MATERIALS | TESTING
feedstocks compared to virgin resin, which can affect the final product’s flexibility and optical clarity. “Another popular technique, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) reports the weight change in polymers on heating and can provide information about polymer degradation and stability. When TGA is combined with complementary techniques like mass spectrometry (MS) or Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, labs can obtain detailed insights into the chemical identity of the decomposition products, such as additives and fillers.” TA Instruments offers a comprehensive range of thermal analysis, rheology and mechanical testing equipment that directly provide solutions for the polymer industry. These include the Discovery Series DSCs, multi-sample X3 DSC, and TRIOS software platform. According to the company, its Discovery Series
DSCs provide the flat baseline performance required to identify the weakest thermal transitions that might be present due to trace quantities of additives or contaminants. The new Multi-Sample X3 DSC provides the ability to test three samples simultaneously on the same instrument, accelerating productivity at every level of materials testing and allowing replicate testing and statistical analysis to be carried out in a single test. The TRIOS software platform, used across TA Instruments’ suite of thermal analysis and rheology equipment, offers a combined instrument control and data analysis package. It is said to eliminate the need to learn multiple programs, decreasing training time and increasing efficiency, while its TRIOS AutoPilot feature allows users to create automated routines to further reduce training requirements.
Right: Dynisco’s LMI 5500 melt indexer simplifies intrinsic viscosity testing of PET
Crystallinity concerns One of the areas where its DSC equipment is being employed is in quantifying and controlling the crystallinity of recycled PET (rPET) resins. TA Instruments says this is especially important when rPET is used to produce parts for automotive and aerospace applications, where crystallisation behaviour can be affected by differences in molecular weight and impurity content in the rPET feedstock. DSC tests only require a few milligrams of material per run, which it says is a real positive for compounders, masterbatchers and converters. Waters Corporation and TA Instruments says that
many of its future developments will support the compounding and masterbatch industry as it transitions from virgin resins to PCR materials, which will require analytical solutions that support the increased need for routine chemical identification of polymer samples as part of quality control. The newly introduced RADIAN ASAP mass detector from Waters Corporation offers rapid, easy, low-cost mass spectrometry analysis of polymer samples within a compact benchtop footprint. Further, evolved gas analysis (EGA), achieved by combining TGA with techniques such as FTIR/MS/GC-MS, will continue to gain importance due to the increased variability and contamination present in incoming feedstocks. According to Johannes Lorenz, Sales Manager, Dynisco Europe, global initiatives for recycling and the circular economy have proved to be significant drivers for polymer testing and analytical equipment. “The market is growing in its need for tools that will improve quality and throughput,” he says. “The demand for more recycling content requires dealing with various raw material sources, which makes stringent quality control along the process chain a key factor. In addition, the equipment needs to provide accurate results over a large range of products and applications. Ease-of- use and a quick understanding of method and operation also becomes increasingly important as quality control moves towards the production floor.” Lorenz highlights a number of further development trends in polymer analysis. These include quick adaptation for product changes so that analytical services and quality control can follow a flexible production schedule, as well as making results accessible quickly, if not in real time. Training on methods and equipment also need to be tailored to customer needs and be accessible regardless of the location through e-learning, remote learning, case studies and white papers, for example. In addition, solutions are being developed for increased recycled content and new
32 COMPOUNDING WORLD | January 2022
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: DYNISCO
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