Chromatographic methods are used to separate, identify and quantify chemical components in a polymer, mixtures or the environment. 

We offer:

HPLC - High Performance Liquid Chromatography 

HPLC is used to separate, identify and quantify compounds and chemicals.

GC / GC-MS Gas Chromatography 

GC is a separation method for detection and quantification of known organic and inorganic compounds in gases, polymers or other substances. GC/MS instrument can identify and quantify unknown chemical components.

DMA - Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, according to ISO 6721

This is a technique used to study and characterize materials by observing the viscoelastic nature of polymers over a range of temperatures or frequencies. A sinusoidal stress is applied and the strain in the material is measured. All transitions corresponding to molecular motions are detected.

• Glass transition temperature (Tg)
• 3 point bending test
• Storage and Loss modulus

TMA - Thermal Mechanical Analysis, according to ISO 11359

TMA is a useful technique within Thermal analysis, and is used to measure dimensional changes of a material as a function of temperature, time and applied force.

• CLTE - Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion
• Glass transition temperature (Tg)
• Other effects such as softening, crystallization and solid-solid transitions determine the potential applications of a material and provide important information about its composition
• Viscoelastic behaviour can be studied by varying the applied force (DLTMA mode)

A method used to analyse the molecular chain length of polymers is the intrinsic viscosity (IV).

IV is determined by a capillary based measurement of the viscosity of a dilute solution of the polymer in an appropriate solvent and then correlating it to the molecular weight of the polymer. The viscosity is measured by an Ubbelohde type viscometer as the dissolved polymer flows through a narrow channel. This procedure can be used to determine the intrinsic viscosity (IV) of several polymer types.

 We offer:

• IV measurement of PET according to ASTM D4603

• We also analyse according to ISO 1628-3 / ISO 307

By use of Karl Fischer titration Norner can decide the moisture content of polymers.

• Several polymers are hygroscopic, and it is especially important to control and understand their moisture content before processing them. Also for other polymers it can be relevant to analyse.
• Determination of water content is done on a by vaporization in a heating oven in nitrogen gas followed by a Karl Fischer coulometric titration of the collected water.
• The determination of water content follows the ISO 15512-2008 methodology.

Norner can, by use of  gel permeation chromatography, find the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of a polymer. By use of right solvents and temperatures this is possible for most polymers.

Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) or Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), separates molecules based on its size in solution and hydrodynamic volume.

We offer both Low and High temperature GPC analysis according to ISO16014-1 to 4.

GPC is used for determination of several Molecular weight parameters, its distribution and polymer structure:

• Mw - Mass average molecular mass
• Mn - Number average molecular mass
• Mw/Mn - Polidispersity of the sample
• MMD - Molar Mass Distribution
• Mp - Molecular weight at peak
• Mz - Z-average molecular mass
• Mv - Viscosity average molecular weight
• IV- Intrinsic Viscosity of the sample calculated from the Mw and the Mark Houwink Coefficient
• Bulk CH3/1000TC- Average content calculated from the area of the CH3 over the CH2 signal
• Bulk SCB/1000TC- Bulk SCB content corrected for the chain and methyl groups.
• Bulk comonomer: Comonomer weight percent, calculated from SCB bulk.
• LCBf / 1000TC: Average level of Long Chain Branching frequency.
• Viscosity Ratio: Ratio of linear Viscosity

Polymer solubility can be used for characterisation of several aspects of polymers. In important aspect is understanding the extractable matter which can have an impact on the material performance and also be subject to regulations. Important structural characterisation of PP is made and characterisation of degree of cross linking for other materials.

We offer:

• Solubility in hexane or heptane according to ISO 6427
• Xylene soluble for polypropylene (PP) according to ISO 16152
• Degree of cross linking according to ISO 10147
• Toluene insoluble according to internal Norner method

Rheology is one of the noble arts within the polymer field. Norner provides services from the basic MFR-measurements to complex viscosity calculations. For all processing of polymers, the rheology services will be of great benefit.

Norner has the expertise and tools to utilize rheological data as a tool for making predictions.

The science and study of deformation and flow of materials in liquid, melt or solid form, in terms of the materials elasticity and viscosity is called Rheology.

Rheology concerns the relation between force, deformation and time. The measurement of rheological properties gives information about melt processing behaviour and molecular structure. It can also be used to predict end properties of the product.

We offer:

• Capillary Rheometer
• Dynamic Rheology
• Melt Flow Rate

We use rheology in:

• Basic characterisation of polymers
• Flow behaviour
• Product development
• Polymer design
• Troubleshooting

Norner flexible spectroscopy instruments are used for both identification of polymers, components as well as quantitative analysis of chemicals and compositions.

FTIR - Infrared spectroscopy

FTIR measures the vibration energy level of the molecules and is used to identify chemical compounds or investigate sample compositions.

The bulk composition of a material or compound:

• Polymer identification
• Surface identification with ATR
• Identification of specific additives
• Identification of inclusions and gels by FTIR microscopy
• Identification of layers in multilayer films

UV-VIS

UV-VIS use light in the visible and adjacent near ultraviolet (UV) and near infrared (NIR) ranges.

• Carbonyl
• Colour
• Peroxide
• Aromatics

If you have specific questions to what we can do or how we can support you, please contact us. 

Norner offers a wide range of services within thermal analysis which is made in order to establish their melting and crystallisation behaviour, information about their structure and properties and thermal transitions. It may also be used to estimate their durability and ageing processes.

We offer:

DSC - Differential Scanning Calorimetry according to ISO 11357

Heating and cooling polymers under standard conditions and used characterisation of;

• Melting and crystallisation temperatures (Tm/Tc)
• Glass transition temperature (Tg)
• Energy and enthalpy of a polymer during melting and crystallisation (ΔH)
• Crystallisation and polymer compositions
• OIT - Oxidation stability

TGA - TermoGravimetric Analysis according to ISO 11358

This is a technique that measures the change in weight of a sample as it is heated, cooled or held at constant temperature. This gives information of the composition like volatiles and the decomposition temperatures as well as residual solids content.

Stepwise Isothermal Segregation Technique – SIST by DSC , according to Norner internal method.

This is a method for estimating the Lamellar thickness according to Thompson-Gibbs equation. This analysis gives information of comonomer distribution in copolymers due to the differences in crystallisation as a function of comonomer content of the polymer chains.

Norner has leading expertise in handling of materials and polymers for the whole plastics and packaging value chains.  Our wide range of capabilities, enables us to offer a powerful validation and certification service as independent body.

Norner deliver confident third party testing services for the industry.

Benefits of third party testing services

• The polymer producer will save resources for internal testing.
• The additive supplier can use the results and certificates towards several polymer producers.
• The independent results make it unnecessary to do the same analysis multiple times.
• Through our third-party prequalification service the industry will save time and money.

Norner capabilities

We offer efficient high quality characterisation and performance testing of additives in Polyolefins based on experience built up over 3 decades and excellent competence within research and development.

• Small scale compounding
• Recipe development and optimisation
• Benchmarking and troubleshooting 

Norner independent certification services

• Norner Additive Certificate
• Evaluation of Additives
• Additive Qualification Partner
• Additives vs. Process Technology
• High Purity Additives
• Comparison of Additives – raw materials and in polymers
• Additive Performance Testing
• Recipe Support
• Other on Customer request

Norner performs a number of titration techniques. Examples can be Karl Fischer-titration to decide the moisture content, determination of acid number or finding the content of primary, secondary and tertiary amine.