Materials & Processes


4 For chemical companies to be able to store, move and use their raw materials effectively, an understanding of each material’s particle characteristics is essential. Eugene McCarthy explains.


Particle characterisation key to understanding raw materials


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n a new web-based seminar from Malvern Instruments the company’s ‘nylon characterisation technology package’ is explored. The webinar outlines how the utilisation and combination of several


analytical technologies employed within Malvern’s Viscotek family of instruments are assisting manufacturers of nylon to precisely control physical properties, processability and performance characteristics. Nylon (the generic name for a family of


polyamides) is an extremely versatile synthetic thermoplastic that is made of repeating units linked by amide bonds. It is widely known that nylon fibres are


manufactured for products such as fabrics, carpets, strings and ropes, and as solid nylon in mechanical parts for construction, automotive assemblies and many houseware items.


Molecular weight distribution


Manufacturers rely on important and complementary information about molecular weight distribution, structural characteristics and viscosity to better control the physical properties, processability and performance characteristics for these diverse applications. The webinar highlights how the techniques


of gel permeation chromatography (GPC), flow injection polymer analysis (FIPA) and dilute solution viscosity (DSV) combine to efficiently meet this important analytical need, from development through to manufacturing and quality control (QC). GPC analysis provides extensive molecular


information to support the development of new specifications for defined applications and the optimisation of manufacturing processes. It is a cornerstone technique for polymer scientists,


enhanced through the use of multiple detectors that maximise information from each experiment.


Viscosity measurement


The Viscotek DSV system is a highly automated option for fast, safe and efficient intrinsic viscosity measurement, a primary parameter for determining processing performance (Fig.1). FIPA is a tool for rapid molecular weight, molecular size, and intrinsic viscosity measurement, well-suited to QC and screening within process development. Unlike GPC it does not provide distributions of molecular properties, but the upside is productivity - as many as 6–10 samples can be measured per hour. The presentation is free to view, register here:


www.malvern.com/nylon-webinar New experimental data from Freeman


Technology demonstrate how dynamic, shear and bulk powder testing can be applied to quantify the impact of humidity on powder behaviour, supporting the need to develop effective strategies for moisture control and process optimisation. ‘Quantifying the impact of humidity on powder properties’ by Freeman’s powder technologist Brian Armstrong and operations manager Jamie Clayton is now available for download at the company website: www.freemantech.co.uk Of the many factors that influence powder


behaviour, moisture, or humidity, is perhaps one of the most instantly recognised and potentially one of the most problematic. Adding even small amounts of water to a powder can transform its properties. The challenge for formulators and process engineers is to understand the extent to which a powder will take up moisture and, more importantly, how this will affect the powder and its performance.


Impact of humidity


The new white paper explores the impact of humidity through the application of dynamic, shear and bulk property testing using Freeman Technology’s FT4 powder rheometer. Together these techniques reliably quantify how powder behaviour changes as a result of moisture uptake, providing the comprehensive insight needed to develop effective strategies for moisture control and process optimisation.


Fig. 1. The Viscotek DSV system is a highly automated option to determine polymer performance.


26 www.engineerlive.com


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