EN
The quality is guaranteed before it is even molded. Before a finished plastic product is even produced, characteristics such as molecular weight, viscosity, heat resistance, and mechanics are already fixed as its building blocks, through polymerization. Polymer testing guarantees all these important characteristics comply with standards of performance, as well as improving yield and profitability for manufacturers. We here at Hangzhou Zhongwang Technology Co., Ltd. over 80 independent IP certified, state-certified, high-tech enterprise - produce smarter polymer testing equipment for exactly this purpose.
Ensuring Consistent Product Quality
The performance of any polymer is dictated to a large extent by the type and distribution of the molecular weights present in the polymer chains. This sensitivity means that even minor changes to the molecular weight parameters can result in profound changes to the mechanical properties of polymers and the way they behave in thermal applications and processing operations. If a polymer product contains unexpected changes to its molecular weight specifications, they may not be identified until the product fails inspection due to the failure to meet requirements, or worse, failed final product.
The measurement of intrinsic viscosity (IV) gives a direct and reliable measure of molecular weight and therefore, serves as one of the most important QC test methods for polymers.
Testing the intrinsic viscosity of polymer material at different stages of production, including the polymerization process, during compounding and final product evaluation, allow the manufacturers to ensure quality along each step and identify any undesirable changes in time before they enter production. For any quality laboratory tasked with managing polymer material, testing intrinsic viscosity helps prevent inferior material from being released. Additionally, IV measurement supports efforts toward total quality improvement and continual process optimization efforts, such as trend analysis of process variations.
Optimizing Processing Efficiency
This processing behavior is highly influenced by the molecular weight and viscosity of the polymer. High molecular weight polymers will have increased melt viscosity and will have effects on extrusion speeds, injection molding cycle times, and energy use. Low molecular weight polymers will have improved flowability but may sacrifice mechanical properties.
Accurate polymer testing allows manufacturers to know which polymer grades they should use in their particular application and allows them to maintain consistent processing parameters in their manufacturing process.
By understanding the value of the intrinsic viscosity, a manufacturer can identify where they can make processing adjustments in order to maximize the relationship between production and product quality. With regard to injection molding the stability of polymer characteristics results in reduced variability in cycle time and parts quality. For extrusions, steady melt flow rates leads to more uniform wall thicknesses and better control over dimension integrity. By reducing the variables in the process, accurate testing will minimize downtime, product scrap, and waste energy consumption.
Meeting Regulatory and Customer Requirements
Manufacturers exporting to different countries have the challenging task of fulfilling various regulatory requirements and customer specifications. Polymer testing is a critical component of a company’s global product strategy to show the international market that the products conform to relevant international regulations.
The data resulting from polymer testing are crucial to certifying new products to industry standards such as ISO and ASTM, as well as other country-specific requirements. Product certification often necessitates the use of detailed and well-documented polymer testing data. Such reports serve to demonstrate that materials will consistently satisfy agreed-upon customer requirements in the global market, thereby enabling companies to pass customer qualifications and provide timely support. For the medical sector, tests are conducted for such standards as biocompatibility testing for medical implantability and for leachable study data. Similar for food packaging polymer analysis it entails migration testing, to be in conformity to FDA or EU guidelines for Food Contact Materials.
Testing also helps ensure that customers are confident. By means of providing evidence based on robust material and polymer test reports, manufacturers’ claim of quality for new materials can be established and sustained in highly competitive environments.
Supporting Innovation and Product Development
A firm understanding of molecular structure – material property interactions is key when manufacturing new products and innovating beyond their existing capacities. This understanding guides materials selections and product design. In reliable testing of new grades, the characterization and data collected from the testing of new polymer grades of any material is vital in the evaluation of applications.
Data from intrinsic viscosity testing or gel-permeation or viscosity measurements is extremely valuable for linking material structure with mechanical characteristics, process-ability and thermal durability as well as processing temperatures.
As such this data offers assistance when selecting formulators or making design decisions. Old products with their new characteristics It is also helpful in new existing products for the characterization of: the impact of the substitution of new raw material supplies/grades; the effects of new processing parameters; modifications to product formulation/design.
Summary
Manufacturing enterprises’ focus on correct measurement results, in the process of manufacturing materials will affect on the final product quality, ensure the effective processing, to achieve and fulfill various regulatory requirements and promote product innovation. Only with the reliable quality measurement of each step of the material processing can achieve high quality output, efficient and effective material processing and establish the trust of customers, let your product stand out in the global market. Hangzhou Zhongwang Technology Co., Ltd., will be the testing needs of customers with the world leading technology to provide effective test plan.