| Instrument |
Uses
of Instruments in Testing PVC |
| Analytical
Balances |
Weighing of samples
for various types of tests.
Testing specific gravity of fused PVC compound. |
| ASTM Bulk Density
Cylinder |
Apparent Bulk Density:
Weight of a known volume of loosely packed, dry PVC resin. |
| ASTM
Resin Flow Funnel |
Resin
Flow: Measure of how well PVC resin flows under gravity. |
| Atomic Absorption
Spectrometer |
Testing metal content
of PVC stabilizers. |
| Brabender
Compounding Mixer, Compound Press |
Gels
(also called fish-eyes): PVC resin particles that do not readily
absorb plasticizer during compounding, causing visual or structural
defects in finished products. |
| Brabender Dryblend
Mixer |
Dryblend Time: Amount
of time PVC resin takes to absorb plasticizer during compounding.
|
| Brabender
Plastographs |
Testing fusion
properties of PVC compound.
Testing dynamic degradation properties of PVC compound.
Testing fusion properties of intermediate of PVC compound.
Gas evolution studies for foam PVC.
Capillary rheometer evaluation. |
| Colour Spectrophotometers
Hunter Colourimeter |
Determination of colours
of PVC compounds and articles for colourmatching
Measure the colour of PVC resin hue. |
| Differential
Scanning Calorimeter |
Testing glass transition temperature of lubricants.
Testing glass transition temperature of reaction intermediates.
|
| Drop Dart Impact
Testers |
Testing the impact
properties of PVC compound. |
| Durometer |
Testing
the hardness of fused PVC compound. |
| Falling Weight Impacter |
Determination
of impact resistance under variable temperature weights
and tup configuration. |
|
FTIR – Fournier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer
|
Infrared spectra of raw materials.
Testing PVC stabilizers.
Testing lubricants for PVC.
Determination of ingredients, unknown materials and contaminants
in PVC and other polymers. |
Gas Chromatographs
Headspace Gas Chromatograph |
Testing raw materials
for stabilizers and lubricants.
Testing intermediates of tin stabilizers.
Residual VCM: Amount of vinyl chloride monomer (chemical used
to manufacture PVC) remaining in the resin after manufacturing,
expressed in parts per million.
|
| Gel
Permeation Chromatograph |
Testing the molecular weight distribution of polymers.
(PVC, Acrylic polymers and polycarbonate)
|
| Heat Build-Up Apparatus |
Testing the heat
build up of PVC materials relative to a reference. |
Horiba
Particle Size
Analyzer |
Testing the particle
size distribution of PVC resin.
Testing the particle size distribution of PVC compound.
Testing the particle size distribution of PVC additives. |
| IR Thermometer |
Testing temperature
of PVC compound while mixing. |
| Instron
Universal Tester |
Determination of tensile, flexural, modulus, creep or compression
characteristics at various temperatures. |
| Isotemp Ovens |
Testing thermal
stability of PVC with heat stabilizers.
Testing thermal stability of stabilizers in PVC.
Testing moisture content of PVC additives.
Testing PVC profiles for shrinkage. |
| Izod
Impact |
ASTM4812
for notch sensitivity. |
| Laboratory Extruders
ľ to 1˝ inch single screw |
Obtain extrusion
data and properties on compounded PVC powders, pellets and
cubes. |
| Laboratory
Heated Press |
Preparing PVC compound samples for UL testing.
Preparing thin films of PVC compounds and additives for IR
analysis.
|
| Laboratory High Intensity
Mixers
3 to 15 kg batch |
Preparing powders
for testing colour of PVC compound.
Preparing powders for testing colour of PVC masterbatch.
Preparing powders for testing colour pigments for PVC compound.
Testing of rheological properties of PVC compounds.
|
| Melting
Point Apparatus |
Testing
the melting point of PVC lubricants. |
| Micrometer |
Measuring thickness
of extruded strips and profiles. |
| Moisture
Balances |
Testing
moisture content of PVC additives and PVC resin after manufacturing,
expressed as a percentage. |
| Muffle Furnaces |
Testing the expansion
of intumescent PVC compound and ash contents. |
| Opacity
Measuring Apparatus |
Measuring
the opacity of PVC products. |
| Optical Microscopes |
Examining surface
of extruded PVC compound.
Examining PVC compound.
Examining PVC resin. |
| pH
Meters |
Testing pH of PVC stabilizer bi-products.
Testing pH of intermediates of acrylic latex.
|
| QUV Accelerated Weathering
Panels |
Testing the weathering
properties of PVC materials. |
| Refractometer
|
Testing the refractive
index of raw materials.
Testing the refractive index of stabilizers.
Testing the refractive index of PVC stabilizer bi-products. |
| Relative Viscometer |
Inherent Viscosity
(I.V.): Measure of average PVC polymer chain length. Related
to PVC resin melting temperature during compounding. |
| Rotary
Evaporator |
Removing
water from PVC stabilizers. |
| Sieve Shaker &
ASTM Sieves |
Testing the particle
size distribution of PVC resin, including coarse particles
> 40 mesh.
Testing the particle size distribution of PVC compound.
Testing the particle size distribution of PVC additives. |
| Stirring
Hot Plates |
Heating
PVC lubricants in organic solvent for testing acid number. |
| Two Roll Laboratory
Mills |
Fuse PVC compound into
sheets that can be further tested for colour or impact.
Stability testing of PVC compounds. |
| UV
Light |
Trouble
shooting of PVC compounds. |
| Vibrating Trough |
Discoloured Resin:
PVC resin particles that darken when exposed to heat for prolonged
periods of time during manufacturing.
Foreign Contamination: Any non-PVC particles observed in resin
after manufacturing. |
| Viscometers |
Testing
viscosity of intermediates of acrylic latex and liquid lubricants. |
| XRF Analyzer |
Testing metal content
of PVC powders
Testing metal content of PVC lubricants.
Testing metal content of PVC stabilizers. |
