Test Methods in Detail

Many People use standard rubber or plastics test methods to give information about product functionality or material consistency. In many cases these will not give the information required as the stress state or chemical environment in the test is not the same as in service. For example, it is pointless to use the 300% Modulus to compare the stiffness of two rubber compounds when they only operate at 10% max strain in service. Clearly the low strain behaviour is far more relevant. Likewise for deformation geometry, particularly where products go from tension to compression.

At ARTIS the first stage of understanding product performance is understanding what the material is doing in operation. Then it is necessary to look at the tests available to assess the material under appropriate conditions. Only then can the product behaviour be rationalised.

ARTIS have developed a number of tests based on this approach including dairy liner functionality and aerosol cupseal friction and feeding tests.
ARTIS has also developed infra red sensor measurement of moving rubber surfaces in dairy liner applications and the use of a simple Hi-Fi vinyl record player arm to map acoustic vibrations on a part using the stylus to track over it without adding mass.

Follow the case study link for details of work carried out on galvanic corrosion measurements.