Posted by HTT Magazine on 17th Feb 2026
Carver Press Selection Guide: Auto vs. Manual Hydraulic Press for ASTM Test Plaques
Why plaque making presses matter in polymer testing
If you run polymer QC, formulation, or materials development, you already know the truth: bad plaques create bad data. Tensile strength, impact resistance, hardness, shrinkage—almost every downstream test depends on plaque quality. A hydraulic press (often “Carver press” shorthand) is the backb… Read more
Posted by HTT Magazine on 17th Feb 2026
Rheology 101: Viscometer vs Rheometer for Polymer Melts (What You Actually Need)
Why rheology is central to plastics processing
In plastics, “flow” is everything: extrusion stability, injection fill, die swell, fiber spinning, film blowing. Melt behavior isn’t just one number. Many polymers are shear-thinning and viscoelastic, meaning they respond differently depending on shear rate and time.
That’s why labs often ask:
D… Read more
Posted by HTT Magazine on 17th Feb 2026
DSC Buying Tips: What to Look for in a Used Differential Scanning Calorimeter
Why DSC is a workhorse in polymers & plastics
DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) is one of the most useful instruments in polymer analysis because it supports:
melting temperature (Tm)
glass transition (Tg)
crystallization behavior
oxidation induction time (OIT) (method-dependent)
cure behavior for thermosets and adhesives
For many plastics labs, DSC is the… Read more
Melt Flow Indexers: How to Ensure a Refurbished Plastometer Meets ASTM D1238
Why Melt Flow Index (MFI/MFR) remains essential
Melt flow rate (MFR) / melt index (MI) is one of the most common QC tests in plastics because it’s:
fast
standardized
strongly correlated with molecular weight changes
useful for detecting degradation and lot variation
That’s why many polymer buyers and processors still require ASTM D1238 melt flow data.
If y… Read more