Plastics have become indispensable nowadays, and the areas of application are constantly broadened. The level of the requirements has risen in equal measure.

The industry demands for high quality raw material, that needs appropriate "online controls" to guarantee best properties for the fields of polymerisation, processing and application. Therefore it is essential that the extrusion process is checked for function and documented, as the polymer melt should be clear of contamination and cross-linked particles. It is important to detect inhomogeneties as soon as possible so the cause can be eliminated at an early stage of the process.

The rheological behaviour of the polymer melt is defined by the molecular structure and allows conclusions to the extrusion process.

The quality of the granules, e. g. the size and shape, has an influence on the pneumatic conveyance and of course also on the material flow in the hopper and cylinder during high performance extrusion.

For further processing the frequency and size of gels and cross-linked particles in the film must be determined. These affect the optical appearance of the film and reduce the mechanical stability and ability for treatment, e. g. printing, laminating etc. The surface quality is also an important QC criterion when producing glossy and transparent films.

Most thermoplastic material contains additives for processing and preservation, the content of which has to be analysed during quality inspection.

OCS has developed a modular conception of testing systems and optional devices which can be combined according to requirements: