Abstract: Apparatus for detecting particulate matter in a slurry travelling in a flow channel, the apparatus including an optical taper containing a plurality of optical fibers fused together for viewing the particulate matter in only a thin layer of the slurry immediately adjacent to a first end of the optical fibers, the thin layer having a maximum depth equal to approximately the largest particle size of the particulate matter, the first ends of the optical fibers extending through a radial port in the flow channel and being immediately adjacent to the slurry travelling in the flow channel, the optical fibers having a focal length at the first ends thereof for permitting focussed viewing thereby only in the thin layer which is adjacent to the first ends, and the optical fibers being tapered from second opposite ends thereof to the first ends thereof to provide magnification of the image of the particulate matter at the second ends, a fiber optic bolt for securing the optical taper within the port such that the first

Abstract: A flow cell is utilized on-line in the analysis of molten polymer and includes diamond windows for passing mid to far infrared radiation through the molten polymer flowing through the flow cell, the diamond windows being in the form of relatively thin disk-like elements each affixed to a carrier member in the wall of the flow cell and spanning a relatively large diameter bore in the carrier member, the overall diameter of each disk-like element being only slightly greater than the corresponding bore in the carrier member such that the volume of diamond is minimized in relation to the diameter of the windows.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the analysis of a stream of molten polymer for the presence of unwanted voids, gels and particles of solids by observation of the stream, utilizing an observation probe and an illuminating probe placed at an illuminating angle to the observation probe so as to establish an image observable at an observation point remote from the stream.