895 Professional PVC Thermomat Determination of the thermal stability of PVC (dehydrochlorination method) The 895 Professional PVC Thermomat and StabNet in brief 02 The 895 Professional PVC Thermomat in conjunction with The StabNet software meets all the requirements of mod-StabNet software is a modern analytical system for auto-ern analytical software. Apart from acquiring and evalu-matic determination of the thermal stability of polyvinyl-ating data automatically, the database enables managing chloride (PVC) and other chlorine-containing polymers. large volumes of data comfortably. User administration with freely configurable access rights as well as automatic The 895 Professional PVC Thermomat is controlled from backup functions ensure a high level of data security. the PC by StabNet software. Determination itself, how-ever, can be started very conveniently directly on the instrument. Each measuring position has its own individual start button. In addition, the integral color display provides an overview of the status of each individual measuring position. Disposable reaction vessels reduce the cleaning of accessories to a minimum, thereby saving time and cost. 03 The most important advantages at a glance The instrument • All instrument functions controlled via PC • Separate starting of each measuring position directly on the instrument • Overview of the status of all measuring positions on the instrument display • Unparalleled reliability and simple operation due to unique accessories - Affordable disposable glass parts - Robust conductivity cells with electrical connections integrated in the reaction vessel cover • 2 heating blocks with 8 measuring positions per instrument. Up to 4 instruments can be connected to 1 PC The software • Clearly laid-out user interface • Database with flexible filtering, sorting and statistical functions • High transparency of results due to - storage of all determination, method and instrument parameters - storage of the history for reevaluation or recalculation of measurement data • High level of data security due to manipulation-proof database and automatic backup functions • Network-compatible due to client-server functionality • User administration with freely configurable access rights • Meets all the requirements of GLP Thermal stability of polyvinylchloride and other chlorinated polymers Plastics based on polyvinylchloride (PVC) decompose at mined by measuring a defined change in conductivity in 04 elevated temperatures releasing gaseous HCl. When the the measuring vessel. What is determined exactly is the thermostability of PVC is determined in accordance with stability time corresponding to the time until a conductiv-ISO 182 Part 3, the released HCl is transferred by a stream ity difference of 50 µS/cm is reached in the measuring of nitrogen into a measuring cell filled with distilled wa-vessel. ter, where it is detected by conductivity measurement. The thermal stability of the PVC material is defined as The method is used to test PVC in all stages of processing the time that elapses until HCl is released, and is deter-and to evaluate stabilizers. 05 Standards The determination of the thermal stability of PVC is included in various national and international standards, such as: • ISO 182 Part 3 Plastics – Determination of the tendency of compounds and products based on vinyl chloride homopolymers and copolymers to evolve hydrogen chloride and any other acidic products at elevated temperatures – Part 3: Conductometric method The 895 Professional PVC Thermomat in detail 06 Start buttons on the instrument Next to each measuring position there is a button with which determination can be started immediately after the sample has been placed in the heating block. The start button is completely sealed on the outside, so no liquids such as water can enter. Triggering is achieved with the 07 help of capacitive finger detection and also works with gloves. Instrument display The status of the instrument and of each individual measuring position can be watched on the color instrument display. It shows the current temperature of the two heating blocks, the gas flow, the status of the measuring position and the conductivity measured in each measuring position. Easy handling of the reaction vessels Preparation of the reaction vessel, weighing-out of the sample and closing of the reaction vessel are very simple and safe. The use of disposable glass parts means there is no need for time-consuming cleaning after measuring. That not only saves working time and costs, but also im-proves the reproducibility of the measurement results, as new, clean measuring vessels prevent carryover effects and consequent interference with results. Measuring vessel cover with integrated conductivity cell The conductivity cell, with its electrical connections, is incorporated in the measuring vessel cover. When the cover is placed in position, the cell is immersed in the water and is immediately in the right position. At the same time electrical contact is made to the measuring electronics in the instrument. The conductivity cell itself is a robust stainless steel electrode that withstands even thorough cleaning with detergent and a brush or a wash cycle in the laboratory glassware washer without dam-age. The cleaning of a conductivity electrode has never been easier. Nitrogen supply For the measurement an external nitrogen supply is required. The gas flow to the various measuring positions is controlled within the range of 1 L/h and 25 L/h according to the method settings in StabNet. Connections The 895 Professional PVC Thermomat is connected to the PC by way of a USB port. Up to four 895 Professional PVC Thermomats can be connected to a PC and controlled by StabNet. StabNet – modern software for stability measurements 08 StabNet is the modern and user-friendly software for carrying out stability measurements and archiving the measurement data. The characteristic features of StabNet are its ease of use and fl exibility. This is evident already in the «Workplace» part of the program, where the day-to-day work is done. Here users will fi nd all the elements that are needed to carry out determinations. The structure of the «Workplace» shows the setup of the 895 Professional PVC Thermomat with its 2 heating blocks and the 8 measuring positions. 09 For each heating block it is possible to load an individual heating can also be started automatically, and very con-method in which, amongst other things, the tempera-veniently, at a defined time with the help of a timer; the ture and gas flow are defined. The heating is switched instrument will then be ready for use right on the start of on manually in the «Workplace» part of the program. The the working day. For each measuring position on the instrument there is To determine the stability time, work must be carried out a live display in the «Workplace» part of the program. with a calibrated conductivity sensor. This can be done in The flashing Start/Stop button indicates a determination a straightforward manner by selecting the sensor used in is running. From the corresponding live curve it is possible the particular measuring position. to see directly the current status of the determination and the already discovered end points. The sample identifica-Calibration of the conductivity sensor is as-tion and other information about the sample can be en-sisted by a «Wizard». From the preparations tered in up to 4 fields. Frequently recurring identifications through to the saving of the cell constants, can be stored as text templates and can then be simply it provides guidance through the calibration selected on the «Workplace». process in an easy and understandable way. The symbols in the StabNet toolbar on the left edge of cause of the clear symbols and the well laid-out structure the program provide access to the other parts of the pro-the user interface is easy to follow and can be operated gram: «Configuration», «Method» and «Database». Be-intuitively. Data management 10 Completed determinations are stored in a database. In the «Database» part of the program it is possible to view the determinations including all the determination, method and instrument parameters. The determination overview is freely confi gurable, so all measurement results can be scanned easily. The subwin-dows «Curve» and «Information» display the measurement curve and other information on the determination, as well as method and instrument parameters for each determination that is selected. Convenient sort, search and fi lter functions make it easy to fi nd data quickly. Recalculation of determinations 11 Should it ever be necessary, determinations can also be processed at a later time, either by recalculation with different evaluation parameters or by manual evaluation of the curve. The original data are not lost. All versions of the determination are archived. Using the History function it is possible to restore the original version or any interim version or the fi nal version at any time. Report generation The Report Generator offers complete freedom when it a series of different report templates that can be adapted comes to creating the analysis report, whether it be an to the particular needs. As a result, a customized report individual report with all the relevant sample and method can be created in next to no time; and a company logo information or a tabular report in the form of a table with can, of course, be added, if required. all the results of a measurement series. StabNet contains Individual report with all the relevant details for the determination Tabular report (with or without curve), in portrait or landscape format, provides an overview of larger measurement series Other helpful database functions 12 Today entering a result in a table is simply not enough. Frequently, measurement results need to be set out as statistics and graphs. StabNet also supports this step. Statistical calculations Confi rmation of relevant results usually requires multiple as the mean value and the absolute and relative standard determinations. StabNet offers the possibility of linking 2 deviations, are then calculated automatically in addition or 4 replicate determinations together statistically. At the to the individual result. end of the multiple determinations, statistical data, such Detail overview and control chart The function «Detail overview» shows trends and spreads Furthermore, a control chart provides the possibility for in a clearly set-out chart. In addition, a table containing defi ning and visualizing warning and intervention limits. all the results of the selected determinations and their statistical evaluation is displayed. Central data management In the client-server version, StabNet enables central data the StabNet server. The great advantage is that any data 13 management on a server in the local network. Regarding can be viewed and processed further from any PC on operation and scope of functions, the client-server ver-which a StabNet client is installed, whether in the labora-sion does not differ from a local installation. However, all tory or in the offi ce. Thus, all the measurement data are the methods and determinations are stored centrally on available throughout the company. Security Data security and the traceability of results are becom-ized access to parts of the program and to data. Further-ing ever more important. In StabNet the access rights of more, there is the possibility to add a digital signature to each user can be defi ned in accordance with the in-house both methods and determinations. security scheme. Password protection prevents unauthor-Data backup StabNet also supports data backup. The entire database Lost data can therefore be restored in a very short time. is backed up at a freely defi nable interval. Technical specifications 14 895 Professional PVC Thermomat Heating blocks 2 aluminum heating blocks; electrically heated; can be set to different temperatures Temperature control Temperature range 50...220 °C, adjustable in 1 °C steps Temperature correction -9.9...+9.9 °C, adjustable in 0.1 °C steps Deviation of the block temperature from the set value < ±0.3 °C Reproducibility of set temperature Typically better than ±0.2 °C* Temperature variations Typically <0.1 °C* Temperature difference between different measuring Typically <0.3 °C* positions Ambient temperature <50 °C (at an operating temperature of 220 °C) Response temperature of thermal protection 260 °C * When operating temperature has been reached, with inserted reaction vessels with an identical filling and 20 L/h air throughput Gas throughput Connection for external nitrogen supply 1.5 bar inlet pressure Adjustable range volumetric flow rate 1...25 L/h (at 25 °C and 1013 hPa) Max. error from set value ± (0.25 L/h + 5% of the measurement value) Conductivity measurement Electrodes Conductivity cell 6.0913.130 with double steel-pin electrode integrated in measuring vessel cover Measuring range 0...400 µS/cm Line power Voltage 100...120 V and 220...240 V Frequency 50...60 Hz Power consumption Max. 450 VA Dimensions Width 383 mm Depth 393 mm Height 276.5 mm (without accessories) Weight 15.4 kg (without accessories) Minimum PC requirements for StabNet Processor Pentium 4; clock speed 1 GHz Working memory 2 GB Free hard disk memory 1 GB for program Free memory for data 4 GB (for approx. 1’000 determinations) Operating system Windows XP Professional Windows Vista Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit) Windows 8 (32-bit and 64-bit) USB port 1 for each instrument that is connected (maximum 4) Additional requirements for StabNet server installations Operating system for server Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2008 R2 (32-bit and 64-bit) Windows Server 2012 (64-bit) Network minimum 10 Mbit/s Ordering information 2.895.0010 895 Professional PVC Thermomat 15 Instrument for the automatic determination of the thermal stability of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and related copolymers. All accessories necessary for the performance of the determinations is included in the scope of delivery. The StabNet software is required for instrument control, data recording and evaluation and for data storage (not included). Options 6.1111.010 Pt100 Temperature Sensor 6.1428.030 Glass measuring vessel for stability measurements 6.1429.050 Reaction vessel long for stability measurements 6.2059.000 Turning ring 6.2324.010 Conductivity standard 100 µS/cm (250 mL) 6.2326.000 Silicone oil for stability measuring instruments (50 mL) 6.2418.130 Air tube long for biodiesel measurements 6.2757.000 Air collection tube for stability instruments 6.5616.100 Equipment for determining the temperature correction for Rancimats and PVC Thermomats Consumables 6.1429.040 Reaction vessels for stability measurements, 117 pieces 6.1428.107 Measuring vessels for stability measurments, 50 pieces 6.1454.040 O-rings, 6 pieces 6.1816.010 Silicone tubing 6.2753.107 Reaction vessel cover for stability measurements, 100 pieces 6.2418.120 Gas inlet tube for PVC Thermomats, 117 pieces StabNet 6.6068.112 StabNet 1.1 Full CD: 1 license 6.6068.113 StabNet 1.1 Multi CD: 3 licenses www.metrohm.com 11 1EN – 2015- Subject to change Layout by Ecknauer+Schoch ASW, printed in Switzerland by Metrohm AG, CH-9100 Herisau 8.895.500