ISO 1133-1:2022

Overview

ISO 1133-1:2022 - Plastics - Determination of the melt mass‑flow rate (MFR) and melt volume‑flow rate (MVR) of thermoplastics - Part 1: Standard method specifies two standard procedures to measure the melt flow behaviour of thermoplastic materials under defined temperature and load conditions. It defines the mass‑measurement method (Procedure A) and the displacement‑measurement method (Procedure B), the required apparatus (extrusion plastometer and accessories), sample preparation and conditioning, temperature verification, test execution and result expression. MFR is reported in grams per 10 min and MVR in cubic centimetres per 10 min.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Two measurement procedures
  • Procedure A (mass measurement): timed collection and weighing of extrudate to calculate MFR.
  • Procedure B (displacement measurement): piston displacement or timing to calculate MVR and/or MFR.
• Apparatus and accessories: extrusion plastometer, dies (standard and half‑size), piston displacement transducer/timer and cleaning/maintenance requirements.
• Test preparation: sample form, conditioning, and optional preformed compacted charges for powders/flakes.
• Temperature verification and vertical alignment: procedures to ensure accurate, repeatable conditions.
• Expression and conversion: MFR and MVR units and the ability to convert between them when melt density at test temperature is known.
• Limitations: applicable to materials with limited rheological change during testing (minor hydrolysis, condensation or cross‑linking). Not appropriate for materials with significant rheological changes-ISO 1133‑2 applies in that case.
• Precision and use: includes precision data and notes that shear rates in this test are much lower than real processing, so results are mainly for quality control.

Practical applications and users

ISO 1133-1:2022 is used for:

• Routine quality control and batch verification of thermoplastic resins.
• Comparing filled vs unfilled materials and polymers with different filler contents (MVR is particularly useful here).
• Material specification and acceptance testing by polymer producers, compounders, converters, test laboratories and procurement teams.
• Supporting material standards that reference specific MFR/MVR test conditions (Annex A lists commonly used test conditions).

Typical users:

• Materials engineers, polymer chemists and QC technicians in plastics manufacturing.
• Third‑party testing laboratories and certification bodies.
• R&D teams assessing flow properties during material development.

Related standards

• ISO 1133-2 - recommended for thermoplastics whose rheological behaviour is significantly affected by the test (e.g., moisture‑sensitive or degrading polymers).
• Material‑specific standards often reference ISO 1133-1 for defining test temperatures and loads (see Annex A/B in the document).

Keywords: ISO 1133-1:2022, MFR, MVR, melt flow rate, thermoplastics, extrusion plastometer, quality control, filled thermoplastics.