Determination of the Mathematical Equation of Intrinsic Viscosity as the Function of Melt Flow Rate on Polypropylene Block Copolymer
Asep Fahrudin, Jasmansyah, Anceu Murniati, Hernandi Sujono, and Arie Hardian*

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Informatics, Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani, Cimahi, West Java, Indonesia.
E-mail: arie.hardian[at]lecture.unjani.ac.id

Abstract

Melt Flow Rate (MFR) analysis is commonly performed to determine polymer quality, is a relatively simple test and does not require a solvent. MFR value is the main parameter to be reported which is inversely related to the molecular weight of the polymer. Intrinsic Viscosity (IV) analysis also needs to be carried out to characterize the molecular weight of polymer where the IV value is directly proportional to the molecular weight. IV analysis is a long-time analysis, requires solvents and is generally carried out automatically using complex instruments. The research purpose is to determine an equation that correlates MFR and IV values of polypropylene block copolymer so that IV value can be obtained and reported more quickly and efficiently through the calculation of the MFR value. The equation that correlates MFR and IV values was studied and obtained by performing MFR and IV measurements simultaneously on a population of polypropylene block copolymer powder samples with various specifications. A comparison of MFR and IV values shows that the relationship model is inversely proportional to the power equation as follows: IV = 2.5257 (MFR)^-0.209 with a coefficient of determination R2 = 0.964. IV value can be obtained through calculation from the result of MFR analysis.

Keywords: MFR, IV, Correlation, Polypropylene block copolymer, Molecular weight

Topic: Polymer Chemistry & Bio-based Materials