Viscometer Keeps Toner Production Running

Viscosity is not usually a property associated with the highly-staining powdered ink toner used in printers and photocopiers.

Viscosity is not usually a property associated with the highly-staining powdered ink toner used in printers and photocopiers.

But an intrinsically safe XL7 on-line viscometer from Hydramotion is said to be playing a key role in keeping the production lines running for a toner producer.

Toner consists of pigment particles encapsulated in a thermoplastic resin.

In a photocopier or printer, the toner is transferred electrostatically to the paper, which then passes between a pair of heated rollers.

The toner particles melt and fuse with the paper fibres to produce the finished image.

The electrical charge and fixing characteristics of the toner are largely determined by the resin, which is typically a styrene-acrylic copolymer.

In the production of polystyrene the degree of polymerisation directly affects its viscosity, which in turn determines the quality of the final product.

According to Hydramotion, careful monitoring of viscosity is, therefore, essential throughout the production process.

The toner company's research department recommended Hydramotion and the XL7 is said to be easy to install and simple to operate, requiring virtually no maintenance.

It is also said to provide a continuous real-time read-out on a dedicated signal processor, as well as 4-20mA analogue and RS232 serial data outputs.

As the polymerisation is carried out in a hazardous area at 200 degrees C, Hydramotion supplied an intrinsically safe version of its standard high-temperature instrument, enabling production staff to track polymer viscosity during the whole production process.

The viscometer has given managers a much higher level of control over the process than was previously possible and the reduction in downtime has led to substantial savings, added the company.

One of the engineers at the toner company's site, said: "It operated fine.

We now have continuous read-out of product property." for the company.

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