The fusion behavior and thermal stability tests on a torque rheometer with a mixing measuring head in compliance with ASTM D2538 are considered two of the most important test methods in the industry regarding the formulation development of rigid and flexible PVC.
This presentation gives insightful operational tips for both test procedures and best practices for consistent and reliable results. Understanding the data and picking the right characteristic points is at times challenging due to operator bias if it is not done automatically. New generations of drive units, software and mixer enhancements such as added safety features will round off the best approach to those critical tests.
Christoph Pielen studied Mechanical Engineering - Specialization of plastics processing engineering - at the RWTH Aachen University, Germany.