Understand the Properties of Polymers with Melt Flow Index Tester

In the plastic industry the quality of the final products depends on a variety of factors and one such factor is the quality of raw materials. The raw material used for manufacturing plastic and polymeric products is the plastic grains. The manufacturers have to assess the physical as well as the chemical traits of the plastic grain to decide the best possible manufacturing process. The melt flow rate is a major indicator of the physical as well as the chemical properties of plastic grains. The MFR of plastic is measured with a highly sophisticated testing instrument called Melt flow index tester.

What is the melt flow index?
The melt flow index of a plastic or polymeric material is referred to the amount of plastic in molten state that can flow from an opening of a specific size in a given duration of time. The MFR gives information about the molecular structure, viscosity, and strength of the plastic material. A higher MFR means a lower viscosity and lower strength. This test procedure can help manufacturers in deciding the application of a particular material for manufacturing a product.

How to perform Melt Flow Index Testing?
The melt flow index testing is conducted with a highly precise and robust testing instrument called melt flow index test machine. It consists of a die, extruder and motor assembly. The motor assembly contains the screw mechanism that propels the molten specimen through the die. The specimen is heated and melted with the help of an electrically heated zone. The size of the orifice of the die along with the viscosity of the specimen decides the rate at which the specimen falls. After passing through the die, the molten specimen falls over the weighing scale. After a set period of time, the amount of specimen that fell on the weighing scale is measured and the melt flow rate is calculated. This way manufacturers can determine the processing conditions that are apt from the polymer.

Salient Features of Melt flow index

• A higher melt flow index of a polymer indicates its lower molecular weight.
• The viscosity of the polymer is inversely proportional to its MFI.
• The MFI values of a single material at different gravimetric weights depicts the molecular weight distribution of the materials under the testing conditions.
• The molecular weight calculated using the MFI test gives insights into the intermolecular strength and bonding of the material that plays a vital role in deciding the strength of the material.

Highly Precise MFI tester by Pacorr
The Melt flow index tester offered by Pacorr is designed as per the international standards ASTM D1238 and ISO 1133 that define both machine specifications as well as the testing conditions. This means that the test results offered by the apparatus offered by are accurate and internationally credible. The instrument is manufactured using high grade materials to ensure robust performance and long life. Additionally, all the instruments provided by Pacorr are NABL accredited.

To learn more about Pacorr’s Melt flow index tester, contact our experts today.