To understand the flow behaviour of the material before it is converted into a finished product. These tests include determination of Melt Flow Index and Rheometry;

• Melt Flow Indexer(MFI)*: (7026, Ceast, Italy) helps in the assessment of the average molecular mass and is an inverse measure of the melt viscosity. Knowing the MFI of a polymer is vital to anticipating and controlling its processing. Generally, higher MFI polymers are used in injection moulding, and lower MFI polymers are used with blow moulding or extrusion processes.
• Capillary Rheometry: (RH2000, Malvern, UK:) has its origins in polymer melt processing, but is also directly relevant to many other material processes such as high speed coating and printing applications. Based on controlled extrusion of a test material, capillary rheometry enables material flow and deformation properties to be characterised under conditions of high force (or pressure), high shear rate and at elevated temperature.

Including determination of mechanical properties where the effects of long times or cycles are not considered;

• Universal Testing Machine: (with environmental chamber and video extensometer*: (5569 A, Instron, USA) — Also known as a universal tester, materials testing machine or materials test frame, is used to test the tensile strength, flexural strength, lap-shear, trouser tear, stress relaxation and compression strength of materials under ambient conditions as well as at higher temperature.
• Pendulum Impact Tester*: (Impactor II, Ceast, Italy —The test is designed to give information on how a specimen of a known material will respond to suddenly applied stress. The test ascertains whether the material is tough or brittle. A notched or unnotched test piece is employed and the two methods, generally used, are either the Izod or Charpy test.
• Hardness Tester: (Shore A, Shore D, IRHD, egatech Overseas (I) Ltd.) The hardness test is a valuable and widely used mechanical test for evaluating the properties of metals as well as certain other polymeric materials. The hardness of a material usually is considered as resistance to permanent indentation.

All physical properties of polymers change with variation in temperature. Plastics melt at higher than ambient temperature; however, melting temperature of different polymers are different and the applicability of different polymers depends on melting behaviour. Therefore, it is extremely important to know the effect of temperature on the plastic materials, especially when those are used at elevated temperature.

• HDT/VICAT*: (HDT6 Vicat, 6921, Ceast, Italy) Measures the deflection temperature of materials under a given load. This property of a plastic material is applied in many aspects of product design, engineering, and manufacture of products.

Measurement of magnetic properties is very important, especially when magnetic particles are added into polymer to impart magnetic susceptibility.

• Magnetic susceptibility Meter (MS3, Bartington): The MS3 enables measurements up to 26 SI, with solution up to 2×10 -6 SI. It comprises a meter with a range of sensors and probes for measuring the magnetic susceptibility of many types of material including soils, rocks, powders and liquids. The system is suitable for use in the laboratory and in the field.

Electrical properties of polymers, elastomers, composites and plastic films are important to a range of industries like automotive, aerospace, construction, marine, packaging and consumer goods. Electrical tests are measurements of the resistivity, conductivity or charge storage either on the surface or through the material.

•     Four Probe Resistance Meter: (i) Four Probe Arrangement with built-in RTD sensor & PID controlled Oven, (ii) D.C. Microvoltmeter, Model DMV-001, (iii) Constant Current Source, CCS-01 —Range: 0-20mA & 0-200mA. For low resistivity samples like thin films of metals and alloys (iv) Low Current Source, Model LCS-02 — Ranges: 0-2A, 0-20A, 0-200A & 0-2mA, for highly resistive samples like thin films of polymers etc. Complete in all respect.

Moisture affects the morphology and mechanical properties of polymers. Moisture content of compounding ingredients should be well within the specification, as higher moisture content may adversely affect the performance of the polymeric goods.

• Moisture Content Analyzer: (MA 150, Sartorius) — The MA150 infrared moisture analyzer features a compact design along with flexibility of use. Their program memory enable efficient moisture analysis even for a large number of different samples and is therefore optimally designed for use in inspection of incoming goods and quality assurance.

The interaction between matter and radiated energy. Data is represented by a spectrum, a plot of the response of interest as a function of wavelength or frequency. It is a useful technique to identify unknown materials.

• FTIR: (Frontier, Perkin Elmer): Helps identify the polymer through the detection of functional groups present in its back bone.
• Colour Matching Spectra photometer (BGD556, Aadarsh- Bieuged): is basically used to determine the value of DE, DC, DH, L, A, B and C, for all Polymer, paints and liquids in both SCI and SCE mode. This machine also measures yellowness and whiteness index for polymers and powders besides being useful to check the colour consistency from batch- to-batch.

These tests evaluate the resistance of polymers to environmental conditions other than temperature and air. Liquids which have no significant effect on polymers in unstrained conditions can cause severe effects under strained conditions which results in failures.

• Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance Tester: (ESCR, 6947, Ceast, Italy): used to determine susceptibility of polymers to environmental stress cracking when subject to certain conditions.

These are the most frequently done measurements in testing labs. They could be used as routine measurements for quality control or for checking of consistency or as essential parts of other physical tests.

•  Mass and Density Balance (METTLER TOLDEO)
•  Vernier Calipers (Mitutoya)
•  Micrometer Screw Gauge (Mitutoya)