Polymers are everywhere, from components making up the electronic device you’re reading this on to life-saving medical devices, energy efficient solar panels, and lightweight aero or auto components. Material scientists and engineers continue to improve high-performance polymers for strength, durability, and stability under demanding applications.
In the world of material science, understanding the viscoelastic properties of materials is crucial for developing and optimizing products. Two key parameters in this context are storage modulus (E’ or G’) and loss modulus (E” or G”). These parameters provide insights into a material’s stiffness and damping characteristics, respectively, which are essential for applications ranging from polymers and pharmaceuticals to batteries and composites.
When it comes to selecting materials for your next innovative product, the material specification sheet is likely the first place that you will turn. This document provides core properties measured by the manufacturer and serves as an essential tool for supplier verification and new product development. However, while these sheets are reliable and provide a standard method for comparison, they often fail to tell the whole story.
Our world is brimming with viscoelastic materials: The dough you knead before baking a fresh loaf, the Silly Putty your toddler slaps against the wall, the rubber gaskets that create an airtight seal on an airplane door. Testing those materials by applying controlled deformations (strains) or forces (stresses) at various timescales, temperatures, and/or humidities allows for the optimization of properties and ensures durability and safety.
The composites market is evolving fast. Global market projections indicate a 10.8 % growth by 2028, driven by the demand for composites across industries looking for materials with superior performance at reduced weight and cost. This blog explores how advanced material analysis can enhance R&D and manufacturing processes in the composites market, ultimately leading to financial savings and increased efficiency.
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is a thermal analysis technique used to measure the mechanical properties of materials as they are deformed under periodic stress. DMA is commonly used to determine the viscoelastic behavior of polymers, composites, and other materials.
High-performance polymers are a critical material for manufacturers due to their combination of mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties, but especially their cost. Without adequate testing, manufacturers could run into a slew of issues, from immediate product failure to poor performance or failure after some time in usage.
There is a renewed interest in the durability of protective sports equipment after Patrick Mahomes’ helmet recently cracked apart in -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius) weather. Scientists from TA Instruments ran tests to find out if materials found in protective sports equipment can break due to cold weather.
From material selection and failure analysis to end-use application, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) offers crucial polymer insights. Polymer scientists and design engineers pair DMA with fatigue testing to gain a complete view of their material’s properties and performance attributes.
We expect a lot from our composites: rocket materials need to endure the heat of takeoff, wind turbines must withstand high wind gusts, and sneakers are expected to be durable and supportive on long runs. How do experts develop composites tailored to such specific uses and verify their properties?
Do your patients worry about their replacement hip breaking when they run? Or how long their prosthetic leg will last before needing a new one? Are your regulatory submissions requiring increasingly more lifetime testing?
The recent release of our 2022 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report demonstrates a continued commitment to leaving the world better than we found it. The pursuit of the goals outlined in this report remains a top priority for our company and this year’s edition reflects both our current focus areas and future ambitions.