by Ana Urbina (Admin)
Plastics Industry: Getting real value from your investment
While investing in high-end devices is important, without professional advice you may incur in significant losses.
Unlike other materials, plastics have specific infrared properties that may challenge some devices, causing wrong readings and lowering the quality of your final product. These properties may vary according to the type of plastic, thickness, coating or even colour.
Measuring thin film requires a specific narrow band spectral response, while thicker film or sheet can generally be measured by a broad band spectral response. An infrared sensor is able to accurately measure a target’s surface temperature through a narrow absorption band on the infrared spectrum. For measuring thin films, the sensor’s “window” must coincide with the plastic’s absorption band. Infrared wavelengths are measured in microns (μm). The following graphs are spectrophotometer readings of different types and thicknesses of plastics. The red arrows indicate where an infrared sensor can take accurate readings. All three types have absorption bands in the 3.43 micron range, but notice that the 0.25 mm clear PVC plastic also has a larger absorption band at 7.9 microns. Solid or coated PVC may only have an absorption band at 7.9 microns.
We provide a high-end selection of devices, but our specialists can also evaluate the required wavelength and guide you towards the most optimized solution for your desired process:
- Blown Film Extrusion
- Sheet Extrusion
- Laminating and Embossing
- Thermoforming
- And more
All our solutions can easily be integrated in your existing systems, guaranteeing greater control, safety and efficiency. It is up to you to make the difference!