MATERIALS | TESTING
Right: Instron has supplied a testing system from its 5900 series to NPL in the UK to develop a new through- thickness composite testing standard
Source (TPS) methods allows unbiased exploration if a material exhibits these properties.” He says the ability to replicate environments that
affect thermal transport properties is also important. “From harsh environments of a cold
winter (-50℃) to the melt phase of a polymer (200-300℃) there can be drastic changes in thermal conductivity. With environmental control
chambers and speciality testing cells, real-world testing of thermal conductivity in these environments can be accomplished.” There are also particular challenges in
measuring and characterising the thermal properties of thin films. “As a material enters the range below 0.5mm, its inherent thermal properties can change – meaning traditional test methods that require larger or thicker samples do not present relevant data. With the TPS thin film module on Trident, understanding of a material’s thermal conductivity at this thickness can be developed,” Nickerson says. C-Therm’s flagship instrument, Trident, was
introduced to provide a thermal conductivity testing solution that brings together the most prominent methods for polymer testing - MTPS for rapid testing, double-sided TPS for testing thin films, and TLS (Needle Transient Line Source) needle probes for testing of polymers in their melt phase. The company says that MTPS is fast, easy and highly accurate, using a single-sided, ‘plug & play’ sensor suitable for testing solids, liquids, powders and pastes. Applications include pure and composite polymers, rubber and 3D anisotropic samples. TPS uses a flexible double-sided sensor that can provide greater control over experimental parameters, making it suitable for more advanced users. Applications include anisotropic polymers and thin films. The TLS Needle sensor offers maximum robustness and can be applied in polymer melts and plastics injection moulding.
Composite standard Testing systems maker Instron has recently participated in a collaborative test programme led by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the UK to support development of a new ISO standard for through-thickness testing of polymer composite materials. The new standard, ISO NP 20975-1 (Fibre-Reinforced Plastic Composites - Determination of Laminate Through-Thickness Properties, Part 1: Specimen Designs for Direct Tension and Compression Tests), covers both tension and compression testing in the through- thickness direction. Composite materials are most commonly tested
36 COMPOUNDING WORLD | January 2022
to determine their in-plane properties. However, there is an increasing demand for measurement of their through-thickness properties in the development of reinforcements. The test programme involved the use of an
Instron 5985 electromechanical testing system with 250kN capacity. The tensile test specimens were supplied with bonded metal studs, which were gripped between a pair of Instron hydraulic grips, which had been precisely aligned using an AlignPRO fixture and checked using a strain gauged alignment specimen. The compression test specimens were tested between a pair of compression platens mounted on the hydraulic grips. The upper compression platen incorporated a lockable spherical seat which allowed the alignment of the platens to be adjusted. For strain measurement, four axial and four
transverse strain gauges were used (for determining Poissons ratio). The gauges were connected using Instron strain gauge adapters and an expansion channel module. Test control, data collection and analysis were performed using Bluehill Universal software. Successful tests were carried out on both carbon and glass fibre specimens. The company says the data will help to validate and establish the precision of the new test method.
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.intertek.com �
www.perkinelmer.com �
www.tainstruments.com �
www.dynisco.com �
www.ctherm.com �
www.instron.com
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: INSTRON
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80
