Melt flow Index

Melt flow tester

 General Process Description:

This piece of equipment must be used by a trained person. This equipment melts the polymer
samples & finish goods and extrudate it through a prescribed orifice under specific loads and
temperature conditions. User must be properly trained on this piece of equipment to get highly
standard results.

 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

1. Before using the instrument, ensure that you will at least meet the following protective
requirements:
2. Safety Glasses
3. Closed-toe shoes with socks
4. Long pants (no shorts!)
5. Lab coat (Optional: Sleeves rolled up)
6. No loose pieces of clothing, long sleeve shirts need to have the arms rolled up

Before proceeding you must have read and are familiar with the safe operations.
 Special Handling Procedures and Storage Requirements

Make sure when inserting the polymer sample the barrel must be cleaned properly.

 Accident Procedures
If you are injured; depending on the severity of the injury either go to the Technical staff for first aid
and fill out an incident report or if the injury is severe call help and receive medical attention
immediately.

 Training requirements
Prior to entering and working in the laboratory, you must have completed the training. In starting
the experiment, work with experienced person for couple of days. One person must be present in the
lab along with you.

 Decontamination
Wipe down area when finished the work and throw the wastage in designated dustbin.

 Test Specimen Size :-

At least 20cc (8-10 gm Approx.) of material required in granule, powder or cut in small chips
form.
  Precise Process Description of MFI
1) Check the power is ON.
2) Inspect the barrel, making sure that there is nothing stuck in it and in good condition.
3) Clean it with tissue paper by a given cleaning rod.
4) Clean with xylene solution if not cleaned by tissue paper.
5) Set the temperature as per requirement.
6) Put the die in barrel carefully and make sure it is aligned properly.
7) Fill the material (polymer sample) through hopper and push it by a given rod above the mark on
piston.
8) Leave it there for 180 seconds as per set temperature.
9) Put the weight on i.e. 2.16 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg, and 21.6 kg as per standard to the plunger.
10) A timed (i.e. 10 sec, 20 sec, 60 sec etc. as per materials viscosity) extrudate is collected between
the reference mark on the piston and weight it.
11) Collect 3-5 extrudate sample and take out the average value of the extrudate samples.
12) Melt flow rate values are calculated in g/10Min.
13) Remove the die and clean the barrel & die after tests.
Note: DO NOT PUSH SAMPLE WITH YOUR HAND.
 Calculations:
MFI = (600 × avg. weight of extrudate)
t
t = time of extrudate in second, Melt Flow Rate = g/10 min.
For Examples: MFI of LDPE is calculated, cutting time 30 sec
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Avg. Weight MFI (g/10 min)
Weight 1.02 g 1.04 g 1.02 g 1.026 g 1.026 x 20 = 20.5

Testing methods as per ASTM D 1238:

S. No. Polymer Sample Temperature Load (kg)
1. PE 190oC 2.16/10/21.6
2. PP 230oC 2.16
3. PS 190oC 5
4. ABS 200oC 5
5. PET 210/250/285 oC 2.16
6. Nylon 235oC 2.16/5
7. PC 300oC 1.2