TPE Test Methods

TPE test capabilities of Elastron R&D Lab:

TGA - THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS

Test Standard:  ISO 11358-1
Aim:  Thermogravimetric analysis is done to determine the temperature and speed of polymer decomposition and as well as the amount of volatile, medium volatile substances, additives and/or fillers in the polymer structure.
Test Device: Thermogravimetric Analyser


DSC - DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY – DETERMINATION OF MELTING AND CRYSTALIZATION TEMPERATURES

Test Standard:  ISO 11357-1, ISO 11357-3
Aim:  The melting and crystallization temperatures and enthalpies of crystalline or semi-crystalline polymers are determined.
Test Device: Differential Scanning Calorimetry


DSC - DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY – DETERMINATION OF GLASS TRANSITION TEMPERATURE (TG)

Test Standard: ISO 11357-1, ISO 11357-2
Aim:  Glass transition temperatures (Tg) of amorphous or semi-crystalline polymers are determined.
Test Device: Differential Scanning Calorimetry


FTIR - FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY - QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

Test Standard: ASTM E 1252
Aim:  Structures and functional groups of polymers are defined.
Test Device: FTIR- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer


HARDNESS TEST

Test Standard: ASTM D 2240
Aim:  Hardness of thermoplastic elastomers are determined in Shore A and Shore D units.
Test Device:  Shore meter (A&D)


DENSITY MEASUREMENT

Test Standard: ASTM D 792
Aim:  Specific gravities of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and other polymers in solid form are calculated with the help of alcohol.
Test Device:  Analytical Balance and Density Kit


COMPRESSION SET

Test Standard: ASTM D 395 – Method B
Aim: After a force is applied to the thermoplastic elastomer material in different time and temperatures, ability to prevent elastic properties of material is measured. The permanent deformation remaining is measured after applied some pressure in a known temperature and time.
Test Device: Compression Set Apparatus


FOGGING TEST

Test Standard: ISO 6452, PV 3015 – Gravimetric (mg), Refract metric (%)
Aim: Amount of volatile structures, that they can migrate to the environment during usage, inside thermoplastic elastomers, is determined by fogging test.
Test Device: Fogging Tester


TENSILE STRENGTH AND ELONGATION TESTS

Test Standard: ASTM D 412
Aim: Under static load, elastic and plastic behaviour of thermoplastic elastomers are determined.
Test Device:   Extensometer


TEARING TEST

Test Standard: ASTM D 624
Aim:  The resistance of thermoplastic elastomers against tearing is measured.
Test Device: Extensometer


MELTING FLOW INDEX (MFI)

Test Standard: ASTM D 1238
Aim: The melting flow index of a melted thermoplastic elastomer is measured.
Test Device: MFI Device


CHEMICAL AGING TEST

Test Standard: ASTM D 471
Aim:  The resistance of thermoplastic elastomers against some chemicals (liquid) and their effects are measured.
Test Device: Chemical Aging Test Cabinet, Air Aging Ovens


IZOD AND CHARPY IMPACT TESTS

Test Standard: ASTM D 256
Aim: The resistance of material against impact is measured. The kinetic energy necessary for cracking and breaking the material is calculated.
Test Device:  Impact test device


COLOR MEASUREMENT (l.a.b.)

Test Standard: -
Aim:  Ligthness and darkness value-l value, red-green values-a value and yellow-blue value-b value are measured for thermoplastic elastomers.
Test Device: Colorimeter


GLOSS MEASUREMENT

Test Standard: ASTM D 523
Aim: The gloss of the thermoplastic elastomers' surfaces is measured.
Test Device: Gloss meter


pH MEASUREMENT

Test Standard: -
Aim: The change effect the pH value of the liquids in contact with thermoplastic elastomers is measured.
Test Device: pH Meter


KINEMATIC VISCOSITY TEST

Test Standard: -
Aim: Viscosity of liquids or dissolved solids are measured.
Test Device: Kinematic Viscometer


MOONEY VISCOSITY TEST

Test Standard: ASTM D 1646
Aim: Mooney viscosity value of rubber is measured.
Test Device: Mooney Viscometer


HUMIDITY DETERMINATION

Test Standard: -
Aim: Humidity of thermoplastic elastomers is measured with the help of weight loss quantitatively.
Test Device: Moisture Determination Device


HORIZONTAL FLAMMABILITY TEST

Test Standard: UL 94- HB
Aim: The flammability performances of thermoplastic elastomers are determined as horizontally.
Test Device: Horizontal Flame Chamber


SOXHLET EXTRACTION

Test Standard: -
Aim: Fluids within the thermoplastic elastomer is extracted, the liquid material dissolved in the solvent inside solid material is quantitatively measured.
Test Device: Soxhlet Extraction Mechanism


POLYMER GEL CONTENT TEST

Test Standard: -
Aim: Crosslink percentage of thermoplastic vulcanizates is calculated.
Test Device: Soxhlet Extraction Mechanism


ODOUR TEST

Test Standard: VDA 270
Aim: Thermoplastic elastomers are graded according to their odour class.
Test Device:  Oven, Beaker


UV AGING TEST

Test Standard: ASTM G 154
Aim:  The changes of thermoplastic elastomers under UV light are observed in a accelerated aging way.
Test Device: Accelerated UV Test Device


SCRATCH AND ABRASION TEST

Test Standard: -
Aim: Scratch and abrasion properties of thermoplastic elastomers are determined by different type edges.
Test Device:  Abrasion Test Device


WEATHEROMETER TEST

Test Standard: ASTM D 2565, ASTM D 4459, ISO4582
Aim:  Prolonged exposure to the ambient conditions of thermoplastic elastomers like temperature, light or humidity are simulated. The colour change and/or other surface changes as cracking/scratching are analysed.
Test Device:  Weathering Cabinet