Getting the moisture content right is one of the keys to producing high-quality plastic parts. Even if resin arrives from the supplier at the correct moisture level, it can absorb or lose moisture during storage and handling before it reaches the molding machine. Too much or too little moisture can lead to defects, weaker parts, and inconsistent production.
Good quality control starts with two simple practices:
- Store resin properly to protect it from humidity.
- Dry resin when needed before molding.
A benchtop moisture analyzer provides a fast and reliable way to verify that resin is ready for processing. It also helps operators determine whether additional drying is needed before molding begins.
Fast, Accurate Moisture Testing
The DSC-71P Moisture Analyzer uses the proven Loss on Drying (LOD) method to quickly measure moisture content in plastic resins.
Drying temperatures are adjustable from 30°C to 200°C in 1°C increments, making the analyzer suitable for a wide variety of engineering and commodity plastics.
The instrument features a display resolution of 0.001% moisture content. In everyday production, it can accurately and consistently measure moisture levels to approximately 0.02%, providing the precision needed for routine quality control. Unlike the traditional Karl Fischer method, the DSC-71P requires no chemical reagents, making testing faster, easier, and more environmentally friendly.
Easy to Set Up and Use
The DSC-71P is designed to get users up and running quickly. It comes preloaded with a factory-developed test program that works for approximately 75% of commonly molded plastic resins, allowing many users to begin testing immediately with little or no setup.
For other materials, the included WinCT software makes it easy to develop and fine-tune custom test methods. Once a method has been created, it can be saved for future use.
The analyzer stores up to 20 test programs, allowing operators to quickly select the correct settings for different resins without having to re-enter test parameters.
Programmable settings include:
- Drying temperature
- Drying time
- Automatic shutoff
- Drying profile
Running a test is simple. Select the appropriate program, place an evenly distributed resin sample on the pan, close the lid, and press Start. When the test is complete, results can be sent directly to a PC or optional printer to support GLP, GMP, and ISO documentation requirements.
Optimize Resin Drying Before Molding
One of the biggest advantages of the DSC-71P is speed. Most moisture tests are completed in less than 10 minutes, allowing operators to monitor resin while it is still in the drying hopper.
Instead of relying only on a fixed drying schedule, operators can periodically test samples during the drying process to determine when the resin has actually reached the desired moisture level. This helps establish the optimum drying time for each material and verifies that every batch is ready for molding.
Monitoring moisture during drying also helps prevent under-drying, which can cause defects such as splay, voids, and reduced part strength, as well as over-drying, which wastes energy, lowers productivity, and may affect some hygroscopic materials.
Improve Quality and Reduce Scrap
Routine moisture testing gives molders greater control over the molding process. By confirming that resin is at the correct moisture level before it enters the machine, manufacturers can reduce production variability, improve part quality, minimize scrap, and maintain more consistent processing conditions from batch to batch.
For companies looking to improve quality while reducing waste and downtime, the DSC-71P Moisture Analyzer provides a fast, practical, and easy-to-use solution for everyday moisture control.