Application of Melt Flow Rate Tester

A plastics compounding manufacturer specializes in the production of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and engineering plastic masterbatches. The company supplies materials to packaging, automotive, and home appliance industries.

With increasing orders and tighter quality requirements from downstream clients, the customer needed a more reliable method to evaluate polymer melt flow performance during incoming material inspection and finished product quality control.

Customer Requirements

During project communication, the customer highlighted the following needs:

(1) Accurate measurement of melt flow rate (MFR/MFI) for multiple polymer types

(2) Wide temperature range to cover engineering plastics

(3) Stable load system compliant with GB/T 3682.1-2018

(4) High temperature control precision for repeatable results

(5) Reliable operation suitable for daily production testing

(6) Compact structure suitable for laboratory benches

Solution Provided

Based on the application scenario, we supplied the Melt Flow Rate Tester, designed strictly in accordance with GB/T 3682.1-2018.

The instrument enables precise determination of melt flow properties of thermoplastic polymers at elevated temperatures and is suitable for both quality control and R&D environments.

Materials tested by the customer include

(1) Polyethylene (PE)

(2) Polypropylene (PP)

(3) ABS resin

(4) Polycarbonate (PC)

(5) Nylon (PA)

Key Advantages for the Customer

High-Precision Extrusion Structure

The instrument adopts a standard-compliant extrusion system:

Die diameter: Φ2.095 ± 0.005 mm

Barrel diameter: Φ9.550 ± 0.007 mm

Precision piston design

This ensures excellent test repeatability and full compliance with standard requirements.

Eight-Level Standard Load System

The tester provides eight standard test loads ranging from 0.325 kg to 21.600 kg, covering common polymer testing conditions.

Customer benefits

(1) Flexible testing for different materials

(2) Compliance with standard load requirements

(3) High load accuracy (≤0.5% error)

(4) Easy weight combination and operation

Wide Temperature Range with High Stability

Temperature range: 50–400 °C

Control accuracy: ±0.1 °C

This allows the customer to test both commodity plastics and high-temperature engineering plastics with consistent results.

Reliable Operation for Production Labs

The compact structure (250 × 350 × 600 mm) fits well in the customer’s QC laboratory. The instrument operates stably under typical factory environmental conditions, supporting routine batch testing.

Customer Results

After implementation, the customer reported the following improvements:

Incoming material screening became more reliable

Batch-to-batch consistency of products improved

Test repeatability met internal QC requirements

Operators found the instrument easy to use

Daily testing efficiency increased

The customer has since integrated the tester into their standard quality control workflow.