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1.1 This guide is intended to provide suggested approaches and criteria for the determination of polyolefin properties via time-domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (TD-NMR) Relaxometry. Though any crystallinity or morphology related property can be determined using this method (1), (2)2, the focus of this guide is on the prediction of Xylene Solubles content for polypropylene and density (3) for polyethylene as these are the most commonly specified properties for polyolefin manufacturers. Please note that other properties such as flexural modulus, Izod, Charpy, intrinsic viscosity, decalin/hexane solubles and others can be determined as well.

1.2 High-Level Purpose—The purpose of this guide includes:

1.3 Audience—This guide has been created with the needs of the following stakeholders in mind:

1.4 Information contained in this guide will benefit a broad audience of people who interact with a TD-NMR Relaxometer used in polyolefin plants and laboratories. New users can use this guide to understand the purpose and functions of TD-NMR Relaxometers for use in polyolefin plants and laboratories as well as the interactions between these tools with external systems. The guide might also help prospective users in understanding terminology, configurations, features, design, benefits, and costs of these analyzers. Individuals who are purchasing TD-NMR Relaxometers for use in polyolefin plants and laboratories may also use this guide to identify functions that are recommended for specific laboratory environments. Research and development staff of different commercial laboratory informatics system vendors may use the guide as a tool to evaluate, identify, and potentially improve the capabilities of their products. The vendors’ sales staff may use the guide to represent functions of their laboratory informatics products to prospective customers in more generic and product-neutral terms.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

5.1 This guide is intended to assist users how to determine polymer properties in polyolefins related to their morphology (2) using TD-NMR Relaxometry, for example, Xylene Solubles (XS) content in polypropylene (PP).

5.2 The advantage of using TD-NMR Relaxometry lies in the fact that the method is rapid, non-destructive, cost effective, safe for the operator, environmentally friendly, and less dependent on operator consistency than traditional methods.

5.3 These polymer properties are measured for Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC) (7) and process control, for example, certificates of analysis (CoA) or optimization of the reaction process (6). These properties are key indicators of performance characteristics and are therefore important in compounding and manufacturing of plastic products.

5.4 TD-NMR Relaxometry can measure crystallinity content and relaxation rates directly (4), (5). Polyolefin properties used in industry that are correlated with crystallinity can be quantified. In these cases, a calibration is necessary.

5.5 As a secondary technique, results achieved by different TD-NMR Relaxometry systems, even from the same vendor, in different laboratories are not necessarily comparable and may result in biases. Therefore, the user is advised to perform measurement validation.