METHOD FOR MEASURING POLYMER FOAM EXPANSION AND APPARATUS FOR USE THEREIN

摘要

A method of measuring polymer foam expansion comprising extruding a free foaming polymer formulation which comprises one or more blowing agents; feeding the extruded formulation through a right angle die (12) to produce a formed foam having a foam front at an exit of the die; measuring a thickness of the formed foam (16) at the die nozzle (14), using a laser thickness measuring device comprising a laser (18), a vertical positioner (20) driven by a motor drive (22) wherein the laser is attached to the vertical positioner permitting adjustment of a vertical position of the laser; adjusting a speed of the motor drive so that the laser moves at a vertical displacement rate equal to the vertical displacement rate of the foam front exiting the die; and recording the foam thickness, wherein the thickness of the formed foam is measured every x seconds where x is from 0.05 to 0.15 and the thickness is recorded as a function of time is provided. Also provided is an apparatus for executing the inventive method.