We are aware that acquiring a lab instrument is an important decision, furthermore if Polyolefins’ research is related with your core business.

Although you can ask directly to our consultants whenever you want, you may prefer to know first the answers to the most typical questions about our instruments. Here are packed the most relevant questions about CRYSTAF QC.

What kind of results can be obtained from CRYSTAF QC?
CRYSTAF technique (Crystallization Analysis Fractionation) was developed to obtain the Chemical Composition Distribution curve during the crystallization period. Therefore, at the end of a CRYSTAF run, a distribution in concentration versus temperature of crystallization is obtained.

Which is the difference between a standard CRYSTAF and a CRYSTAF QC?
CRYSTAF QC is a simplified CRYSTAF especially designed for Quality Control laboratories; only one crystallization vessel is installed instead of 5 like in the standard CRYSTAF, so one sample only can be analyzed at a time, and the analytical process has been optimized to be performed in shorter time than the standard CRYSTAF, taking into account the Quality Control environments needs.

Does CRYSTAF QC provide the physical fractions in temperature?
CRYSTAF QC is an analytical instrument which was designed for obtaining the chemical composition distribution, but it doesn’t provide any physical fraction. For this purpose, please read about PREP mc2.

How many samples can be run at a time and how long will it take?
One sample can be run at a time in about two hours. After the run, an automated cleaning is performed by the instrument and therefore it is ready to start another run immediately.

How many grams of sample do I need for a CRYSTAF QC analysis?
The standard amount used in CRYSTAF QC analysis is around 40mg.

Which solvents can be used?
1.2.4-Trichlorobenzene (TCB), Orto-Dichlorobenzene (oDCB) and Perchloroethylene are the recommended solvents. To use other solvents please consult Polymer Char first.

What kind of sample preparation is required by the user?
No samples preparation is required by the user but weighing the dry sample and putting it inside of the crystallization vessel. The rest of the steps are performed by the instrument automatically: filling, dissolution, crystallization, final cleaning, etc. Therefore, when a run is finished, another one can be started immediately.

Do I need to handle solvents?
Solvents don’t need to be handled at any time; the whole process is fully automated and the instrument is in charge of all the needed steps: filling, dissolution, crystallization, final cleaning, etc. So after a run, the instrument is ready to start again immediately.

Which kind of samples can be analyzed?
LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE, PP, E-P copolymers, multicatalyst reactor resins, and any semicrystalline polymer soluble in TCB or oDCB, giving response to C-H absorption.

Which is the detector used for the concentration measurement in CRYSTAF QC?
CRYSTAF incorporates an infrared detector to measure the concentration of the solution while the temperature is decreasing in the crystallization cycle. This detector is Polymer Char’s IR4 in its OEM version (a composition sensor can be incorporated as well to obtain methyls or carbonyls content information).

How can I access and review my results?
CRYSTAF QC Software incorporates a database to easily access all the analyzed samples, which is connected to the calculations and results screens. Any result can be accessed and reviewed at any time, even when the instrument is still running other sample.