Polymer analysis

Polymer analysis

 
Molecular weight determination

GPC (gel permeation chromatography) analysis

We measure relative average molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of polymer and oligomer.
We target at soluble polymer in organic solvent (THF, chloroform, DMF, toluene, HFIP, water and all).

Viscosity-average molecular weight

We calculate viscosity-average molecular weight from measured value of the limiting viscosity (nylons, PET, PC and all).
Structure analysis

FT-IR analysis

We identify high polymeric material and organic compound in acquired spectrum while using library search and other analytical tools concurrently.

End group, functional group analysis

We determine the concentration of functional group in polymer (COOH group, OH group, NH group, epoxy group) by neutralization titration and potentiometric titration.
※We accept ISO/IEC 17025 qualification test on epoxy equivalent and total amine value.
Composition analysis

Copolymer composition (Py-GC-MS analysis)

We estimate monomer species that compose copolymer by pyrolysis of polymers and GC-MS analysis of the cracked gas with pylolyzer.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis by GC-MS

We perform qualitative and quantitative analyses by GC-MS and quantitative analyses by HPLC after we extract the remaining monomer in the polymer with heat (TDS method) or with solvents.
Heat characteristic

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

We measure fusion point, crystallization temperature and glass-transition temperature.
We also assay heat of transition associated with heat of fusion and crystallization.
We analyze thermolysis behaviors on decomposition temperature such as crystallinity and specific heat.

Thermomechanical analysis (TMA method) – normal measurement (compression, tension, penetration mode)

We make a measurement of glass-transition temperature, thermal expansion coefficient and liner expansivity (tension mode, compression mode, penetration).

Thermomechanical analysis (TMA method) – humidity control measurement

While the unit of the temperature dependence of the normal TMA is (1/℃), the humidity control TMA targets at hygroscopic materials (films) and assays the humidity dependence of expansion rate (rate of shrinkage) in increments of 1/%RH.

Thermogravimetry, differential Thermal Analysis (TG/DTA)

We measure fusion point, crystallization temperature and glass-transition temperature.
We also assay decomposition temperature (start and stop), and quantitate and collect the residue.

Specific heat capacity (DSC method)

We measure specific heat using DSC based on JIS K 7123 (specific heat capacity of plastics measurement method).

Heat conductivity

Heat conductivity is an index to evaluate heat transfer following Fourier’s law.
The thermal gradient of the objects between two heat sources with different temperature gets steady state after a while.
The amount of heat (the flow of heat) flowing at this time is proportional to the thermal gradient.
There are 4 measure approaches, which are temperature gradient method, disk heat flow meter method, hot wire method and steady-state, ac-temperature calorimetry.

Softening, embrittlement

We conduct a variety of thermophysical property tests following JIS/ISO/ASTM.
Deflection temperature under load (DTUL, HDT), vicat softening temperature (VST), ball pressure temperature (regulations for category electrical appliances and materials research committee, BPT), brittleness temperature of rubber and plastic materials.
Viscoelasticity

Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)

We analyze dynamic viscoelastic properties of solid polymer (storage modulus E’, loss elastic modulus E’’, loss tangent tanδ) using DMA apparatus (TA instruments/ Hitachi High-Tech Science).

Dynamic shear viscoelasticity (rheometer measurement)

We make a rheological measurement of liquid solution, melt and dispersion element with a rotary rheometer.
We can measure the thickness at glass-transition temperature and at fusion temperature of resin, thermosetting behavior, steady-flow viscosity, torsional vibration, tension and compression.
Liquid solution and melt characteristics

Solution viscosity

We assay the time of flow of polymer dilute solution and solvent with a capillary viscometer, and calculate relative viscosity, specific viscosity, reduced viscosity, viscosity number, IV value and logarithmic viscosity.

Viscosity measurement by rotating viscometer

We measure the acquired torque when a rotor rotates constantly in a specimen, and calculate the viscosity with Brookfield viscometer (B type) and Cone-Plate viscometer (E type).

Rotational viscosity – rheometer (shear rate sweep)

Using rotation viscometer, we make a measurement of the viscosity of liquid, emulsified or dispersed resin, paint, glue, monomer on a broad scale of shear rate and temperature.

Melt viscosity measurement by capillary rheometer

・JIS K 7199, ISO 11443
Melt viscosity is measured with different shear rate.
We can also assay real viscosity by tube length correction, elongational viscosity and die swell.

Melt tension measurement by capillary rheometer

The tension of molten resin is measured by passing strand extruded from capillary (die, orifice) through a pulley-type load cell.
We can measure the retrieval speed and the tension when judging by accelerated pickup, and the tension variation by fixed speed pickup (maximum, minimum, average).

PVT characteristic

We measure behavior change [P (pressure)-V (volume)-T (temperature)] when cooling, and use it for simulation data for flow analysis and die design.

MFR, MVR

The fluidity by static load is measured.
The melt flow rate would be g/10min and the melt volume-flow rate would be cm³/10min (JIS K 7210, ASTM D1238).

Morphological observation

SEM observation

We take a view of the surface and the cross-section surface of the specimen.
We also assay the elements by X-ray and map.

SPM- scanning probe microscope

The surface figure and the physics are observed by detecting the response from the cantilever which has some infinitesimal needles.
This will be applied to nano dispersion.

Optical microscope observation

The conditions of the specimen are examined under magnification (x 10~500).
We make a dimension measurement at a magnification (XY, minimum scale value 0.5μm).

Polarization microscope observation

The conditions of the specimen are examined by using polarization (x40~400).
Surface characteristic

Contact angle, surface tension

We digitalize a droplet image which is shot by a CCD camera, measure the contact angle and the liquid surface tension, and analyze the solid surface energy.

Surface roughness

We measure the contact surface roughness based on JIS B 0601. The arithmetic mean estimation (Ra) and the surface roughness in maximum height (Rz) are able to be examined.
Elemental composition analysis

Fluorescent X-ray analysis

This is a non-destructive analysis of elements contained in a specimen.
We can also screen the hazardous elements restricted by RoHS.

ICP-AES analysis

We perform qualitative and quantitative analyses of the metallic element contained in a specimen.
We can analyze around 70 elements focusing on metallic elements.

EDX analysis

We analyze the elements on a certain point of a picture (boron ~uranium) and map them along with SEM observation.

Ion chromatography analysis (anion analysis)

We assay the elements contained in high polymeric material such as rubber, plastics and fiber using anion chromatograph (apparatus) which works with an automatic combustion system.
【ions which are assayed : F–, Cl–, Br–, NO2–<>/sup>, NO3–, PO43-, SO42-】
General analysis

Water absorption rate

We calculate water absorption rate from the previous or next mass change after we dry a specimen for 24 hours and then soak it in pure water (purified water) for an optional hour and at an operating temperature.
JIS K 7209 and all.

Moisture content

We measure the moisture content in a specimen by JIS K 7251-B method (how to measure moisture content in plastics, water evaporation method, using Karl Fischer moisture titrate).

Density, specific weight

Based on JIS K 7112-1, we examine a density and specific weight by water displacement method or liquid pycnometer method.
We focus on solid molded pieces, sheets, and liquid resin.
We also measure a real density by gas displacement method based on JIS Z 8837.

Fiber content

The fiber mass content, fiber volume content, and void content in an FRP specimen.
We target at GFRP and CFRP, and we have 3 ways to measure (combustion method, nitric acid decomposition method, sulfuric acid decomposition method).
Safety

RoHS restricted substance

We examine restricted substances by RoHS and ELV.

Outgassing -TDS method (thermal desorption)

We perform qualitative and semiquantitative analyses of the gas when heating a specimen of molding materials, residual solvent and monomer.

Elution analysis

We soak a specimen in a variety of solvents, and perform qualitative and quantitative analyses of eluted substances.
preparation before analysis

Preparation before analysis (unbundling, abstraction, condensation, purification, cleaning)

We accept the preparation (abstraction, condensation and all) related to the analyzing services we offer as necessary.