Melt Mass-Flow and Melt Volume-Flow Rate - ASTM D1238
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Extrusion rate of a resin through an orifice of defined dimensions at a specified temperature and load. Flow rates can be used to differentiate grades or provide a measure of degradation of a material as a result of molding.
Melt Flow Rate Procedures
| Procedure |
Description |
| A |
Manual Operation |
| B |
Automatically Timed Flow Rate Measurement |
| C |
Automatically Timed Flow Rate Measurement for High Flow Rate Polyolefins Using Half-Height, Half Diameter Die |
The testing conditions are most commonly reported as temperature/load (i.e. 190°C/2.16 kg). In the past several test conditions were given alphabetical designations, these designations are described below.
Historical Melt Flow Rate Conditions
| Condition |
Temperature (°C) |
Load (kg) |
| A |
125 |
0.325 |
| B |
125 |
2.16 |
| C |
150 |
2.16 |
| D |
190 |
0.325 |
| E |
190 |
2.16 |
| F |
190 |
21.6 |
| G |
200 |
5 |
| H |
230 |
1.2 |
| I |
230 |
3.8 |
| J |
265 |
12.5 |
| K |
275 |
0.325 |
| L |
230 |
2.16 |
| M |
190 |
1.05 |
| N |
190 |
10 |
| O |
300 |
1.2 |
| P |
190 |
5 |
| Q |
235 |
1 |
| R |
235 |
2.16 |
| S |
235 |
5 |
| T |
250 |
2.16 |
| U |
310 |
12.5 |
| V |
310 |
2.16 |
| W |
285 |
2.16 |
| X |
315 |
5 |
The term Melt Index is commonly used in place of the Melt Flow Rate for polyethylene at 190°C/2.16 kg.
Common Melt Flow Rate Conditions by Material
| Material |
Condition |
| Acetals (copolymer and homopolymer) |
190/2.16
190/1.05 |
| Acrylics |
230/1.2
230/3.8 |
| Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene |
200/5.0
230/3.8
220/10 |
| Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene/polycarbonate |
230/3.8
250/1.2
265/3.8
265/5.0 |
| Cellulose esters |
190/0.325
190/2.16
190/21.60
210/2.16 |
| Ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer |
271.5/2.16 |
| Ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer |
297/5.0 |
| Nylon |
275/0.325
235/1.0
235/2.16
235/5.0
275/5.0 |
| Perfluoro(ethylene-propylene) copolymer |
372/2.16 |
| Perfluoroalkoxyalkane |
372/5.0 |
| Polycaprolactone |
125/2.16
80/2.16 |
| Polychlorotrifluorethylene |
265/12.5 |
| Polyethylene |
125/0.325
125/2.16
250/1.2
190/0.325
190/2.16
190/21.60
190/10
310/12.5 |
| Polycarbonate |
300/1.2 |
| Polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene |
265/21.6
265/31.6 |
| Polypropylene |
230/2.16 |
| Polystyrene |
200/5.0
230/1.2
230/3.8
190/5.0 |
| Polyterephthalate |
250/2.16
210/2.16
285/2.16 |
| Poly(vinyl acetal) |
150/21.6 |
| Poly(vinylidene fluoride) |
230/21.6
230/5.0 |
| Poly(phenylene sulfide) |
315/5.0 |
| Styrene acrylonitrile |
220/10
230/10
230/3.8 |
| Styrenic Thermoplastic Elastomer |
190/2.16
200/5.0 |
| Thermoplastic Elastomer-Ether-Ester |
190/2.16
220/2.16
230/2.16
240/2.16
250/2.16 |
| Thermoplastic elastomers (TEO) |
230/2.16 |
| Vinylidene fluoride copolymers |
230/21.6
230/5.0
|
Similar Standards
Property information for specific grades of resin are available in Prospector.
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