Statistical ultrasonic characterization of particulate filler in polymer compounds

The paper illustrates the new combination of an ultrasonic reflection measurement and a statistical processing used for in-line monitoring of polymer melts with distributed filler particles. The statistical features of multiple consecutive scattered sound waves are used that represent the scattering amplitude and its decrease over time. Those parameters correlate with the particle size and concentration and deliver equivalent information like the attenuation calculated by conventional extinction measurements for particle characterization.