In-Line Measurement of Solubility of Physical Blowing Agents in Polymer


 

 Bubbles seen through the Window

Low Melt Pressure - Medium Melt Pressure - High Melt Pressure

 

Description of Apparatus

 The In-Line Solubility measurement apparatus at PPI consists of a custom designed single screw extruder, Physical Blowing Agent injection accessories, adjustable pressure control valve, optical window and video equipment. Metered quantities of polymer and physical blowing agent are fed and mixed into the extruder. A travelling microscope, video camera, TV monitor and VCR are used to monitor the quality and opacity of melt-physical blowing agent through the optical window. The melt pressure at the window is controlled by a manually controlled valve, which is placed downstream. The melt pressure, temperature and the blowing agent flowrate are menitored and recorded digitally.

 

Schematics of the Apparatus

 

Results:

Experiments were conducted with Polyolefins, Polystyrene, Polesters and various other polymers with environmentally friendly blowing agents such as Nitrogen, Carbon dioxide and argon. Results are published in a number of technical journals and can be found in the publication section.

 

 

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For more information please call

Subir K. Dey

subirdey@yahoo.com

Tel. # (973) 642 4996

Polymer Processing Institute

at

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Dept. PEC/CMS

218 Central Avenue

Newark, NJ 07102