Carbon Black Determination Machine

Determines carbon black content in PE, PP, PB materials by operating at high temperature under inert nitrogen atmosphere. Digital PID with Fuzzy Logic control.

Confirming the UV protection in PE and PP pipe compounds

Black PE and PP pipe relies on carbon black to block UV light; too little and the pipe embrittles outdoors. Carbon black content is measured by pyrolysis: the polymer is burned off under a nitrogen atmosphere, the carbon black residue is weighed and reported as a percentage of the sample. Because any oxygen leak or temperature overshoot burns off carbon black too, the furnace needs tight control — this device works from 50 to 900 °C with ±0.1 °C sensitivity, digital PID/fuzzy-logic control and gas cleaning, to ISO 6964 and ASTM D1603.

• Temperature range: 50–900°C
• ±0.1°C sensitivity
• Digital PID with Fuzzy Logic
• Inert nitrogen atmosphere
• Gas-cleaning system
• Max 2g sample
• 40 kg net weight

Standards

• ISO 6964 — Polyolefin pipes — determination of carbon black content
• ASTM D 1603 — Carbon black content in olefin plastics

Frequently Asked Questions

How is carbon black content determined?

A sample of up to 2 g is heated under nitrogen so the polymer decomposes and leaves, while the carbon black remains. The residue is weighed and the content is calculated as a percentage of the original mass.

Why is a nitrogen atmosphere needed?

Without oxygen, the carbon black itself cannot burn. If oxygen enters the chamber, part of the carbon black burns off and the result comes out artificially low. The device requires 99.9% nitrogen.

What content is typical for PE pipe?

Most PE water and gas pipe standards call for roughly 2–2.5% carbon black; the exact limit is stated in the applicable pipe standard.

Does this device also check dispersion?

No — dispersion is a separate microscope test (e.g. ISO 18553) on thin sections. Alarge's microtome prepares those sections.

Thermal Analysis Systems