Meaning
Volumetric measurements of solid samples through gas displacement determine the true density of porous or irregular materials. Known as gas pycnometry, this method utilizes an inert gas to penetrate the smallest pores of a polymer specimen without dissolving it. It is a non destructive technique used to monitor density changes in plastics.
Physical Principle
Pressure changes in a calibrated chamber are measured when a known quantity of helium is introduced. Since helium behaves as an ideal gas, the volume of the sample can be calculated using the ideal gas law. This provides an accurate measurement of the sample volume.
Material Control
Resin manufacturers utilize this technique to monitor crystallinity in polymer samples. When a polymer cools too quickly, its density is lower than when it cools slowly. Using gas pycnometry on raw pellets ensures the material matches the grade specified.
Processing Impact
In injection moulding, maintaining consistent material density is critical to controlling shrinkage across a production run. Moulded parts made from inconsistent density resin will show unpredictable dimensional changes and can suffer from warpage. Implementing this measurement technique during the pre-production phase allows engineers to adjust the process parameters to maintain high dimensional quality across different polymer shipments.