Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet

Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science

Lab Report
On

Determination of Melt flow index of supplied polymer sample

Course title: Polymer characterization sessional
Course code: CEP 374

Lab Group: 01
Submitted to:
Dr. Mohammed Mastabur Rahman
Professor
Dept. of CEP, SUST
Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman
Associate Professor
Dept. of CEP, SUST
Submitted by:
Mahazabin Mim
Reg. no: 2016332010
Session: 2016-17

Date of submission: 22-09-2019

Title:
Determination of Melt flow index of supplied polymer sample.

Abstract:
The objective of this experiment is to determine the melt flow index of a supplied polymer sample
(polypropylene). For conducting the experiment, at first polymer sample (polypropylene) was
taken and then placed it in the melt flow index tester under a certain load (2.16kg). The temperature
of the tester was allowed to rise from 149℃ to the pre-fixed temperature 175℃ so that the sample
could melt. Melting point of polypropylene ranges from 130 to 140℃. After melting, the melted
polymer started to come out through a small nozzle present below the tester due to the applied
load. The diameter of the nozzle was 2mm. the sample was collected after two minutes and then
the weight of the sample was measured. The time was maintained using stopwatch. Finally, the
melt flow index was measured.

Introduction:
Melt flow index (MFI) is the ability of a material to flow in limited interval of time so that that
material can be used in any standard machine, which has certain limitations based on flowability of
material used. The MFI of any polymer is calculated as the weight/10 min through melt flow
testing machine at standard temperature. MFI is a well-known property of plastic/polymer-based
material obtained by equipment called melt flow tester.
The melt flow tester consists of a cylindrical barrel that is wrapped and surrounded by a heater
coil; the heater has an outer periphery of insulation material to restrict the loss of heat and is
controlled automatically by a process control box. This setup also consists of a standard weight
applied by the piston, a piston head, and dies to deposit the materials.
The melt flow index test is regularly used in the geosynthetics industry to measure the molecular
weight of a polymer indirectly. It also determines the flowing property of the plastic. The polymer
is heated in a small oven and a normal load is applied to the molten material. The melted material
is extruded through an orifice and the weight of the extruded material over a 10-min period is
recorded as the melt index (MI) value. Assuming all other things are equal, the lower the MI values,
the higher the molecular weight and the broader the molecular weight distribution.1

Materials and methods:

 Materials:
1) Melt flow index tester
2) Polymer sample (polypropylene)
3) Electric balance
4) Weight (2.16 kg)
5) Stopwatch

1
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/melt-flow-index
 Experimental set-up:

Fig: Melt flow index tester

 Methods:

1) To determine MFI of a certain polymer, the granular polymer sample was poured into the
cylindrical barrel of the tester and a temperature condition was set.
2) Then, some time was allowed to achieve the predefined temperature.
3) After establishing the predefined temperature, pressure was applied with the piston bar to
the cylinder using a certain weight above the piston bar.
4) With the application of pressure with the certain weight, material flow was occurred
through the nozzle in the form of wire.
5) As the material was started to come out of the machine, the time for coming material was
noted down using a stopwatch.
6) The material was collected after 2 minutes and was further subjected to weighting to
determine its mass.
7) Same procedure was applied for three times.
Calculation:

Applied load = 2.16 kg

Nozzle diameter = 2 mm

Table:
Time Mass of extruded polymer
2 min 0.64 gm
2 min 0.70 gm
2 min 0.72 gm

Time, t = 2 min
Weight of the discharged polymer, m = (0.64 + 0.70 + 0.72) gm/3
= 0.68gm
For t = 2 min, m = 0.68 gm
So, for t = 10 min, m = 3.43 gm

𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒 (𝑔𝑚)

Now, Melt flow index = 10 𝑚𝑖𝑛

= 3.43 gm/ 10 min

= 34.3 mg/ 10 min

Result and discussion:

The melt flow index of polypropylene is 34.3 mg/10 min.

While conducting the experiment we faced several problems like we faced difficulties during the
weight measurement of the discharged sample. We faced problem during the time maintenance
using stopwatch. Though all these difficulties we were able to measure the melt flow index of the
polymer and found the desired result.

Conclusion:

This experiment was done by assuming some idealized conditions such as melt index was in good
working order, machine has been calibrated by a certified methodologist, continuous uniform flow
of melt polymer and constant flow rate of molten polymer that may not be so which may cause
error in the experiment. While conducting the experiment, we should take the reading of time and
weight carefully. Also, we should feed polymer particulate constantly to maintain the steady state
flow. Although these we can say that we tried our best to get the desired result.