TA DHR Series User manual

Revision E Issued November 2013
Getting Started Guide
DHR Series and AR Series
Electrically Heated Plate

Page 2 DHR/AR Series Electrically Heated Plate Getting Started Guide
Notice
The material contained in this manual, and in the online help for the software used to support this instru-
ment, is believed adequate for the intended use of the instrument. If the instrument or procedures are used
for purposes other than those specified herein, confirmation of their suitability must be obtained from TA
Instruments. Otherwise, TA Instruments does not guarantee any results and assumes no obligation or liabil-
ity. TA Instruments also reserves the right to revise this document and to make changes without notice.
TA Instruments may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual prop-
erty covering subject matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in written license agreement
from TA Instruments, the furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents, trade-
marks, copyrights, or other intellectual property.
TA Instruments Operating Software, as well as Module, Data Analysis, and Utility Software and their asso-
ciated manuals and online help, are proprietary and copyrighted by TA Instruments. Purchasers are granted
a license to use these software programs on the module and controller with which they were purchased.
These programs may not be duplicated by the purchaser without the prior written consent of TA Instru-
ments. Each licensed program shall remain the exclusive property of TA Instruments, and no rights or
licenses are granted to the purchaser other than as specified above.
©2013 by
TA Instruments — Waters LLC
159 Lukens Drive
New Castle, DE 19720

DHR/AR Series Electrically Heated Plate Getting Started Guide Page 3
Introduction
Important: TA Instruments Manual Supplement
Please click the TA Manual Supplement link to access the following important information
supplemental to this Getting Started Guide:
• TA Instruments Trademarks
• TA Instruments Patents
• Other Trademarks
• TA Instruments End-User License Agreement
• TA Instruments Offices

Page 4 DHR/AR Series Electrically Heated Plate Getting Started Guide
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
This manual uses NOTES, CAUTIONS, and WARNINGS to emphasize important and critical
instructions. In the body of the manual these may be found in the shaded box on the outside of the page.
NOTE: A NOTE highlights important information about equipment or procedures.
CAUTION: A CAUTION emphasizes a procedure that may damage equipment or cause loss of data
if not followed correctly.
MISE EN GARDE: UNE MISE EN GARDE met l'accent sur une procédure susceptible d'endom-
mager l'équipement ou de causer la perte des données si elle n'est pas correctement suivie.
Regulatory Compliance
Safety Standards
For Canada
CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-1 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and
laboratory use, Part 1: General Requirements.
CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-2-010 Particular requirements for laboratory equipment for the heating of
materials.
For European Economic Area
(In accordance with Council Directive 2006/95/EC of 12 December 2006 on the harmonization of the laws
of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits.)
EN 61010-1:2001 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory
use, Part 1: General Requirements + Amendments.
EN 61010-2-010:2003 Particular requirements for laboratory equipment for the heating of materials +
Amendments.
For United States
UL61010-1:2004 Electrical Equipment for Laboratory Use; Part 1: General Requirements.
UL61010A-2-010:2002 Particular requirements for laboratory equipment for the heating of materials +
Amendments.
A WARNING indicates a procedure that may be hazardous to the operator or
to the environment if not followed correctly.
Un AVERTISSEMENT indique une procédure qui peut être dangereuse pour
l'opérateur ou l'environnement si elle n'est pas correctement suivie.

DHR/AR Series Electrically Heated Plate Getting Started Guide Page 5
Electromagnetic Compatibility Standards
For Australia and New Zealand
AS/NZS CISPR11:2004 Limits and methods of measurement of electronic disturbance characteristics of
industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio frequency equipment.
For Canada
ICES-001 Issue 4 June 2006 Interference-Causing Equipment Standard: Industrial, Scientific, and Medical
Radio Frequency Generators.
For the European Economic Area
(In accordance with Council Directive 2004/108/EC of 15 December 2004 on the approximation of the
laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility.)
EN61326-1:2006 Electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use-EMC requirements-
Part 1: General Requirements. Emissions: Meets Class A requirements per CISPR 11. Immunity: Per
Table 1 - Basic immunity test requirements.
For the United States
CFR Title 47 Telecommunication Chapter I Federal Communications Commission, Part 15 Radio
frequency devices (FCC regulation pertaining to radio frequency emissions).

DHR/AR Series Electrically Heated Plate Getting Started Guide Page 6
Safety
Do not attempt to service this instrument, as it contains no user-serviceable components.
Required Equipment
While operating this accessory, you must wear eye protection that either meets or exceeds ANSI Z87.1
standards. Additionally, wear protective clothing that has been approved for protection against the
materials under test and the test temperatures.
Instrument Symbols
The following label is displayed on the accessory for your protection:
Please heed the warning labels and take the necessary precautions when dealing with these areas. This
Getting Started Guide contains cautions and warnings that must be followed for your own safety.
Symbol Explanation
This symbol indicates that a hot surface may be present. Take care not to touch
this area or allow any material that may melt or burn come in contact with this
hot surface.
Ce symbole indique la présence possible d'une surface chaude. Prenez soin de
ne pas toucher cette zone ou de laisser un matériau susceptible de fondre ou de
brûler entrer en contact avec cette surface chaude.

DHR/AR Series Electrically Heated Plate Getting Started Guide Page 7
Table of Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Important: TA Instruments Manual Supplement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Notes, Cautions, and Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Regulatory Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Safety Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Electromagnetic Compatibility Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Required Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Instrument Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Chapter 1:
Introducing the Electrically Heated Plates ................................................................... 8
About the Electrically Heated Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Electrically Heated Plates Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
System Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Chapter 2:
Installing the Electrically Heated Plates ..................................................................... 12
Installing the EHP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Mounting and Connecting the Manifold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Mounting and Connecting the Upper and Lower Fixtures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Attaching and Removing the Geometry Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Attaching the Geometry Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Removing the Geometry Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Attaching and Removing the Purge Gas Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Attaching the Purge Gas Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Removing the Purge Gas Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
About the View Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Setting the Gas Flow Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
EHP Temperature Calibration Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Discovery Series and AR-G2 with Standard Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Discovery Series and AR-G2 with Disposable Plates/AR2000/AR2000ex/AR 1500ex . . . .22
Index ................................................................................................................................................... 23

DHR/AR Series Electrically Heated Plate Getting Started Guide Page 8
Chapter 1:
Introducing the Electrically Heated Plates
About the Electrically Heated Plates
The Electrically Heated Plates (EHP) consist of a high temperature parallel plate and a cone and plate
Smart Swap™ temperature system. It designed for use with the Discovery Series and AR-G2, AR2000ex,
and AR 1500ex rheometers. The EHP is commonly used for the testing of polymer melts. On the
Discovery Series and AR-G2, the temperature of the upper plate is measured directly using the Upper
Temperature Sensor (UTS). This consists of a special drawrod containing a Pt100 temperature sensor, the
information from which is transmitted to a remote reading device.
The EHP is cooled by air passing through ducts. The air flow is controlled manually. The EHP includes a
heated purge. Operation can be either in air or under nitrogen or other inert gas. A gas purge cover is
provided for operation under inert gas.
An optional low temperature cooling accessory, the Gas Cooling Accessory (GCA), is also available for
temperature control down to –70°C.
Figure 1 The EHP with cover up on left, and cover down on right (AR Series shown).

DHR/AR Series Electrically Heated Plate Getting Started Guide Page 9
Electrically Heated Plates Components
The EHP consists of three main components (see the figure below).
• An upper fixture that attaches to the rheometer head. This fixture contains electrical heating elements,
cooling ducts, and purge duct.
• A lower fixture that mounts on the rheometer Smart Swap connector. This fixture contains electrical
heating elements and a cooling duct.
• A geometry holder that attaches to the rheometer rotating shaft. The geometry holder contains a heat
spreader. There is no physical contact between this component and the upper fixture. For the Discov-
ery Series and AR-G2, the geometry holder is supplied as a single unit, with a fixed geometry. For the
AR2000ex and AR 1500ex, the geometry can be removed from the holder.
Figure 2 EHP components.
In addition to the three main components, a supplied pneumatic manifold containing flow meters mounts
on the rear of the rheometer. The 6-mm outer diameter high-temperature tubing required to connect this
unit to the cooling ducts of the upper and lower fixtures is supplied cut to length and with the appropriate
connectors attached.
Upper fixture
Lower fixture
Gas purge duct
Motor cooling duct
Upper fixture
heating element
Sample
Lower fixture
cooling duct
Lower fixture
Smart Swap
connector
Geometry holder
heat spreader
Geometry holder
Upper fixture
cooling duct
Lower fixture
heating element

DHR/AR Series Electrically Heated Plate Getting Started Guide Page 10
Heating of the EHP is through the electrical elements in the upper and lower fixtures. Cooling is provided
by air carried in the coolant ducts. The air flow rate is manually controlled.
The temperature of the lower fixture is read by a Pt100 probe placed close to the surface of the lower plate,
and in close thermal contact with it.
WARNING: Do not use any tubing other than that provided by TA Instruments to
connect the bracket to the upper and lower fixtures. If replacement tubing is
required, please contact your local TA Instruments' representative or service engi-
neer.
AVERTISSEMENT: N'utilisez pas une tuyauterie autre que celle fournie par TA
Instruments pour raccorder le support aux fixations supérieure et inférieure. S'il
est nécessaire de remplacer la tuyauterie, contactez votre représentant local de
TA Instruments ou l'ingénieur d'entretien.