BYOS CB

Carbon black dispersion analysis in plastic

Carbon black dispersion analysis in plastic
BYOS CB is functional system for carbon black dispersion analysis in plastic. This system equipped with high performance software adapted for quality image analysis and based on BYOS analytic platform. You can easy expand the scope of application for this system with using additional BYOS accessories.

 

Microptik Dimic

Concept

Thermoplastic products manufactured for pipeline systems are normally coloured. Typically fine carbon black particles or coloured pigments are used are used for that purpose. These are normally incorporated into the raw material prior to either extrusion of pipe or injection moulding of pipe fittings.The purpose of colouring is to allow identification of the pipeline in service and also, in the case of carbon black, to act as protection of the polymer from degradation by ultra-violet light if the product is stored externally or used for external service. It is important that the carbon black or pigment particles are correctly dispersed in the polymer, and hence the final product, to ensure that the physical, mechanical and surface protection properties are maintained.

Correct dispersion may also be an indication that anti-oxidants and ultra-violet stabilizers are correctly dispersed, and that the size of agglomerates of particles is not excessive. Microptik has developed a carbon black testing method for the evalutation of the degree of pigment or carbon black dispersion in polyolefin pipes, fittings and compounds. The carbon black testing method is applicable to polyole fin pipes and fittings, as well as raw material in pellet form, with the choice of procedure to be determined by the referring specification. The method is applicable to carbon black pigmented polyolefin pipes, fittings and compounds with a carbon black content of less than 3 %.

Principle

Small samples of raw-material pellet or material removed from the pipe or fitting are heated and compressed between microscope slides. Alternatively, a microtome slice can be taken. The specimens produced are examined microscopically and the sizes of particles and agglomerates are measured, recorded and graded by comparison with a tabulated grading system. A particle/agglomerate size grading is determined from an average of the gradings determined for six specimens. Automatic analysis of carbon black dispersion system generates rich text format report, with recorded and calculated data. Example of the short report is shown on the next page.

Microptik Lab-robot CB4 principle

Microptik Lab-robot CB4 principle

Grading of particle and agglomerate size

Using following table, determine the highest particle/agglomerate size grade for each specimen. Calculate the arithmetic mean of the six grades obtained and express the result to a single decimal point, rounded up to the next higher value.

Microptik Lab-robot CB4 grading

Arithmetic mean of the six grades obtained: ( 0+ 0+ 2+ 0.5+ 0.5+ 3)/6= 1