IVA0 pages

IVA
INTRINSIC VISCOSITY ANALYZER

Fully automated instrument for determination of
viscosity in polymeric materials.

Unlike the glass capillaries used in Ubbelohde viscometers, the
IVA stainless steel capillaries and tubing do not require
additional washing or rinsing, and provide robust and precise
viscosity values over time. The careful design of the heated
compartment and transfer lines ensure that no cold spots are
found and even the most challenging polymers can be analyzed.
When using IVA, the analyst places the vials with polymer into
the autosampler external tray, where they stay at room
temperature until they are scheduled for analysis under software
control. Then the instrument brings the vials into the dissolution
oven, fills them with solvent and starts shaking. Dissolution
temperature, shaking intensity and time are accurately controlled
so that the analyst can select the optimum conditions to achieve
full dissolution while minimizing thermal degradation.

High temperature autosampler for dissolution of samples in the same
instrument.
Full automation of dissolution and analysis processes. No manual
solvent handling.
Self-cleaning design based on dual capillary relative viscometer.
No need of accurate weighing when the optional IR detector is used.
Simple to operate and reliable instrument.
High precision achieved by automation.
Up to 42 samples can be analyzed sequentially without user intervention.
Analysis of high and ultrahigh molar mass polymers.
Low solvent consumption.

0.23

1.35
1.30

0.18
1.25

1.20

0.13

1.15
0.08

1.10
1.05

0.03
1.00
-0.02

0.95
0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

volume (mL)

Relative viscosity and IR absorbance raw data

The analysis of polyolefins and other polymers containing
significant C-H content can be further improved by the
incorporation of the optional Infrared detector IR4 to accurately
quantify the injected polymer mass, which results in improved
precision and accuracy of viscosity results.
Find out more at www.polymerchar.com/intrinsic_viscosity_analyzer

Polymer Characterization, S.A.

Gustave Eiffel, 8 Paterna
E-46980 Valencia, Spain

T.: +34 96 131 81 20
F.: +34 96 131 81 22

info@polymerchar.com
www.polymerchar.com

12

Relative viscosity

The principle of a relative viscometer is simple: the pressure
drop across a stainless steel capillary tubing caused by the flow
of polymer solution is compared to the one produced by the
solvent, which is measured simultaneously by a twin reference
capillary. The relative viscosity of polymer solution is derived
from the ratio of pressure, and intrinsic viscosity is calculated
taking into account the injected mass.

KEY FEATURES

IR absorbance

Polymer Char introduces IVA in response to the market need
for a reliable and automated instrument for intrinsic viscosity
analysis of polymeric materials, which can sometimes demand
temperatures up to 200ºC for dissolution. IVA is based on the
recently developed QC platform, which integrates in a reduced
footprint, a robust dual-capillary relative viscometer combined
with a high temperature autosampler of demonstrated reliability.
As an option, the infrared detector IR4 can also be added.