Optical process windows keep an eye on production

Tag : melt flow index

The probes can be supplied in "transmission" configurations, wheretwo probes are mounted on the same axis on either side of the flowto be studied, or in "reflectance" configurations, where the lightsource is typically transmitted down a central fibre, and theback-scattered light is collected and passed to the analyser by abundle of fibres around the central one.
SWOPP01 has been designed especially to allow the fibre opticbundle to be removed from the probe without the need to remove theprobe from the machine, so the plant need not be shut down to allowprobe removal.
This provides a ready method of using the same analyticalinstruments to take measurements at different points on the plant,or of using different analytical techniques with the same probe.
Celsum Technologies MD, Roy Carter, said: "The SWOPP SapphireWindow probes are a welcome addition to our range of process andlaboratory instrumentation.
Analytical methods such as NIR, FTIR and UV provide powerful meansof getting real-time information on the instantaneous state of theproduction process.
In some cases, the data obtained may be correlated to parameterssuch as viscosity and melt flow index.
SWOPP Probes have applications in quality control andtrouble-shooting for production and pilot plants, and in researchand development too".
The probe bodies are made in stainless steel, typically 17-4PH or316, with a precision-ground, abrasion-resistant sapphire windowbonded into the interface with the test material.
The inner face of the sapphire window inside each probe is groundat an angle to minimise internal reflections from the windowitself.
Probes may be supplied to operate in vacuum or up to highpressures, and to temperatures of 360C.
Additionally, they may be supplied with standard SMA connectors toallow the optical fibres to be disconnected, or with integral fibrebundles of a length to suit the needs of the application.