Modern Melt Flow Indexing Advances Polymer & Plastics Testing
You Will Learn:
- How digital advancements are shifting MFI testing
- Which plastics and polymers benefit most from loadcell-based melt flow analysis
- How deeper data insights improve new materials being developed for demanding applications
Evaluating the processing behavior of thermoplastic materials is becoming more intuitive, thanks to the use of automation and digitization in melt flow indexing. Materials testing in general is increasingly reliant on digital workflows, IoT-enabled instrumentation, and integrated robotics to enable more intelligent interpretations of material behavior.
Melt flow index (MFI) testing determines a polymer’s melt flow index value as well as critical parameters like material viscosities and batch-to-batch consistency. With the introduction of new loadcell-based melt flow indexers, materials testing environments across the board gain critical insights into polymer viscosity, molecular structure, and processing performance.
Overview
This white paper discusses how a material’s properties affect MFI as well as the reasons certain polymers are better suited for specific applications, as determined by the MFI. It also explores the differences and applications of traditional versus digital melt flow indexers and the application environment where each is best suited.
Digging deeper into the new digital advancements afforded by the loadcell-based MP1500, the paper examines individual application environments and how new analytical insights can contribute to better productivity, improved operations and the development of new polymer compositions.
Compliance to ASTM D1238 and ISO 1133 for MFIs is also reviewed along with the current landscape of the digital materials testing environment and the MFI’s role within.
