Akron Rubber Development Laboratory Inc. has purchased new equipment and software to allow the firm to perform Karl Fischer-brand water-content testing on gases, liquids and solids — including polymers.
The material was installed at one of ARDL's three Akron facilities in early November. Molding wet polymers can cause degradation, so moisture-content information can be very important when processing nylon and other water-absorbing polymers, officials with Akron-based ARDL said in a news release.
The Karl Fischer technique involves heating samples at optimum temperatures, extracting water vapor and testing the water molecules in a methanol-based solution.
ARDL employs 80 and is privately owned by the Samples family, who launched the firm in 1962.