Volume 20, Issue 54, July - December, 2023

Melt Flow Index (MFI) as a critical parameter in determining the efficiency of the 6^ft blow machine using different polymeric materials

Imoh UR, Okeke OR, Onu CE, Nwangbo TN, Onwe CU, Okereke EE

Plastic Production Unit, Scientific Equipment Development Institute, Akwuke, Enugu State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This work studied the effect of melt flow index value as a function of the efficiency of a 6^ft blow molding machine to be able to accelerate the production of plastic products from different polymeric materials. Virgin polymeric materials (nylon, polycarbonate, cellulose series, acrylic butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene) with strong bonding make-up, had MFI values ranging from 3875.84-3805.71 g/3min at full blown plastic product. Other virgin polymeric materials (high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene) with lower bonding make-up, had MFI values ranging from 3506.49-3412.98 g/min at full blown product. The MFI of the pure virgin at full polymeric product ranged from 3875.84-3412.98g/3min while the MFI values of the virgin mixed with crushed materials ranged from 3917.92-3483.12g/3min. For the 6^ft blown molding machine, polymeric materials with weak bonding make-up are more amenable to heat and therefore has lower MFI values, an indication that more plastic products would be produced within a given period of time.

Keywords: Polymeric materials, 6^ft blow molding machine, melt flow index, process and parameters

Indian Journal of Engineering, 2023, 20(54), e27ije1658

PDF

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v20i54/e27ije1658

Published: 6 July 2023