Important To Test Properties of Molten Plastics

What makes plastics renowned among all?

Well, it is the flexibility of the plastics that makes plastics fit in any application. It is flexible in nature and can easily be molded in any shape and size.

You can find plastic polymers/granules in a wide range of colors, which eliminates the need to die according to the application. For example, a toy manufacturer doesn’t have to dye the plastic to manufacture colorful toys as he can easily have different colors of plastic granules to mold to fulfill the requirement of manufacturing.

But, before initiating the production process, you need to first check which type of granule is perfect for your application. Melt Flow Index is the property of the plastic that helps to determine which form of plastic is best for which application.

Why to test molten properties of plastic?

Molten property also known as viscosity of a material is the most important property which is essential to check the suitability of the types of granules with any particular application. But why is it important to test the molten state / viscosity / fluidity of the plastics?

Well, Plastic is used only after melting it down and a manufacturer should know how the raw material would behave when he actually starts processing it. By examining the result of the melted plastics, it becomes easy for the manufacturer to understand that the raw material they are using for the production is perfect and will give best outputs only.

Before initiating the production process, it is important to understand what specimens are must to have in the raw material, but you cannot know the exact value unless you perform the test. For example, you cannot know the exact values of the melt flow rate of any plastic until you cannot melt it using a standardized testing machine.

How to test the melt flow rate (MFR) of plastic granules?

To test the molten properties of plastics, the best and renowned testing machine is - melt flow index tester. It is a laboratory testing machine that measures the melting property of the plastics. The MFI property is judged when plastic granules pass through an orifice every ten minutes. It helps in determining various attributes of the material such as viscosity, chemical structure, strength and so on. The testing instrument that is used for measuring the MFI of plastic material is called melt flow index tester. In order to ensure that the test is conducted correctly, it is mandatory to follow the test instructions that are stated in the standard ASTM D1238. Even after following the standards, some people make certain mistakes that affect the end results.

To help you get the best results, here we have mentioned a few precautions that must be taken care while conducting the Melt Flow Index Test.

1. The test condition should be selected according to the material chosen. You can refer to the test condition table given in the standard for the quick reference. If no condition is specified in the standard for the required application, then the flow rate of 0.15 to 50 g/min should be selected.
2. The temperature of the barrel must be set as per the standard accurately.
3. Thoroughly check and clean the orifice for any particles from the previous test, if any.
4. Visually analyze the orifice for any scratches. Make use of a go-no-go gauge to check the diameter of the orifice.

If you are looking to buy a Melt Flow Index tester to examine the properties of plastic granules, contact Pacorr testing Instruments.