Quantifying Residual Coning Oils in Quantitative Viscose Content Determination
Unextracted coning oils add false mass to insoluble fiber fractions during quantitative chemical dissolution, distorting declared viscose blend percentages.
Sintered Glass Filter Clogging
Filtration Failure
Obstruction of the pores in a porous glass disc prevents the passage of liquid during a laboratory separation. In fiber analysis, sintered glass filter clogging happens when fine particles or gelatinous residues from the dissolved fiber become trapped in the filter. This stops the filtration and makes it impossible to wash the residue.
It is a common problem when analyzing fibers with high levels of finishing oils.
Precipitate Collection
Efficiency of the filtration depends on the size of the particles being removed relative to the pore size of the glass. If sintered glass filter clogging occurs, the technician must use vacuum pressure to force the liquid through the disc. However, excessive pressure can damage the filter or force the particles through the pores.
Solvent Throughput
Rate at which the cleaning agents and solvents move through the system is critical for a timely analysis. Sintered glass filter clogging significantly slows down the testing process and can lead to the degradation of the sample if it stays in contact with the reagent for too long. It is often caused by insufficient pre-washing of the specimen.
Laboratory Maintenance
Cleaning the filters after each use is necessary to remove the trapped material and restore the flow rate. Sintered glass filter clogging can be prevented by using a stronger acid or a specialized cleaning solution to dissolve the residues. If the filter is permanently blocked, it must be replaced.