Is the MFFT suitable for measuring resins containing substances such as graphite?
Is the MFFT suitable for measuring resins containing substances such as graphite?
The MFFT90 can be used to measure theย Minimum Film-Forming Temperature (MFFT)ย of resin products. Some of these products may contain materials likeย graphite, which can change how the resin looks or behaves during testing.
In most cases, products with graphiteย can still be testedย with the MFFT90, but the following points should be kept in mind:
- Visibility: The MFFT90 works by showing where the resin changes from a powdery or cracked surface to a smooth film. If the resin contains graphite or other dark/pigmented substances, it may be harder toย seeย this change. Applying aย thin, even layerย can help improve visibility and scraping with a wooden spatula may help identifying the MFFT point easier.
- Even Mixing: The graphite should be well mixed in the resin. If it forms lumps, the test results may not be accurate.
- Instrument Surface: The surface of the MFFT90 is made of stainless steel. The resin and all added materials must be safe to use on this surface. If the resin is strong, we recommend using the aluminium foil on the test bed with glycerin to stick it down and improve heat transfer. At the end of test the foil can be removed.
- Other Signs of Film Formation: If the film formation is hard to see, the user can also check byย touching the surfaceย gently to feel where the film has formed.ย Gloss changesย can also help show where film formation begins.
If there are any doubts, a comparison test with and without graphite may help to understand how the material affects the film formation.
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