M0726(2):LMFI Series 5000 Lab Melt Flow Indexer
35
English 02/2014
Loading and Packing Material into the Barrel
The piston rod should be inserted into the barrel during heating and temperature stabilization
and between tests. Remove the piston rod and lay on a cotton cloth. Check to see if the die is
at the bottom of the barrel. Fill heat chamber/barrel with an appropriate charge or use about 5
grams if nothing is known about the material. Put the sample into a small beaker. Add about
two-thirds of the material into the barrel, using a fill funnel. The loading should be done in two
increments, the first consisting of approximately two-thirds of the material. Tamp down the
material with the packing tool using approximately 20 pounds/9Kg of force. The packing tool
can be driven through the fill funnel. If bridging (clogging) of the material occurs in the fill
funnel, slide the fill funnel off to one side (without lifting) and use the fill tool to pack the material
in the barrel directly. Move the fill funnel back into place. The remaining material should drop
down into the barrel. Repeat with the remainder of the material.
The Packer Option, if purchased, can be used to tamp down the material. Packer air pressure
is set, depending on material, to achieve the desired packing force. The packer must be
enabled, through the System Configuration screen. Material is loaded, as stated above, with a
funnel. The funnel is removed. The packer is pivoted around and held above the barrel. The
p
acker’s push button is pressed to extend the packer rod down into barrel. The packer’s push
button is released. The packer rod is released and the entire packer assembly will pivot back to
its starting position. If a lift option is also installed, the lift will not lower if the packer is not back
in its starting position.
Bubbles are present in the test sample charge if a snapping/popping sound is heard as the
extrudate is forced through the orifice. If bubbles appear in the extrudate, use less material
between tamping down. If bubbles continue, the sample may not be sufficiently dry.
Place the piston rod into the barrel by placing the piston rod directly over the slot/opening on the
top of the indexer barrel cover. Seat the guide bushing down into the barrel if it has not already
fallen into place. The guide bushing should be moving freely on the piston plunger. Place the
desired test weight on the piston plunger rod.
The lift option can be used to lower weight onto the piston. The lift must be enabled, through the
System Configuration screen. On the test setup screen, Auto raise, Auto lower and Auto Hold
can be enabled and used for weight sequencing.
