CRYSTEX^® 42, a High-throughput System for Simultaneous Measurement of the Soluble Fraction, Ethylene Content and Intrinsic Viscosity. 

Polymer Char’s CRYSTEX® 42 is a large-capacity and fully-automated approach for obtaining the soluble fraction in homogeneous (pelletized) polypropylene and copolymers. This instrument stands as a modern alternative to the traditional wet chemistry method based on xylene solubility.

CRYSTEX® 42 is based on the TREF separation concept in which the sample is loaded into a TREF column for measuring the soluble and crystalline fractions of the polymer. The dissolution process becomes part of the automated analysis workflow, so unattended analysis of a large set of samples can be performed in a two-hour period. CRYSTEX® 42 represents significant savings on manpower, solvent and time, but it increases health and safety levels in the laboratory.

Results are very precise due to automation and the integration of an infrared detector (IR4), which precisely measures the amount of sample analysed as well as the ethylene content. For a truly complete analysis, the instrument also measures intrinsic viscosity by means of a built-in dual capillary viscometer. All these results are obtained simultaneously for the whole sample, the soluble fraction and the crystalline fraction.