MooneyCheck - Drive
Mooney Viscometer controlled by Personal Computer for the performance of Viscosity, Scorch and Stress Relaxation tests


Standards the instrument complies with:
ASTM D1646; ASTM D3346; GOST 10722-76; ISO 289-1; ISO 289-2; ISO 289-4; JIS K_6300-1;
Gibitre Instruments' Mooney viscometer measures Mooney viscosity, pre-polymerization (scorch), and stress relaxation in polymers and rubber compounds. The test determines the torque required to keep a rotor turning in a cylindrical chamber filled with rubber under controlled pressure, temperature, and speed—the resistance is the Mooney viscosity. It belongs to the suite of laboratory tools for the precise measurement of materials where repeatability is essential.
Why choose it: test chamber and rotor conform to ISO 289-1, ISO 289-2, ISO 289-4 and ASTM D1646, ASTM D3346; precise control via independent temperature controllers (0.1 °C resolution) and a compressed-air cooling circuit to minimize time between measurements; self-calibration with internal weight, pneumatic rotor ejection, touchscreen interface, and status lights for fast, safe operation.
For data management, Mooneycheck supports barcode sample ID and, with Datagest, full management of the Gibitre SQL database.
Options ext
Overview
The MooneyCheck - Drive is a Mooney Viscometer, which permits to measure the Mooney viscosity, Pre-curing (scorch) and Stress Relaxation Characteristics of uncompounded or compounded rubbers In conformity with ISO 289-1, ISO 289-2, ISO 289-3, ASTM D 1646 Standards.
The test is carried out by measuring the torque, which has to be applied under specified temperature and pressure conditions, in order to rotate a metal disc at 2rpm speed in the cylindrical test chamber filled with rubber.
The resistance offered by the rubber to this rotation is expressed as the Mooney viscosity of the test piece.
Why choose Mooneycheck - Drive?
• Entirely developed and produced in Italy
• Test chamber and rotor compliant with international standards
• Pneumatic Rotor Ejection
• Primary brand components
• Internal weight for self-calibration of the torque measurement
• Independent thermoregulators with a resolution of 0.1 °C
• Interactive touch-screen display for instrument control
• Optional control of rotor rotation speed
• Easily accessible test chamber with transparent safety panel and safety lock.
• Designed for eventual application of a fume aspiration system.
• Full license of MooneyCheck_10 software optimized for barcode sample identification
• Full license of the Datagest software for the complete management of the Gibitre SQL Standard Database
The new 'Drive' generation
The new generation of 'Drive' instruments is the result of 40 years of experience in the measurement of rheology of rubber and incorporates the most modern technologies regarding mechanical construction, measurement sensors and control software.
MooneyCheck_10 software
The MooneyCheck_10 program connects to the Gibitre SQL database to store test Results and Curves within the Datagest data management program.
The program allows you to:
• Quickly identify the sequence of tests to be performed
• Automatically adjust the instrument according to the required test conditions
• Produce the test Curves (Viscosity, Scorch, Stress Relaxation, Temperature)
• Compare the results with the tolerance limits
• Elaborate statistical analysis (Carta-X, Gaussiana, Media, Dev St., Max, Min, Cp, Cpk)
• Produce customized reports
Calculated Results
The software allows you to prepare customized test procedures that include all the calculations required by the standards and product specifications. The dedicated page describes all the available calculations.
Option: Variable Rotor Rotation Speed
Optional configuration of the MooneyCheck-Drive instrument for managing the rotor speed during the test.
• The configuration allows to define the Rotation Speed as a configurable parameter of the Test Procedure.
• The speed can be set between 0.01 and 20 RPM.
• The execution of tests at different speeds allow to evaluate the behavior of your product according to the shear rate and to simulate the behavior of the product in the conditions of use.
Instrument control Panel
The instrument is equipped with a large touch-screen display with dimensions 10.2“.
The buttons on the display permit to start and stop the tests.
The display provides complete information about the status of the instrument: connection to the software, temperature of the dies, diagnostic of the sensors installed.
Rotor Pneumatic Ejection
All Mooney Viscometers produced by Gibitre have a pneumatic ejection device for the rotor which simplifies the cleaning and replacement of the specimen between subsequent tests.
Light panel
A light panel, installed in the front part of the instrument, changes the color and permits to check the status of the instrument from a distance.
The indicator light identifies the following statuses: Instrument ready, instrument under test, instrument setting test temperature.
Automatic Torque Calibration
The Calibration weight integrated with the instrument permits the automatic Calibration of the torque sensor.
The Calibration is easily performed by pressing the Calibration button on the Control Display, which activates the pneumatic lifting of the weight.
Standard Calibration service for Mooney Viscometer
The calibration is performed with reference to the requirements of ISO 289-1 standard.
The service includes:
• Ordinary maintenance of the instrument
• Replacement of the sealing of the lower die.
• Calibration of the temperature of upper and lower dies of instrument (at 100°C and 125°C).
• Calibration of the time for temperature recovery at test start
• Calibration of the torque reading (at 100 Mooney points)
• Calibration of the rotation speed of the rotor
• Final check with Standard Gibitre Compound
• Issue and e-mail shipment of the Calibration Certificate with traceability to primary standards.
Certified Rubber Samples For Mooney Test
Pair of certified butyl rubber specimens (Isobutylene - Isoprene) for the verification of Mooney Viscosity.
The specimens are obtained, without rework, from a bale coded as IRM (Industry Reference Material) prepared by the working group ASTM D11.20 (task Group subcommittee on Compounding Materials and Procedures) in accordance with ASTM D 4678.
Datagest program : total Traceability
The Datagest program is the Database Management Tool always installed in combination with all Gibitre instrument-control programs.
The program permits to:
• Select, filter, print, export and analyse the test results stored with all the instruments connected.
• Prepare test procedures by defining the test conditions and the results to be produced
• Set tolerance limits for each product by manual insertion or using the statistical analysis (mean and standard deviation) of saved results
• Prepare multi-instrument test reports
Gibitre Standard SQL Database
All the Gibitre programs use a database with SQL structure for saving the results.
The database can be installed inside an SQL instance present on the company server or it can be installed on a PC connected to a measuring instrument. The installation of the Microsoft SQL service (Express version) is included in the delivery.
Industry 4.0 integration
The instrument and the software have been specifically developed to optimize integration with other environments.
The database in SQL format and the Gibitre_Company_Connect program allows you synchronize your company management software with Gibitre database and to speed up the identification of the tests and to use bar-code readers or similar devices.
Preparation of Test Reports
Version 10 programs make the following options available for preparing test reports:
• Selection of printing language
• Company logo insertion
• Print a single test / a Group of tests
• Print of Test Curves
• Print Numerical Results
• Print the Limits of Tolerance
• Print Statistical Results
• Print Legend with explanation of results
• Print the Operator Signature
• Print Customized Notes
• Preparation of PDF file
The program integrates a REPORT EDITOR that allows you to completely edit the report and prepare fully customized report formats.
Temperature regulation
The temperature can be set between room temperature and 250°C.
The regulation of the temperature is performed using thermo-regulators with PID micro-processor and with 0.1°C resolution.
Independent temperature control units ensure sophisticate temperature control and easy replacement in case of failure.
Electrical heating resistances have been specifically designed for this instrument to ensure quick and efficient heating.
Safety devices
The instrument is equipped with:
• Class 1 Safety switch, which prevents the closure of the dies if the safety panel is not closed.
• Safety Push-button
• Safety lock of the maintenance access door, which ensures safe usage even in non-standard operation conditions.
• CE Labelling
Easy cleaning of the instrument
The instrument has been specifically developed for easy cleaning of the test chamber. Technical improvements are:
• Seal design to prevent the flowing of rubber below the rotor
• Easy rotor removing by pneumatic ejection
• The shaft housing hole is open from top to bottom to permit easy cleaning.
• The cleaning activity does not require regulation of rotor height
Development and production
The instrument is totally developed and produced in the plant of Gibitre Instruments in Italy.
All the mechanical parts are produced in the company workshop using modern CNC machines.
Components and sensors from well-known brands are selected in order to ensure the maximum reliability in the measures
Internal trained personnel takes care of all the production stages: assembly, start-up, calibration, packing, shipment and installation.
Film Foils for Mooney Tests
Polyamide or Polyester Film for the protection of the dies during the test.
Volumetric cutter
Volumetric cutter for the preparation of test Samples with Constant Volume
Instrument Characteristics
Type of tests performed
Viscosity, Scorch, Stress Relaxation
Torque sensor
Capacity: 230 MU
Resolution: 0.01 MU
Linearity Error (%FS): +-0.25
Temperature
Between room temperature and +250 °C - Resolution 0.1 °C
Frequency of rotation
Standard Instrument: 2.00 r/min ± 0.02 r/min (0,209 rad/s ± 0,002 rad/s)
With variable speed option: adjustable between 0.01 to 20 r/min ± 1 %
Numerical test data
Viscosity test: MU_ini, t_ini, MU_min, t_min, Dt_MU, MU_4, MU_X, Dt(X-Y), S4, SX (X,Y=customer def.)
Scorch test: ts5, ts35, Dt_35-5, ts3, ts18, Dt_18-3, tsX, Dt_X-Y
Stress relaxation test: a, k, r, A, TX%
Units
Torque: Mooney Point (MU)
Time: minutes and seconds, minutes and minutes/100, seconds
Temperature: °C, °F
Test curves
Torque versus time curve, Log Mooney versus Log time of Stress Relaxation test, Upper and Lower Test Chamber temperatures
Results storage
The test result sand the curves are stored in the SQL Gibitre database which is installed in combination with the software
Software usage Languages
Italian, English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Turkish, Polish, Czech
Data displayed
Active connection to the software, motor on-off, temperatures of the dies, heating status, test running
Type of device
Capacitive-Touch-Screen display (permits the use with gloves)
Characteristics
Dimensions 10.2”
Permits to check from a distance the following statuses
Instrument ready, instrument under test, instrument setting test temperature
Safety Devices
Class 1 Safety switch for main piston (Idem)
Safety Pushbutton
Safety lock of the maintenance access door
CE labelling
Automatic Calibration system
Calibration weight integrated with the instrument with pleumatic lifting system for automatic torque calibration
Calibration Report
Calibration report with traceability to primary standards in conformity with the Calibration requirements specified in ISO 289-1 standard
Construction Characteristics
Electronic Card
Electronic card with STN 32F 429 micro-processor
Power supply
220 VAC ± 10%, 50-60 Hz ± 3, 4 A, single phase
110 VAC ± 10%, 60 Hz ± 3 on request
Electrical power
1100 Watt
Dimensions of instrument
(Width x Depth x Height) 684 x 671 x 1419 mm
Personal Computer (optional)
Personal Computer (optional)
Minimum Configuration: Intel Core i5 4 GB RAM.
Compatible Operating Systems: Windows 10 and 11;
Connection to the instrument via USB Cable (included)
Volumetric Die Cutter
For the preparation of samples with constant volume
Boxes with film foils
Thickness: 0.023 mm
Dimension: 100 x 100 mm
Box Content: 500 foils
The boxex are supplied in couples. One box contains 500 standard foils. The other contains 500 foils with central hole for rotor insertion