LABORATORY TESTS, INDUSTRIAL TRIALS AND CLASSIFICATION
ICTPOL operational units are equipped in such a way that they can carry out tests and analyses in accordance with normally adopted international standards (ISO, ASTM, DIN, NF, NP), with special relevance to quality control and the performance of polymeric materials. ICTPOL laboratories are able to provide solutions to such client requirements as the identification and classification of materials, technical diagnosis, standardization and the development of new products.

Below is a list of just some of the tests most frequently requested by industry:

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Mechanical behaviour of end products or raw materials.
  • Hardness
  • Traction
  • Flexibility
  • Impact
  • Puncture and tearing
  • Compression
  • Fluency
  • Fatigue
  • Resilience
  • Abrasion
  • Tensile strength

 

OPTIC PROPERTIES
Analysis of the optic properties of materials and their appearance: colour, transparency, gloss, UV barrier properties, etc.
  • Determination of brilliance, haze and transparency
  • Refraction index
  • Colourimetry
  • Spectrophotometry absorption Visible UV

 

ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
Behavioural study of polymers in the presence of electrical fields and currents.
  • Conductivity
  • Volume resistivity
  • Dielectric constant
  • Dielectric dissipation factor
  • Dielectric relaxation

 

THERMIC AND THERMOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Behavioural study of polymers at different temperatures or temperature cycles, thermic decomposition and crystallinity; determination of temperature at which fusion, crystallisation, softening (vitric transition), crosslinking or hardening take place.
  • Load deflection temperature (HDT)
  • Temperature at which softening takes place (VICAT)
  • Point at which fusion takes place. Dimensional stability
  • Linear expansion coefficient
  • Thermic conductivity
  • Thermic degradation tests

 

CHEMICAL TESTS
Chemical classification and identification of polymers, copolymers, mixtures and formulations; determination of water content, chemical stability; analysis of composition and regularity of polymeric chains, number of ramifications; study of reactions and kinetics, etc.
  • Gaseous chromatography
  • Liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • Gas-liquid chromatography with mass detector
  • Mass spectroscope
  • Visible-UV spectroscopy
  • Infra-red spectroscopy
  • High resolution Nuclear Magnetic Ressonance (NMR) spectroscopy for solids and liquids.

 

PHYSICAL AND MACROMOLECULAR CLASSIFICATION
Studies of the physical characteristics of polymers like structure and morphology, surface effects, macromolecular mass and statistical distribution, distribution analysis of reinforcing minerals; determination of the gas barrier levels (oxygen, steam, dioxide carbon), etc.
  • Density
  • Gel Penetration Chromatography (GPC)
  • Viscometry of solutions
  • Morphological classification by electronics and optic microscopy:
  • Determination of charge content      
  • Analysis of the dispersal of additives
  • Analysis of semi-crystaline structures
  • Proof against penetration by gases (permeability tests)
  • Water absorption

 

ARTIFICAL AGING TESTS/
ACCENTUATED WEATHERING
Durability study of polymeric materials in different environments, resistance to UV, elevated temperatures, controlled humidity, etc.

Study of aging process.

  • Aging through use of xenon lamp and simulation of different environmental conditions.

 

NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS

Study and internal classification of heterogenous materials without destruction. Analysis and diagnosis of defects, fractures, etc.

  • NMR microscopy

  • Acoustic emission

  • Ultrasonic sweep tests

 

RHEOLOGY TESTS
Mechanical tests specifically aimed at optimising process conditions in the industrial production units.
  • Fluidity index (MFI)
  • Flow curves for a wide range of shear stress
  • Normal tensions
  • Vulcanisation curves and determination of gel points
  • Determination of dynamic-mechanic properties
  • Determination of elasticity properties
  • Determination of surgical critical process windows.