TESTING | MATERIALS


notes. The new systems are designed for stream- lined operations to allow efficient sample observa- tion and use by those with limited expertise. A high-current mode shortens measurement time to reduce the overall time involved in analysing a large number of measurement points. The automation features of the TM4000PlusIII allow the creation of recipes for conditions to control functions such as stage position adjustment and magnification, which previously needed to be manually configured every time for each sample. Routine tasks can thus be automated. Another feature is a monitoring system that checks the condition of the tungsten filament and graphically reports its condition. This function allows users to track the filament lifetime and plan ahead for regular filament replacement.


Thermal analysis New from Mettler Toledo is the DSC 5+ with MultiStar sensor technology. The instrument has high sensitivity that allows measurement of weak effects and can be operated in either Heat Flux or Power Compensation mode. In the latter mode, the power introduced by the two integrated sensor heaters is precisely measured in both the sample and reference crucibles, allowing separation of close-lying thermal effects. The patented electrical heat flow adjustment automatically adjusts the DSC over the whole temperature range. Up to 96 sample crucibles and 7 reference crucibles can be stored in the crucible chamber for robotic handling and automated measurement. A DSC can also be used to perform thermo-


gravimetric analysis (TGA). TGA in combination with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) can be used to detect low concentra- tions of volatile organic chemicals such as dimethylformamide. The latest in thermal analysis from Perkin


Elmer is the Pyris TGA 9, DSC 9, and STA 9 systems for material characterisation, product development and quality assurance. New features include an intuitive touchscreen with indicator lighting, a redesigned 50-position autosampler, and a wider temperature range that is beneficial at the low-end for materials with lower glass transi- tion temperatures (eg silicone) and at the higher end for materials like ceramics, alloys and com- posites, the company says. A small footprint with a compact and modular furnace design allows easier serviceability. Knowing what polymer types are in a com- pound is a particular challenge when using post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. Near-


www.compoundingworld.com


infrared spectroscopy and Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy have limits in complex and highly pigmented polymers, but thermal analysis with DSC and TGA can be a useful tool, said Alec Redmann, Sector Manager at Netzsch Analyzing & Testing, which showcased its new computation- al tools for the automatic identification of mixed plastic waste, along with software for process modeling and optimisation, at AMI’s Polymer Testing World Expo North America in November 2024. The Netzsch fully automatic AutoEvaluation tool for its DSC uses automatic peak separation and a database of more than 1,500 polymers for automatic identification. DSC can identify and quantify polymer components.


Combination “Combining DSC with TGA, you can also identify residues,” said Redmann. For example, in a recent study with the German Institute for Polymer and Production Technologies (IPT) of PCR, TGA identi- fied cellulose, which decomposed at a lower temperature than the polymers, and aluminium, which did not thermally degrade. The DSC analysis, com- bined with the TGA information, allowed the researchers to quantify the amounts of LDPE, LLDPE/HDPE and PP and distinguish between organic fibre residue and inorganic components. Anton Paar TriTec is expand-


ing the Revetest scratch tester series with the new RST 100, which the company says is a simplified, user-friendly instrument for surface analysis, including scratch testing and conventional hardness measurements. The software enables automatic detection of indenta- tion imprints and scratch features. The company says that the RST 100 was devel- oped to meet the requirements of educational institutions, research departments and companies with limited budgets. The instrument is suitable for quality assurance in production as well as for material development in research.


Compostability testing In the growing market of biodegradable or compostable thermoplastics, testing to substanti- ate claims is crucial. Since the general term “biodegradable” does not have a measurable definition and cannot be claimed in the US or Canada without also stating specific environmental


March 2025 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 41


S : E


Above: Work is continuing in the further development of compostability standards


T


M I


U H


G A


E T


S R


T


O


K C


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56