Polymer testing
The LATEP carries out a large number of analysis and characterization test on polymer materials according to the different international standards. The LATEP, being sensitive to their customers’ needs, gives a prompt and high quality response that surpasses their best expectations.
The LATEP carries out the following analysis and characterization tests:
Thermal, Rheological and Basic Properties Area
- Thermal analysis by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
- Melting and crystallization process
- Glass transition
- Oxidation Induction Time (OIT)
- Specific heat capacity of plastics
- Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
- Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT)
- VICAT softening temperature
- Melt flow rate determination in polymers
- Melt mass-flow rate (MFR)
- Melt volume-flow rate (MVR)
- Capillary rheometry
- Dynamic rheology
- Density determination
- Immersion method
- Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy
Mechanical Properties Area
- Determination of tensile properties
- Strain Hardening (SH) modulus test
- Dynamic fatigue tests - Cracked Round Bar Test
- Determination of flexural properties
- Determination of impact properties
- Charpy impact test
- Izod impact test
- Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) of polymers
- Determination of hardness
- Shore hardness
Solution Properties, Fracture Resistance and Sample Preparation Area
- Molecular weight determination of polymers
- Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)
- Short Chain Branching (SCB) distribution on polyolefins by GPC-IR
- Polymer fractionation techniques
- TREF (Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation)
- CRYSTAF (Crystallization Elution Fractionation)
- Preparative fractionation (composition or molar mass)
- Determination of the hydroxyl value
- Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR)
- PENT test: Slow Crack Growth resistance of polyethylene pipes and resins
- Full Notch Creep Test (FNCT)
- Resistance to ozone cracking
- Compression molding samples
- Milling, notching and punching of specimens
- Polymer extrusion