David B. Todd

Morphology and Rheology Sensors for In-Line and On-Line Microstructure Monitoring in Compounding

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses mainly on examples of applications and discusses results of tests carried out using the online Flow Cell® and inline tools. Although the terminology used in referring to real-time and continuous monitoring techniques may vary in the literature, it is becoming accepted that “in-line” refers to measurements or monitoring made directly on the main process stream, while “on-line” refers to measurements performed on a split side stream. A series of experiments were conducted using the Flow Cell® attached to the Single-Screw Mixing Element Evaluator (SSMEE). The first set of experiments was conducted to perform in-line viscometry during PP degradation. In the second set, the microstructure of a PE/PS blend at different concentrations was monitored online. In the third batch of experiments, four LDPE resins were evaluated for gel/impurities content. The Flow Cell® in these experiments was attached directly to the 1 in., 24 L/D single-screw extruder with no mixing section. The chapter elaborates the in-line viscometry: peroxide degradation of polypropylene, the on-line monitoring of blend microstructure, and the on-line screening for impurities in melt streams.