Material analysis
Polymer or plastic materials are increasingly used for example to replace metallic or ceramic parts. They have complicated nature – but we understand them.
Selecting the right material
With right selection of material in your product you can:
- Improve reliability
- Lower costs
- Develop new functionalities
- Improve process control
Material manufacturers often give limited data for their materials. This lack of data may restrict the reliable and effective use of materials and lead to failures and quality problems.
Material characterisation is recommended when you
Are considering new materials, but are not sure of their properties and suitability
Want to be sure that your materials meet your specifications
Want to make sure your materials meet your reliability requirements
Have problems with your current materials such as unknown failures from field
Are looking for new environmentally friendly and sustainable materials
Are considering the use of polymers and composites to replace metallic and ceramic parts
Are unsure or want to optimize the processing conditions of your materials
Long-term reliability of polymers
What if the plastic used in your casing becomes fragile and breaks only after a short use?
What if humidity significantly changes the properties of your plastic material?
The properties of plastics and polymers change in different conditions. Especially after a long-term exposure, this change can be permanent and is a very common reason for unexpected fatal failures in products.
To understand how your product is doing in the long-run, we combine reliability testing with material characterization methods. During years, we have also built a big picture, how commonly used polymer materials behave, what are the critical factors and how the material should be tested and analysed.
Material characterization methods
There is an endless number of different material characterization techniques. Suitable methods depend on the material and studied parameter.
Thermal properties
- Coefficient of thermal expansion, CTE
- Glass transition temperature, Tg
- Crystallinity and melting temperature
- Softening point of films and other materials
- Curing degree and temperature for adhesives and other thermosets
- Oxidation temperature and time
Mechanical properties
- Tensile testing
- Three-point bending
- Pull and peel testing
- Shear testing for adhesion
- Young’s modulus and flexural modulus for films and small components
Chemical properties
- Chemical properties of polymers
- Comparison of materials
Moisture content
- Water absorption measurements
Environmental stress cracking
- ESC with different static bending radii and several different chemical exposures