Among the first instruments plastics moulders, extruders, and compounders are likely to consider when outfitting
a new lab is a Melt Flow Indexer or “Melt Indexer.” Known as an extrusion plastometer in more technical jargon,
this apparatus has long been used to determine the melt flow rate or mass flow rate (MFR) of virgin and compounded
thermoplastic resins. With the increased pressure on plastics processors to comply with quality standards for
quality management, more of them are using these instruments to evaluate incoming material and test finished products.
The melt indexer consists of a heated barrel and piston assembly to contain a sample of resin. A specified load (weight)
is applied to the piston, and the melted polymer is extruded through a capillary die of specific dimensions.
The mass of resin, in grams, that is extruded in 10 minutes equals the MFR, expressed in units of g/10 min.
(This value is also commonly called the melt index, MI, or melt flow index, MFI.) Some instruments can also calculate
the shear rate, shear stress, and viscosity in centipoise.
-
Melt Flow Indexer
Model: MP1200 Procedures A
New Touchscreen control latest evolution of melt indexer to meet almost every need Three zone band heater and three controllers enable an unprecedented temperature control to within 0.1 deg C USB connectivity allows multiple MP1200s to be connected to a pc running Horizon software Conforms to ASTM D1238, D3364, ISO 1133, BS 2782, DIN 53735, JIS K7210 and other similar methods -
MFI Accessories - Automatic Timing Switch
Model: PPDT600
Testing according to Procedures B & C (ASTM D1238) or for volume measurement tests (MVR) and melt density calculations To reduce the human involvement with the machine during the test and increase accuracy and repeatability of test results -
MFI Accessories - Automatic Cutting Device
Model: Auto Cut
Automatically cut the extrudate once triggered Best performance for PP, HDPE and LDPE
MFI Accessories - Motorised Weight Support
Model: MWLD
Automatically applies test loads to the piston at a user selected time interval during the test Up to 25 Kg of weight supporting-
MFI Accessories - Automatic Purging and Cleaning
Model: Auto Purge&Clean
Available as either a purge only accessory or a purge and cleaning accessory To purge the sample after loading and test finish automatically for labor saving Automatic pull out the piston and clean barrel automatically after test finish -
MFI Accessories - Flow Rate Ratio
Model: FRR
To determine flow rate using two or three different test loads on one charge of material Testing according to Procedures D (ASTM D1238)