Mechanical Testing and Structure Analysis Innovative methods for destructive and non-destructive material characterization

Material characterization

UNDERSTANDING THE FAILURE OF MATERIALS TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE

Our brand “Polymer Engineering“ stands for sci-entific and practical research and teaching in the field of polymer materials. The department of Polymer Engineering at the University of Bay-reuth, the business area of plastics at the New Materials Bayreuth GmbH and the department of Polymer Engineering at the TuTech Innova-tion GmbH in Hamburg embody these brand under the guidance of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Altstädt. The main research at all three locations lies on the material, the construction and the produc-tion, with the aim to develop high performance plastic products. The focus of the research is the systematic analysis and use of causal re-lationships between processing, structure and properties of polymer materials. This allows a strategic approach to the development of inno-vative products with the help of modern polymer materials.

Our group has an excellent expertise in the me-chanical characterization of polymers and sub-assemblies. The investigation of the large spec-trum of structure-property relationships belongs to our daily work.

Beside using standard mechanical characte-rization methods, we are proud to offer very modern mechanical testing technologies to our industrial partners in order to satisfy their quali-ty standards. In addition, a number of modern non-destructive characterization methods are available.

Mechanical characterization

• Quasi-static mechanical characterization• Fracture mechanics• Dynamic long-term characteriztion • Impact behaviour

Morphological characterization

• Optical microscopy• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)• Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX)• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)• Atomic force microscopy (AFM)• Fracture analysis

Non-destructive characterization

• Ultra sonic scanning• Micro computer tomography

Static Testing

STANDARDIZED CHARACTERIZATION OF MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS

In order to cover the whole range of polymeric systems (elastomers, thermoplastics, duroplas-tics) a varity of testing equipment is available.

Equipment

• Universal testing machines• Load cells from 2N to 250kN• Climate chambers (-40°C to +230°C)• 6-axial creep tester

Testing methods

• Tensile and compression testing• Bend testing (3 and 4-point-bending)• Creep and relaxation testing• Tear testing• Adhesion (peel) test• Release agent classification• Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS)• Fracture mechanics (G1c, G2c, K1c)

One of the core competences at department of “Polymer Engineering” is the investigation of the mechanical behaviour of materials under static loading. Therefore, the department offers many standar-dized testing methods as well as the fracture me-chanical characterization of polymers.

Creep testing equipment

Universal testing machines

Fracture mechanical testing

ILSS testing

Fatigue and Impact Testing

TESTING CLOSE TO REALITY

We are able to conduct the investigation of the long-term fatigue and impact behaviour of polymers. The department has an outstanding expertise in using modern hysteresis and fatigue crack growth mea-surements. This knoweldge allows us to develop a fatigue test program to meet the special needs of our customers.

Long-term fatigue behaviour

• Hysteresis measurements • S-N curve endurance limit• Fatigue crack propagation (FCP)

Servo-hydraulic testing machine

Impact behaviour

• Charpy impact testing• Falling dart impact testing• Compression after impact (CAI)

Equipment

• Servo-hydraulic testing machines • Load cells from 20N to 63kN• Climate chambers (-40°C to +230°C)• Droptower impact system (0.6J to 1800J)• Charpy impact system (4J and 50J)

Charpy impact tester

Droptower impactor

Structure Analysis

POWERFULL TOOL FOR MATERIAL INVESTIGATION

These innovative methods help to analyze the polymer morphology in order to understand mi-cro- and fracture mechanics. Furthermore, the-se sophisticated methods of microscopy and image analysis, lead to a fundamental under-standing of the structure-property relationship of polymeric materials.

Microscopy

• Optical light microscopy• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)• Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX)• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)• Atomic force microscopy (AFM)

Non-destructive characterization

• Ultra sonic scanner (A-, B-,C-Scans)• Micro computer tomography

Correlating the structure and properties of modern polymeric materials is the main aim of the depart-ment. Therefore, a varity of modern analysis equip-ment is available to entirely evaluate both 2D and 3D micro structural features.

Bead foam

Micro computer tomograph

Research field

DIVERSITY OF AREAS

The sophisticated equipment of the department of Polymer Engineering allows the entire mate-rial characterization of various polymeric mate-rials.

Polymer EngineeringHH • TuTech Innovation GmbH www.polymer-engineering.de • info@polymer-engineering.deNeuhöfer Straße 23, Haus 12 • 21079 Hamburg • Phone +49 (0)40 30 99 37 99 0 • Fax +49 (0)40 30 99 37 99 9 Lehrstuhl für Polymere Werkstoffe • Universität Bayreuth www.polymer-engineering.de • info@polymer-engineering.deFAN A • Universitätsstraße 30 • 95447 Bayreuth • Phone +49 (0)921 55 74 71 • Fax +49 (0)921 55 74 73

Kunststoffabteilung der Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbHwww.new-materials.de • info@nmbgmbh.deGottlieb-Keim-Straße 60 • 95448 Bayreuth • Phone +49 (0)921 50 73 60 • Fax +49 (0)921 50 73 61 99

Neue MaterialienBayreuth

NaNocomposites

composites

elastomers polymer BleNds

Foams