MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION

DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY (DSC) AND

MODULATED DSC (MDSC)

TA Instruments Q2000 and 2910 Differential Scanning Calorimeter

• Measured Properties
  • glass transition temperature (Tg)
  • melting temperatures and heats of fusion
  • crystallization 
  • heat capacity
  • curing reaction kinetics
  • degree of cure
  • oxidative stability
• Test Parameter
  • temperature range -150 to 650° C (in nitrogen or helium atmosphere)
• Modes of Operation
  • controlled heating
  • controlled cooling
  • isothermal
• Accessories Available
  • modulated DSC to separate reversing phenomena (Tg, heat capacity) from non-reversing phenomena (curing, volatilization)
  • isothermal kinetic software
  • Borchardt & Daniels constant heating rate kinetic software
  • Multiple heating rate kinetic software

TA Instruments 2920 Pressure DSC (PDSC)

• Measured Properties
• glass transition temperature (Tg) 
• melting temperatures and heats of fusion
• crystallization 
• heat capacity
• curing reaction kinetics
• degree of cure
• oxidative stability
Test Parameters
• temperature range 25 to 500°C
• pressure range ambient to 950 PSI
Modes of Operation
• constant heating rate 
• isothermal
Accessories Available
• pressure cell

DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ANALYSIS (DTA)

TA Instruments Differential Thermal Analyzer

• Measured Properties:
• glass transition temperature (Tg)
• melting temperatures (Tm)
• heat capacity
• heat of reaction
Test Parameter:
• temperature range 25 to 1600° C
Modes of Operation
• controlled heating
• controlled cooling
• isothermal

DYNAMIC MECHANICAL ANALYSIS (DMA)

TA Instruments 2980 Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer

• Measured Properties
• stiffness modulus and energy dissipation of composites, thin films, fibers, cured foams, and elastomers
• Tan delta
• glass transition temperatures
• secondary transitions
• energy damping
Test Parameters
• temperature range -150 to 500° C
• frequency range 0.001 to 10.0 HZ
Modes of Operation
• fixed frequency temperature scan
• resonant frequency 
• stress relaxation
• creep
Accessories Available:
• regular serrated clamps for stiff samples
• thin film tension clamps
• 2-point bending clamps
• 3-point bending clamps
• single cantilever bending clamps
• dual cantilever bending clamps
• foam/elastomer compression clamps

TA INSTRUMENTS ARES RHEOMETER

• Measured Properties
• stiffness modulus 
• energy dissipation
• viscosity of polymer melts
• viscosity of fluids
• dynamic viscosity of reacting resins & pastes
• glass transition temperatures
• secondary transitions
• time temperature superposition analysis
Test Parameters
• temperature range -120 to 450° C
• frequency range 0.001 to 500 radians/second
Modes of Operation
• dynamic oscillation of solids
• dynamic oscillation of liquids & pastes
Accessories Available
• dynamic torsion deformation motor
• steady shear torsion deformation motor
• disposable parallel plate fixtures
• cone and plate fixtures
• rectangular torsional shear fixture for solids

TA INSTRUMENTS AR2000 & ar2000ex RHEOMETER

•  Measured Properties
• viscosity
• yield stress
• G’ elasticity
• G” energy dissipation (viscous nature)
• Thixotropy
• Shear thinning capabilities
Test Parameters
• temperature range -100 to 350° C for parallel plate w/ ETC oven
• temperature range 10 to 80°C for peltier temperature controlled fixtures
• frequency range 0.001 to 500 radians/second
Modes of Operation
• dynamic oscillation of solids
• dynamic oscillation of liquids & pastes
Accessories Available
• Parallel plate
• Cones and plate
• Concentric cylinder
• Disposable parallel plate fixtures

THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS (TGA)

TA INSTRUMENTS 951 AND 2950 THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYZER

• Measured Properties:

THERMOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS (TMA)

TA INSTRUMENTS 2940 THERMOMECHANICAL ANALYZER (TMA)

• Measured Properties
• thermal expansion through thickness of sample
• expansion/contraction of thin films
• thermal transitions 
• rate of penetration into sample
• coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE)
Test Parameters
• temperature range -150 to 1000° C
• loading force 0.001 to 1.0 Newtons
Modes of Operation
• controlled heating at constant force
• controlled cooling at constant force
• isothermal at constant force
• ramp force
Accessories Available
• standard expansion
• penetration
• film/fiber
• parallel plate rheometer accessory
• flexure accessory

HARROP THERMODILATOMETRIC ANALYZER (TDA)

• Measured Properties
• thermal expansion along length of sample
• coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE)
Test Parameters
• temperature range -150 to 450° C
Modes of Operation
• controlled heating rates
• controlled cooling rates

HEAT DEFLECTION TEMPERATURE (HDT)

• Measured Properties
• deflection temperature under load
• vicat softening temperature
Test Parameters
• +25 to 400°C

PHYSICAL TESTING

IMPACT TESTING

INSTRON/DYNATUP 9250 INSTRUMENTED DROP WEIGHT IMPACT TESTER

• Impact speed to 30 MPH
Energy to 1300 J
puncture or drop dart modes of operation
force and energy vs. ram displacement curves

TINIUS OLSEN IZOD IMPACT TEST MACHINE

• Plastics impact tester
IZOD or charpy capabilities
Range - 200 inch-pounds

MECHANICAL TESTING

INSTRON MODEL 4486

• Tensile, Flex, Compression, and Shear Testing Capabilities
• Maximum range - 67,000 lb.
• Video Extensometer

INSTRON MODEL 4444

• Tensile, Flex, Compression, and Shear Testing Capabilities
• Max Range - 400 lb.

INSTRON MODEL 4204

• Tensile, Flex, Compression, and Shear Testing Capabilities
• Range: 2000 lb. - tensile, 1000 lb. Flex

INSTRON MODEL 3366

• Tensile, Flex, Compression, and Shear Testing Capabilities
• Max range - 10,000 lb.

INSTRON MODEL 1127

• Tensile, Flex, Compression, and Shear Testing Capabilities
• Maximum range - 50,000 lb.

INSTRON MODEL 1331

• Fatigue Testing Capabilities
• Maximum range - 20,000 lb.

APPLIED TEST SYSTEMS CREEP TESTING MACHINE

• Applied Test Systems, Inc.
Model Series 2330 Lever Arm
Tensile or Compressive Creep Capabilities
Range - 3:1 or 20:1 Stress Range

SAMPLE PREPARATION EQUIPMENT

• Tensilkut Engineering Tensilsaw Model 60/62 high-speed rotary saws (three)
• Tensilkut Engineering Model 10/78 Router (two)
• Rockwell Model 14 Band Saw (two)
• Rockwell/Delta Model 52-611 Bench Sander
• Harig Model 618 Surface Grinder
• Felker Model 41a Wet Saw
• Mutronics Diadrive 2000 CNC Machine (used for precision cutting and polishing mechanical test specimens in accordance with ASTM and ISO standards)