Mechanical physical laboratory tests

The physical-mechanical laboratory can be ideally divided into three parts:

identification tests and characterization of raw materials and manufactured goods;
determining evidence of a physical-mechanical property data;
tests on EPS.

The identification and characterization tests are:

DSC (differential scanning calorimetry): is used to determine the melting point of a material and therefore allows its identification.
FT-IR (infrared spectroscopy): this machine returns, irradiating the sample with infrared light, a graph where each peak is representative of a given type of bonding within the material thus allowing the identification.
TGA: an analysis is quantitative and gives us an idea of the percentages of components (plasticizers, polymer, water, carbon black, calcium carbonate and ash) for a given sample.
RAMAN: as the FT-IR, returns through a spectrum of the sample radiation although it is done using a laser with a wave length in the visible or NIR. This machine also allows, being coupled to a microscope, the identification of layers of different materials within the sample, determining thicknesses and nature.

Determining evidence of a mechanical physical property data:

MFI: you put the sample in a cylinder where it is melted, compacted and a certain weight is applied. Melted material, escaping from a nozzle with a given speed, allows the machine to calculate the values of MVR (melt volume rate) and MFR (Melt Flow Rate) that are indices of the material’s fluidity.
DISPERSION AND BREAKDOWN: is carried out to define, by comparing what is seen under the microscope with the reference images, as are distributed within the sample masterbatch or the carbon black.
TRACTION.
BENDING.
RIGIDITY AND FLEXIBILITY ANNULAR: is carried out to determine the resistance of a pipe to deformation of 3%, and any resistance to deformation and breakage problems up to 30%.
STRENGTH OF FILM TO FREE FALL OF DART: determining the impact resistance of plastic films making you fall on a dart of a given weight in free fall. The test is repeated at least 20 times and varying the weight of the dart according to the breakage or less of the previous film.
COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION: by sliding a sample on another of the same or different nature it determine the coefficient of static and dynamic friction

Tests of EPS:

COMPRESSION TO 10%: is the test that identifies the class of the slabs in EPS.
BENDING.
TRACTION.
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY STANDARD CONDITIONS (the sample is maintained for 28 days at 23 ° C and 50% relative humidity).
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY IN SPECIFIC CONDITIONS (in general maintains the sample at 23 ° C and relative humidity at 90% for 48h although they are also possible other conditions).
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY: the sample is placed between two plates having a delta (difference) of temperature of at least 20 ° C and measuring the heat flow by determining conductivity and thermal resistance of the sample. This test is also applicable to other materials in addition to the EPS.
RESISTANCE TO SMALL FLAME.
DETERMINATION OF LENGTH, WIDTH, THICKNESS, SQUARENESS AND FLATNESS: no evidence that in general are made of plate sizes of 1000 X 500 mm for adherence to the manufacturer.