Melt Viscosity Primarily used for higher viscosity polymers, the melt index is a common testing method. Test parameters such as compression weight and testing temperature are dependent on the type of polymer. This value corresponds to the polymer's average molecular weight. The time for the pure solvent to flow through the appartus is also timed. These two values are compared to yield a relative viscosity .
Relative viscosity is the ratio of the polymer viscosity to the solvent viscosity.
IV is proportional to the volume of the polymer and to the molecular weight. This site is maintained by Christopher M. A. Haslego, a West Virginia University Alumnus as of May 1998.