MFI AND REOLOGY

OF POLYMERS
By JAYANTH.D
SPG0618012
CONTENT
• MFI definition
• Measurement of MFI
• Rheology definition
• Why rheology is required
• Rheology Tests
• Conclusion
MFI (MELT FLOW INDEX)
1. The melt flow index (MFI) or melt flow rate (MFR) is a measure for the ease of flow of melted plastics.
2. It is defined as the mass of polymer, in grams, flowing in ten minutes through a capillary of a specific
diameter and length by a pressure applied via prescribed alternative gravimetric weights for alternative
prescribed temperatures.
3. Melt flow rate is an indirect measure of molecular weight.
4. Melt flow rate is a measure of the ability of the material's melt to flow under pressure.
MEASUREMENT OF MFI
The procedure for determining MFI is as follows:
1. A small amount of the polymer sample (around 4 to 5 grams) is taken in the specially designed MFI
apparatus. A die with an opening of typically around 2 mm diameter is inserted into the apparatus.
2. The material is packed properly inside the barrel to avoid formation of air pockets.
3. A piston is introduced which acts as the medium that causes extrusion of the molten polymer.
4. The sample is preheated for a specified amount of time: 5 min at 190 °C for polyethylene and 6 min at 230
°C for polypropylene.
5. After the preheating a specified weight is introduced onto the piston. Examples of standard weights are
2.16 kg, 5 kg, etc.
6. The weight exerts a force on the molten polymer and it immediately starts flowing through the die.
7. A sample of the melt is taken after the desired period of time and is weighed accurately.
8. MFI is expressed in grams of polymer per 10 minutes of duration of the test
MEASUREMENT OF MFI
 RHEOLOGY
• Rheology is the science of deformation and flow within a material .

• Newtonian fluids can be characterized by a single coefficient of viscosity for a specific temperature .
Although this viscosity will change with temperature, it does not change with the strain rate. Only a small
group of fluids exhibit such constant viscosity. The large class of fluids whose viscosity changes with the
strain rate are called non-Newtonian fluids.
• Rheology generally accounts for the behavior of non-Newtonian fluids, by characterizing the minimum
number of functions that are needed to relate stresses with rate of change of strain or strain rates.
 RHEOLOGY OF POLYMERS

• Polymer rheology testing is the study of how the stress in a material or force applied is related to
deformation and flow of the material.
• Understanding the rheological properties of polymers through laboratory testing can help to optimize
products and process conditions, thereby saving costs and minimizing potential waste.
• Rheology tests are performed while the polymer is in the melt phase or while the polymer has been
dissolved in a solvent for intrinsic viscosity and relative viscosity.
• Rheological characterisation can be accomplished using a wide range of shear, tensile, and extensional
conditions. This data can be used for many purposes including: quality assurance, product development, and
to better understand material performance.
• Rheology testing can determine if materials are processed properly with minimal product degradation or to
understand the flow properties that are critical in molding application.
INTRODUCTION TO THE APPLICATION OF POLYMER RHEOLOGY

• Polymers are viscoelastic fluids, which behave viscous or elastic, depending on how fast they flow or are
deformed in the process.
• If a ball of silicone is subjected to a rapid deformation, for example bouncing on a table, the silicone ball
behaves like an elastic body. It is the recoverable elastic deformation, which stores the energy and makes the
ball bounce on the table. If the silicone ball is at rest for a longer period of time, the gravity causes the
material to flow thus making it behave like a viscous fluid.
• The viscosity is the prime material parameter in many processes
• A material which did process easily on a film blowing line twenty years ago may not run at all on today’s
lines, which operate at much higher draw speed. The process time has become much shorter and the
material under the new conditions is behaving more elastic, which consequently has negative effects on its
pro- cessiblity.
• The same is true for the flow in the mold during the injection molding process. Increased elasticity causes
more frozen-in orientation during the rapid cooling.
• The important structure parameters defining the rheology of the polymer melts are molecular weight (MW),
molecular weight distribution (MWD) and branching
 RHEOLOGY TESTS
CAPILLARY AND ROTATIONAL RHEOMETER
Viscosity measurements are performed with capillary and rotational rheometers.

CAPILLARY RHEOMETER ROTATIONAL RHEOMETER

CONCLUSION
• Rheology is very sensitive to small changes of the material’s polymer structure – thus ideal for
characterization of polymers.
• The rheology structure relationship is the key to the development of new materials
• Rheology is a most suitable tool for process and quality control.
• Rheology is a standard in the polymer industry to characterize materials with the goal to develop new and
better materials with the desired processing and end-use properties.