In-line rheometer device and method
US6691558B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 17, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2011/002
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method for measuring viscosity, melt flow index (MFI), and melt volume rate (MVR) of a polymer melt in real-time during an extrusion process to provide quick and accurate feedback for process control. The system includes a polymer processing rate sensor (36), a polymer melt temperature sensor (30), an extruder pressure sensor (32), and a die head temperature sensor (34) for taking in-line measurements during the extrusion process. The in-line measurements are made on the main process stream of the polymer melt, with the determination of viscosity, MFI, and MVR based on these measured values and those obtained during a calibration run with polymers having known properties. The invention can be used in any polymer compounding and extrusion process utilizing die opening with any constant geometry for monitoring quality and providing feedback for process control.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.