Polymer Extrusion Plugging:

• A polymer extrusion screen pack was prematurely clogging with material, affecting production. The lab SEM EXDA identified the suspect material as TiO2 conglomerates. In another extrusion plugging situation, extrusion blockages were caused by minute fragments of the paper bag was used for packaging the polymer granules.
  

Polymer Film Stickiness:

• A persistant stickiness problem with a polymer film was solved when the lab identified the problem by IR microscopic analysis as a result of excess amounts of a formulation component.
  

Polymer Film Oiliness:

• A polymer film was exhibiting an oily appearance. FTIR microscopy identified the surface film causing the problem, and demonstrated that a concentrated mixture of additives had migrated to the polymer surface and then plated out.

Polymer Composition Cost Reduction Project:

• A manufacturer was trying to minimise costly waste that was generated during the factory set-up change between product runs. Polymer compositions were analysed throughout the changeover process which enabled the customer to identify the optimum operating conditions.
  

Polymer Film Surface Defect:

• Pimple-like defects could be seen randomly scattered throughout the surface of a polymer film. Production was stopped while an investigation into the cause was carried out. Infrared microscopic analysis of the defects identified that an excess of one of the formulation components was responsible for the problem.
  

Global Polymer Problem-solving Expertise:

• Intertek laboratories are prepared to help clients understand and identify polymer related issues and problems with global analytical expertise and resources.

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