La radiothermométrie micro-ondes et la transformation des polymères

Micro-waves radiothermometry in polymer processing technologies

¹ Enseignant-Chercheur au Département Technologie des Polymères et Composites de l’Ecole des Mines de Douai
² Professeur des Ecoles des Mines. Responsable du Département Technologie des Polymères et Composites de l’Ecole des Mines de Douai

Abstract

The temperature is an important parameter for process control in the manufacturing of polymer products. Today, one does not know any kind of method to measure this value without contact with materials. Techniques often used are based on thermocouples, Infra Red systems or optic fibers with many problems in each case to implement the measuring sensors. Indeed, this measurement is complex to achieve in visquous flow; one must avoid disturbing the process by a lot of contacts.

This research proposes to investigate a new technical system based on the micro-waves radiation due to the temperature of the material. After a theorical presentation of the Micro-Waves Radiothermometry, we shall report the results of three test series related to the temperature control during the processing of thermosetting as well as thermoplastic polymers. Good results were obtained by this means and this, without contact.