Testing & Q-C.

Test instruments are becoming ever more automated, compact, and versatile. And Windows-based software is making them easier to use.

Bring along your own material samples--many exhibitors of test instruments at NPE '94 will be glad to give a practical demonstration of their wares. You'll see instruments that automatically measure rheological properties of polymers, both on-line and in the laboratory, along with new software to enhance their data-acquisition and analysis capabilities. Expect to encounter a slew of new mechanical test instruments, including several impact testers, and heat-distortion plus new controls and software.

There will be more new portable and affordable color-measuring instruments for q-c applications at this year's show, as well as benchtop spectrophotometers and Windows-based q-c and color-matching software. Also look for new introductions in moisture analysis and weather testing, as well as optical inspection systems and thickness gauges.

RHEOMETERS, MELT INDEXERS

Among companies that will feature new on-line rheological measuring devices is Killion Extruders, Inc., Cedar Grove, N.J., which will introduce its first on-line rheometer. Designed for continuous monitoring of viscosity and melt index during extrusion, the Killion Dual-Capillary, On-Line Rheometer performs real-time, multi-shear viscosity measurements without changing pump speeds. Melt-index calculations are possible in constant-rate operation. The system sells for around $60,00-65,000.

A rheometer that automatically calculates melt-flow index but can also determine shear rate and shear stress will be shown by C.W. Brabender Instruments, Inc., South Hackensack, N.J. The Auto-Grader, priced at $45,000, can be used on-line or in the lab.

Kayeness, Inc., a Dynisco Co., Sharon, Mass., which recently acquired the on-line rheometer line of Seiscor Technologies, Inc., Tulsa, Okla., will demonstrate its new on-line viscosity measurement instruments operating on an extruder and will also feature a new capillary rheometer.

Haake, Inc., Paramus, N.J., will show its recently introduced Rheocord RC90 torque rheometer. The RC90 is driven by new Windows-based software for control and data acquisition and is priced at $45,000. Also new is the PolyView data-analysis software package, which can be completely integrated with the Windows controls software. Priced at under $3000, PolyView is said to offer new advanced data-analysis routines and new tools for characterizing processability.

New software for capillary rheometers will be shown by both Haake and Goettfert of Rock Hill, S.C. Haake's is designed to work with the RC90 (and other instruments in the RC9000 series) for use in the characterization of polymers with respect to their processability, molecular structure and blend homogeneity. It sells for around $4000. Goettfert will have a new Windows-compatible, enhanced version of its WinRheo software that is said to offer "absolute rheometer control." Operators can design their own individual test routines such as shear-rate ramps to study slip-stick behavior or stress relaxation to examine elastic properties.

Both Rheometrics Inc., Piscataway, N.J., and Bohlin Instruments, Inc., Cranbury, N.J., will feature new rheometry products introduced earlier this year at the Pittsburgh Analytical Instruments Conference in Chicago. Rheometrics will show two dynamic stress rheometers, models ST-200 and SR-500, with new heated-plates (Peltier) option and more powerful software. Bohlin will bring its new low-priced dynamic shear rheometer--recently introduced to the U.S. market--and its CVO melt rheometer, said to be one of the most advanced controlled-stress or controlled-strain/rate rheometers on the market. Its modularity and enhanced measuring range give it a wide range of applications, including low-viscosity fluids, stiff pastes, or semi-solid materials.

New or improved instrumentation for determining melt flow will be featured by Ceast U.S.A., Inc., Fort Mills, S.C., and Tinius Olsen Testing Machine Co., Willow Grove, Pa. Ceast's Melt Flow Matic automatically performs volumetric and melt-flow-rate determinations on plastics according to ASTM D 1238, ISO 1133, or equivalents. It features a motorized piston that extrudes the excess material before and after the tests and a movable heating oven that enables the operator to easily clean or inspect the barrel. Tinius Olsen will show a melt indexer/extrusion plastometer operated by the company's new microprocessor-based MP 993 controller/timer, whose interactive software guides operators through the test and then calculates and displays the flow rate.

IMPACT TESTERS TAKE A SWING

At least three companies will introduce high-performance pendulum impact testers. From Ceast will be a new research-grade instrument with an energy level of 5 to 50 joules. The Resil 50 Pendulum permits use of a full range of instrumented and non-instrumented hammers for Charpy, Izod, and tensile impact tests in accordance with a wide variety of U.S. and European standards. With it will be a new digital recording system for high-speed acquisition, as well as the DAS 4000--a system that not only records analog data during impact tests but also can control the instrument (the new Resil 50 and other Ceast impact testers) during test execution.

Also on display--performing real impact tests--will be the new Model POE2000 high-performance, low-energy Charpy/Izod pendulum machine that meets ASTM and ISO specifications. It is new from Dynatup/General Research Corp., Santa Barbara, Calif.

Tinius Olsen will demonstrate its Model 92 microcomputer-aided pendulum impact tester with high-resolution results digitally displayed on a new Model 892 impact display.

Other impact testing instruments to be launched at the show include an automated drop-weight machine from Dynatup. Model SFS offers batch testing of up to 70 specimens at a pre-selected temperature from -60 to 300 F without operator intervention. The company will also have on hand a new drop-weight impact test machine, Dynatup Mini-Tower, designed for low-energy applications, including packaging materials and films.

Topwave USA, Inc., South Plainfield, N,J., will demonstrate its new computer-controlled falling-dart high-impact tester, called Impact II. And Testing Machines, Inc., Amityville, N.Y., will demonstrate the new Monitor/Impact Tester for Izod, Charpy, and tensile impact testing. TMI will also feature a low-cost, compact, pneumatic press for injection molding test samples.

MORE IN MECHANICAL TESTING

Instron Corp., Canton, Mass., will introduce two small, portable test instruments. The Mini 55 is said to offer the flexibility of the company's larger Series 5500 systems and is suitable for tensile, compression, peel, shear, and cyclic testing of films, adhesives, fibers, and textiles. The Mini 44 is a compact, lower-cost version.

Also new from Instron is the Model 4411 high-productivity mechanical tester and Windows-based Merlin software for the Series 5500. The recently introduced Model 8511, which combines fatigue and tension/compression testing, will also be on hard.

New to North America is the MT-RQ portable line of tensile and compression testers from Stable Micro Systems of the U.K. Introduced here by Mono Research Laboratories Inc., Williamsville, N.Y., these are aimed at lower-force applications. They are said to meet international testing standards and have "user-friendly" software. One model, the MT-Micro, weighs less than 30 lb.

Instruments for performing HDT or Vicat tests will be demonstrated by Ceast, Tinius Olsen, and Testing Machines Inc. Ceast's HDT 300 Vicat features six test stations with oil-based sample conditioning and can automatically perform all phases of the test cycle, including automatic cooling of the bath. Test results include deformation and penetration curves, test and temperature for each station, and a statistical report.

The Olsen Heat Distortion/Vicat/Deflection Temperature Tester from Tinius Olsen has a redesigned low-friction loading rod that reportedly provides greater accuracy and repeatability. The new HDT-Vicat from Testing Machines Inc. measures and records thermal test results.

Several new software packages for testing machines will be introduced. Chatillon, Greensboro, N.C., will have new data-acquisition software for its material-testing systems. A manufacturer of precision force-measurement instruments, Chatillon expanded its business last year with the acquisition of the materials-testing product line (i.e., tensile, compression, flexural modulus) of Lloyd Instruments. The Chatillon LR Series now consists of seven models with max. capacities from 550 to 33,000 lb.

MTS Systems Corp.'s Sintech Div., Research Triangle Park, N.C. will show its new TestWorks universal mechanical testing software for Microsoft Windows, which can be configured for ASTM, ISO, DIN, and other standard tests. And Applied Test Systems, Inc., Butler, Pa., will show its Series 1401 universal test machine with new software.

Other new mechanical testing instruments that will be on display include the Series 3710 test oven from Applied Test Systems and Chatillon's new 2004b motorized force-measurement test stand, the TCM-201. Also to be introduced at the show is the DXL digital extensometer from MTS Systems for testing high-elongation elastomeric materials, such as by ASTM D412 specifications. MTS will also show a new general-purpose, table-top material-testing workstation, the Sintech 10/D, which includes precision electromechanical crosshead drive, integral servo-controller, preloaded ball screws, optical encoder for precise position measurement, and high-speed computer interface.

Satec Systems, Inc., Grove City, Pa. is introducing the Apex line of PC-based servo controllers that offer comprehensive machine control and data acquisition for mechanical testing of plastics, advanced composites, and other materials. These units provide true PID control modes of speed, load, and strain. Their signal-conditioning hardware slides into a 486 floppy drive bay and supplies up to 16 channels.

COLOR & APPEARANCE MEASUREMENT

This year, there will be several new high-performance yet affordable portable spectrophotometers and colorimeters at the show. Also look for new research-grade spectrophotometers and lower-cost benchtop models for q-c. Some of these instruments will also feature newly introduced q-c and color-formulation software that, more often than not, is based on Windows. We have recently reported on many of these entries from companies such as Minolta Corp., Ramsey, N.J.; Macbeth, Newburgh, N.Y.; X-Rite, Inc., Grandville, Mich.; ColorTec, Lebanon, N.J., DataColor International, Lawrenceville, N.J.; Byk-Gardner, Inc., Silver Spring, Md.; and Color & Appearance Technology, Inc., Princeton, N.J.

Color & Appearance Technology will also demonstrate its recently introduced colorimetric video-camera system, called CAT/CAMS, for use in the lab or for continuous monitoring on a production line. It's said to be suited to difficult applications, including clear or translucent films and products with unusual shapes or textures (e.g., automotive tail-lights).

Color Instruments, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will introduce a miniature spectrophotometer for color measurement on-line or of remote, hard-to-reach parts or surfaces. The Color Mite utilizes a variety of fiber-optic reading heads and popular color-measurement scales and is said to be "very competitively priced."

Hunter Associates Laboratory, Inc., Reston, Va., will demonstrate the Spectra Probe, a new on-line, continuous-monitoring spectrophotometer system, along with new Windows-based software for its portable spectrophotometer.

TESTING COMPOSlTION ON-LINE

Sensotron, Inc., Huntington Beach, Calif., will demonstrate use of its fiber-optic infrared probes for on-line analysis of polymer composition or additives content. A probe will be mounted in an extruder barrel and connected to an i-r spectrophotometer to show real-time analysis of melt composition. The probes reportedly withstand 750 F and 30,000 psi.

In addition, Rheometrics will demonstrate nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), an analysis technique that's relatively unfamiliar to most plastics processors. NMR is said to be a fast, accurate, and inexpensive way to measure density in polyethylene and tacticity in polypropylene.

MOISTURE ANALYZERS

Omnimark Instrument Corp., Tempe, Ariz., will introduce the Mark I instrument capable of measuring the moisture content of 100 g or less of resin down to 0.005% with resolution to 0.001%. Test times range between 3 and 12 min. The unit has a built-in printer, programmable memory, and 2-yr warranty.

Arizona Instrument Corp., also of Tempe, will launch the latest addition to its line of Computrac moisture analyzers. Attendees are invited to bring their own sample materials for testing on the new Max-2000 model. An advanced weight-loss-on-drying instrument, the Max-2000 uses the latest digital-balance technology to detect moisture levels down to 0.005%. It is programmable from a panel menu that allows up to 30 test starts to be preprogrammed and stored in memory for fully automatic testing. Results can be obtained in as little as 2 min and automatically stored in memory. This system also features a built-in statistical software package for comparison and analysis of multiple tests. It accommodates sample weights of 150 mg to 40 g and sample moistures ranging from 50 ppm to 100%.

Cosa Instrument Corp., Norwood, N.J., will feature its recently introduced VA6SC automated water vaporizer designed to work in conjunction with the Mitsubishi Kasei CA-06 Karl Fischer Moisturemeter (also marketed by Cosa). The VA6SC has a 24-position sample carousel. As the carousel turns, each sample is automatically placed in a furnace to drive off moisture, which is carded in an inert-gas stream to the CA-06 titration cell for analysis.

WEATHER-TESTING EQUIPMENT

Among those that will show new equipment for performing weather testing are the Q-Panel Co., Cleveland; Atlas Electric Devices Co., Chicago; and Heraeus DSET Laboratories, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.

Q-Panel will feature its QUV accelerated weathering tester with new Solar Eye precision irradiance control. With the Solar Eye, users can choose the level of light output, which is then maintained automatically. Users can intensify UVA-340 lamp output to a level 75% higher than a standard QUV for fast tests that still maintain realistic conditions.

Atlas will have a new compact xenon-exposure instrument, model S3000, which reproduces and accelerates the natural effects of light, moisture, and heat in a controlled exposure.

Heraeus DSET will introduce an advanced accelerated-weathering chamber, Xenotest Alpha HE, that uses a proprietary xenon-arc light source said to achieve a higher irradiance level while reducing heat-generating inflated energy.

OFF-LINE FILM & PARTS INSPECTION

While on-line film-thickness gauges and flaw detectors are covered in the Extrusion section of this Show Preview, several new laboratory versions of instruments for inspecting films and rigid parts will also be introduced in Chicago.

Panametrics, Inc., Waltham, Mass., will show its newest model 25DL hand-held ultrasonic thickness gauge that can make accurate measurements from just one side of almost all plastic parts. Typical applications include blow molded bottles or containers, plastic coatings, cable jackets, rotational molded barrels, extruded pipe, injection molded parts, pre-forms and large flat sheets.

New optical inspection systems will be shown by C.W. Brabender and Bernhard Groth, Inc., Chicago. Brabender's Film Quality Analyzer (FQA) can determine gels and impurities in blown film or flat sheets either on-line or in the lab. It is priced at about $35,000. BGI will show its new T&T optical inspector series for polarized-light viewing of molded-in stresses in PET plastic preforms and bottles. Polymer flow patterns from the molding process are readily visible, as are many types of preform defects--thermal degradation, excessive crystallinity, and side-wall haze.

In addition, Topwave USA, Inc., South Plainfield, N.J., will demonstrate the new Hot Tack instrument, which automatically tests heat-sealing properties of packaging materials. Various parameters, such as sealing temperature, time and pressure, as well as cooling (dwell) time and peel speed are programmable by the user.

What to Look For

* Impact tester runs 70 samples automatically.

* Portable color-measuring instruments offer high performance at modest cost.

* Windows is new de facto standard for testing/analysis software.

* Moisture content measured quickly, automatically down to 0.005%.

* Observe stresses in PET bottles and preforms.