Materials & polymer testing

Melt flow indexer

Melts a thermoplastic in a heated barrel and pushes it through a small standard die under a fixed weight. The mass (or volume) of polymer that flows out in 10 minutes is the melt flow rate, a quick measure of how easily the polymer flows.

Polymers & plastics
Packaging
Pipes & fittings
Automotive
Recycling
Chemicals

Photo of a Melt flow indexer — Photo: Miladfarhani, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

CALIBRATION

MFI tester calibration procedures

Temperature and load verification

Checks that the melt temperature near the die matches the set point and that each piston-plus-weight combination gives the nominal load. Die bore and length are checked at the same time.

Open procedure

QUALIFICATION

Instrument qualification (DQ · IQ · OQ · PQ)

01
DQ
Define test conditions, temperature range, load set, Procedure A or B, and compliance with ISO 1133 and ASTM D1238.
02
IQ
Install on a level, vibration-free bench with ventilation; record serial numbers of barrel, die, piston and weights and their certificates.
03
OQ
Verify temperature at the die position, combined load masses, die dimensions, timer and encoder against traceable standards.
04
PQ
Test a reference polymer of known MFR and confirm the result falls within its stated range, then track it on a control chart.

In LimsPulse · Calibration Management

Keep every MFI tester in control: usage logs, calibration and maintenance schedules, and automatic blocking of overdue instruments.

See how