AptIR miniature infrared pyrometers are useful for measuring temperature of a variety of materials including metals, ceramics, plastics, polymers and rubbers.
AptIR miniature infrared pyrometers are a cost-effective non-contacting thermometers that are extremely useful for measuring temperature in many applications and of materials, including, metals, ceramics, plastics, polymers, rubbers and so on.
They can be used for applications such as monitoring bearing temperatures, in-process materials, hot-spots, chemical reactions, and in R and D applications, electronics testing, mobile applications, and many, many more.
Applications in Rheometry As some materials are extruded or otherwise distorted during processing, the energy imparted during the process and friction with the die walls may be manifested in a significant increase in temperature.
This phenomenon is known variously as viscous heating, shear heating and viscous dissipation.
This can have unexpected effects on the mechanical and physical properties of the product and upon its appearance, and can lead to severe quality control problems.
For example, rubber compounds may exhibit "scorch" or premature curing, some plastics may exhibit partial degradation, foods may start to cook, and active pharmaceutical ingredients may become denatured.
As some materials are extruded or otherwise distorted during processing, the energy imparted during the process and friction with the die walls may be manifested in a significant increase in temperature.
This phenomenon is known variously as viscous heating, shear heating and viscous dissipation.
This can have unexpected effects on the mechanical and physical properties of the product and upon its appearance, and can lead to severe quality control problems.
For example, rubber compounds may exhibit "scorch" or premature curing, some plastics may exhibit partial degradation, foods may start to cook, and active pharmaceutical ingredients may become denatured.
As with all infrared thermometers, the measurement accuracy depends upon knowing the emmisivity of the sample surface, and our software provides a method for allowing for this.
Multi-phase materials such as pastes and doughs may suffer from aeration, ie small bubbles caused by volatile ingredients boiling, and this can radically affect performance.
Additionally, viscous heating may trigger wall slip by promoting the migration of low-molecular weight components to the die wall where they lubricate the flow.
It has been known, in a material using a volatile solvent as a processing aid, that viscous heating has caused the solvent around the periphery of the extrudate to "flash off" directly after extrusion.
When the product was subsequently dried, the core shrank away from the outer hardened skin, giving radial orientation around the outside of the product but with axial orientation, ie in the extrusion direction, along the central core of the profile.
This orientation manifested in bizarre distortions when the material was heated and the locked-in stresses relaxed.
Infra-red pyrometry relies upon the observation that bodies emit infrared radiation at a wavelength related to their temperature.
Such observations are used, for example, to estimate the temperatures of stars, and, more mundanely, in industrial processes to measure the temperature of molten metals and other materials by a non-contacting means.
Note that the amplitude of the emitted infrared radiation is a function of the emissivity of that particular material, which must be determined for accurate results.
Developments in semiconductor technology have provided sensors and associated circuitry which will allow the temperature of materials to be measured by such a technique at temperatures down to below room temperature.
The AptIR Non-Contacting Infra-Red Pyrometer uses such a sensor and is fitted with a special close-up attachment to allow the temperature of a small spot of diameter 1.2 mm on the moving extrudate to be continuously monitored..
The technique must be used with care, as the extruding material tends to move out of the focal range of the sensor if precautions are not taken to prevent this.
Since different materials have different handling problems, the user is advised to provide suitable guides to keep the extruding specimen within the target range of the AptIR measuring head.
Aptifrst would be pleased to offer advice if required.
The AptIR measuring head runs on a low voltage (5V DC) and may be operated through a suitably compatible safety barrier system where temperature measurements in hazardous areas are required, subject to ATEX approval.
Other measuring heads are available to give other lens-to-target distances, different spot sizes, and different temperature ranges.
Features: Miniature Size; Low Cost; Non-Contact Measurement; Measures from -20 to 1,000C (-4 to 1,832F); Precision silicon optics with anti-reflective coating; Rugged Construction; 0-5V Output (adjustable); Optional USB Digital Output; Optional Close-Focus Lens gives 1.2mm spot; Optional Air-Purged Housing
