To determine rheological properties and Brabender melt index during kneading or plasticization, agitators rotate at given speeds, whilst torque is determined at set intervals, producing results on-line, during processing

Kneading agitator(s) turn at given speed(s), measuring torque to a given point in time, from which flow properties and melt index are calculated. Preferred features: Speed of rotation is varied in accordance with a given program. Torque is measured at given points in time. The agitator(s) are rotated during three successive intervals, with suitably co-ordinated speeds. These intervals last from seconds, up to five minutes. Speeds are about 10 rpm, 50 rpm, and 100 rpm. The plastic mass undergoes complex dynamic multi-dimensional flow-related stressing. Torque impulse is measured during speed transitions, flow properties being calculated from this. Torque change is measured at given times. In a variant of the method, the torque is set over an interval, measuring the resultant speed, to calculate the properties. Gemessen werden das Fließverhalten und der Brabender-Schmelzindex einer plastischen Masse. Die Masse wird in eine Knetkammer gegeben. Deren Knetschaufel(n) wird (werden) mit vorgegebener und meßbarer Drehzahl und/oder vorgegebenem und meßbarem Drehmoment während einer frei wählbaren Zeit gedreht. Bei vorgegebener Drehzahl wird das Drehmoment und bei vorgegebenem Drehmoment wird die Drehzahl zu bestimmten Zeitpunkten gemessen. Aus den Meßwerten werden das Fließverhalten und der Brabender-Schmelzindex berechnet.