Examples - Measuring Filler Concentrations in Polymers

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Solid, mineral fillers are commonly added to polymers to produce compounds with superior mechanical or other properties. The Proceptor can measure the concentrations of these fillers in real-time, ensuring that feeders are properly dispensing the correct materials at the correct concentrations.

Optical methods are inapplicable for measuring filler concentrations in polymers because polymer compounds are opaque. The Proceptor dielectric analyzer is uniquely capable of making these measurements.

Measured permittivities of relatively non-polar polymers correspond quantitatively well with literature values. Polyolefins, polystyrenes and many other polymers are non-polar and agreement is quantitatively good. Polar polymers like polyamides and polyesters have higher permittivities in the melt, primarily due to conduction effects at elevated temperature.

When non-conducting fillers (e.g. minerals) are added to non-polar polymers, the permittivities of the resulting compounds agree quantitatively with published mixing rules. This enables the in-line dielectric measurements to quantitatively determine filler concentrations.

Some example applications in which Proceptor dielectric analyzers have been successfully used for quantitatively measuring concentrations of fillers in polymer melts include:

Alumina concentration in polystyrene

Calcium carbonate concentration in polystyrene

Void ratio in urethane elastomer foams

Silica filler concentration in silicone polymers