entrance material
โข Check regular quality control of material
โข Compare new materials in a product development setting
โข Predict how a polymer will behave in a number of processing
techniques
Raw Material Producers
Compounders
Manufacturers/Convertors
5. A TRUE STORY
As an example of an actual case of how Melt Flow information can be
used:
An injection molded polycarbonate part was found to crack when dropped. The virgin
resin had an MFR of 28.5 g/10min. A sample from a known โgoodโ lot of parts was
ground up and tested in a melt flow tester. It had an MFR of 27 g/10min, well within
established tolerances (ยฑ30%). But a โproblemโ part showed an MFR of 90
g/10min. From this evidence, it was discovered that the โbadโ lot contained a large
amount of regrind that had been thermally degraded in processing.
Manufacturers/Convertors
7. General standards:
โข ISO 1133-1,-2 (Method A, B)
โข ASTM D1238 (Methods A, B, C, D)
Material specific standards, such as:
โข ASTM D3364 (for PVC)
โข ISO 1872-1 (for PE)
MELT FLOW STANDARDS
8. ISO 1133 : 2 methods (A & B)
A : Manual test, measure of mass flow (MFR)
B : Encoder-assisted tests, measure of volume flow
(MVR)
(*) ISO 1133-2 introduced new stricter tolerances for temperature
profile inside the barrel, and is dedicated for materials that are
sensitive to time-temperature history and/or moisture
ASTM D1238 : 4 procedures (A, B, C & D)
A : Manual test, measure of mass flow (MFR)
B : Encoder-assisted tests, measure of volume flow
(MVR)
C : For high-flow materials (special procedure, die with
D= 1.048, L= 4 mm and a Die Plug Device)
D : For multiple-weight tests
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR MFT
9. Easy test procedure:
โข Preheat barrel, die, and piston at working
temperature
โข Choose the test mass
โข Insert the right amount of sample
โข Apply the test mass to compact the
sample
โข Measure the amount of sample flowing
through the die during a fix time or for a
specific piston displacement
โข Clean carefully piston, die, and barrel
MELT FLOW: THE TEST
Polymer
Melt
Extrudate
Constant Test
Temperature
10. KEY FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE RESULTS
Temperature
Accuracy
Preparation of
Sample
(moisture)
Sample
Compacting
Method
Parameters
Melt Density
Value
Manual
Operations
within Test
Maintenance of
Die and Piston
Cleaning
Procedures
Temperature
Stability
Choice of
Procedure
Encoder
Accuracy
Extrudate
Cutting
Precision
= most common
11. โข Is the barrel clean? Or is the die clean?
โข Increased friction between the barrel & piston will reduce melt flow rates
โข Is the test being run at the correct temperature?
โข Is system temperature control accurate and consistent throughout length of barrel?
โข Especially critical for materials that are sensitive to time-temperature history
โข Has the material been pre-conditioned according to procedure?
โข Hygroscopic materials give unreliable test results if they are not dried in consistent
manner
โข Moisture tends to generate bubbles and trigger degradation of sample
โข Is the melt density being used in the MFR calculations correct?
โข Was the material compacted properly (or were there air bubbles)?
KEY FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE RESULTS
12. MANUAL v. AUTOMATIC TEST OPERATIONS
โข Controlled Compacting
โข Better reproducibility and less
scattering of results
โข No physical effort required by
operator (reduces risk of injury)
โข Post-test automatic purging
โข Reduces total test time
โข Operator is ready to run next
test more quickly
โข Cleaning
โข Thorough cleaning extends life
of equipment & helps maintain
consistent results
13. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!
Please contact your local
Instronยฎ Sales Representative
with any questions.