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3 Essential Types of Mechanical Testing for Polymer Development
June 10, 2024
High-performance polymers are a critical material for manufacturers due to their combination of mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties, but especially their cost. Without adequate testing, manufacturers could run into a slew of issues, from immediate product failure to poor performance or failure after some time in usage. In this post, we review the three most important types of mechanical testing to better predict and ensure performance, safety and reliability.
Characterization Considerations when Sourcing PCR
May 8, 2023
Against the backdrop of a plastic waste crisis, the global demand for plastic is set to quadruple by 2060.1 This has driven a shift toward sustainability and away from linear use models of plastic production. Post-consumer resin (PCR) has emerged as a key player in circular economy initiatives, though ensuring the quality and performance of PCR requires several characterization considerations.
Applying Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) to Test the Durability of Protective Sports Equipment
February 1, 2024
There is a renewed interest in the durability of protective sports equipment after Patrick Mahomes’ helmet recently cracked apart in -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius) weather. Scientists from Waters TA Instruments division ran tests to find out if materials found in protective sports equipment can break due to cold weather.
4 Polymer Insights from Dynamic Mechanical Analysis
December 12, 2023
From material selection and failure analysis to end-use application, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) offers crucial polymer insights. Polymer scientists and design engineers pair DMA with fatigue testing to gain a complete view of their material’s properties and performance attributes.
3 Time-Saving Techniques for Your Polymer Research
February 28, 2023
Saving time in polymer research has many benefits and can be realized in different ways, from reducing operator training time to increasing research throughput and achieving accurate and reproducible results. Here are 3 opportunities across 3 techniques (rheology, TGA, and DSC) which offer solutions to save time in your polymer research.
How to Improve Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) with Rheology
January 25, 2023
Successful additive manufacturing products depend upon your materials’ properties and behaviors. Rheology provides valuable information for safe, efficient, and reproducible polymer manufacturing.
4 Cost-Effective Ways to Upgrade Lab Instruments
September 19, 2022
Technology is rapidly advancing. Whether you upgrade old equipment or add a new technique to your bench, using cutting-edge instrumentation is sure to enhance your lab’s efficiency and results. Today’s instruments offer more reliable data and advanced features, both of which are crucial for staying at the forefront of material innovation.
Rheology of Hydrogels
June 20, 2022
Hydrogels are three-dimensional porous structures that can absorb large amounts of water. They can be made up of polymers, protein, peptides, colloids, surfactants, or lipids.1 Hydrogels’ ability to uptake large amounts of water is useful for many biological applications, including drug delivery and tissue engineering. Since a hydrogels’ properties change as it absorbs water, scientists must accurately characterize its behavior at different saturation amounts and in varying conditions.
How to Optimize 3D Printing Materials Through Thermal Analysis
May 30, 2022
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is being embraced as a versatile manufacturing technique across diverse industries. 3D printing allows for rapid prototyping and print-on-demand solutions to avoid the potential waste associated with batch runs.
Material Analysis for Bioplastics Quality Assurance and Degradation
May 23, 2022
What are bioplastics? How can plastic manufacturers use them to improve the environmental impact of their products? With so many emerging green technologies, producers and consumers need to differentiate between greenwashing1 and genuine advancements. Furthermore, if a new development is deemed environmentally beneficial, all stages of the plastics supply chain, especially converters, must then learn how to incorporate the new technology without undermining their process or products.
How Sustainable Polymer Development is Supported by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis
April 04, 2022
Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is a technique to measure the response of materials when they are subjected to dynamic or cyclic forces. Typically, dynamic mechanical analysis involves looking at the elastic and viscous response of the material when it is under a small oscillating load that probes the molecular structure’s response to the perturbation . Other variables, such as temperature, time and frequency may be changed as part of the testing to characterize how the material performs under different environmental conditions.
Optimization of Catalytic Reactions by High-Pressure TGA
March 28, 2022
Catalytic reactions are everywhere: from plastics and bread to over 90% of all chemicals worldwide, countless goods and materials are manufactured with the aid of catalysts.1 Catalysts are substances that speed up sluggish chemical reactions. Faster reactions are more technologically and economically competitive. Furthermore, optimized catalysts offer a huge potential to reduce energy and resource consumption and lower carbon dioxide emissions.
Post-consumer Resin Legislation: What Polymer Developers Need to Know
March 01, 2022
From fresh steak to new phones, the goods we buy are usually wrapped in one thing: plastic. And plastic dominates how we pack and store products for good reason – it is lightweight, cost-efficient, and durable. Plastic helps us transport and receive goods in perfect condition, thus reducing food waste and preventing damaged goods from heading to landfills.1
What is Differential Scanning Calorimetry?
February 7, 2022
Differential scanning calorimetry is an analytical technique used to measure the amount of heat released or absorbed by a sample during heating or cooling over a range of temperature. As well as being used to characterize the thermal properties of a material, a differential scanning calorimeter is used to determine the temperature at which particular phase transitions occur, including glass transition temperature, fusion and crystallization events.
What are Rheometry and Rheology?
January 31, 2022
Whether researchers are optimizing the texture of yogurt or studying adhesive’s curing, rheometry helps us understand materials and predict their behavior. Rheometry measures the amount of deformation a material or liquid undergoes when a force is applied. The combination of stress, strain and shear behavior forms the basis of rheology, the science of the deformation of materials.
