Fully-Automated Systems for Soluble Fraction Measurement by Using TREF Separation Capability

Polymer Char’s (Spain) CRYSTEX QC and CRYSTEX 42 are fully-automated systems for obtaining the soluble fraction in polypropylene and copolymers through the separation capability of TREF. Their approach stands as a modern alternative to the traditional wet chemistry method based on xylene solubility, which is known for being very time consuming and for requiring constant manual handling of solvent at high temperature. These instruments are very simple to operate and overcome all the difficulties related to the traditional method by automating the process entirely and reducing the time of analysis down to 2 hours including dissolution.

Accurate and precise quantification is achieved by means of an infrared detector (IR4), that also measures Ethylene Content for the whole sample, the soluble fraction, and the crystalline fraction.

Intrinsic Viscosity is also measured for the whole sample and its soluble and insoluble fractions by means of a built-in dual capillary viscometer, without adding analysis time.

While CRYSTEX QC was designed to be installed in each production plant to monitor the process or the grade changes by analysing a significant amount of powder sample (up to 4 grams), CRYSTEX 42 incorporates a high temperature autosampler with 42 positions and becomes a perfect complement to be used in a central lab, where large batches of pelletised more homogeneous samples need to be analysed.