RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT
There is a Research and Development lab within our company with all of the latest equipment for developing our polyurethane systems. Our ultimate goal is a continuous improvement and expansion of our product range and providing our clients with quality products.
In order to ensure that, we perform chemical analyses for the identification of the raw input material, the characterization of the chemical-physical properties of the final product according to the existing regulations and a constant search for innovative products.
TESTS AND INSTRUMENTS PRESENT IN THE LABORATORY
The laboratory has various instruments for performing analyses on the raw materials and the finished products:
ANALYSIS/TEST
INSTRUMENT
DESCRIPTION
HOLDER
To ensure consistency and quality in the final product it is necessary to know the hydroxyl value of the starting polyol. The hydroxyl value is defined as the number of mg of KOH equivalent to the amount of hydroxyl in 1 gram of the sample.
HOLDER
To determine the percentage of free NCO groups combining with an equivalent number of excess n-butylamine.
HOLDER KARL FISHER
The holder Karl-Fisher is an instrument that is used to make quantitative determinations of the water present in the liquid, solid and powder samples.
VISCOMETER
In order to improve the processability and mixing between the components it is necessary to know the viscosity of the incoming products.
The test is run according to EN 13702.
FTIR SPECTROMETER
The use of infrared spectroscopy is a very fast and useful technique in the analysis of the raw input material and the identification of unknown samples.
This technique provides information on the functional groups, the chemical bonds of the product being analysed by referring to the interaction between the IR electromagnetic radiation and the molecular systems that are interfered in their vibro-rotational states.
The infrared spectrum of the raw material or the product is compared to the spectra in the database and thus an assessment on the correlation can be made.
DUROMETER
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DYNAMOMETER
The physical and mechanical properties of the materials in our laboratory are determined with the Universal Dynamometer Easydur which is adapted to the type of demonstrated interest such as: tensile, compressive, and flexural strength.
Tensile strength: to evaluate the behaviour of the material in a short tensile stress test we use the standard DIN 53504. The test consists in measuring the maximum force required per unit of cross-sectional area up to the breaking point. The result is expressed in MPa.
Compressive strength: to complete the investigation of the behaviour of rigid materials we perform the compression tests in order to identify the stress-strain curve, deducing useful information on the linear elastic behaviour of the product (Young’s modulus) and its breaking behaviour.
Flexural strength: all the rigid and semi-rigid materials are characterized by this test. Prismatic shaped square section test tubes are used, in accordance with DIN 53452, and their mechanical strength characteristics are calculated throughout the 3-point bending. The value is expressed in MPa.
ABRASIMETER
Some tests are conducted on the test tubes from the material being examined according to DIN 53516. The loss of mass due to the consummation of material from the path made on a rotating drum covered with abrasive paper is measured.
Abrasion resistence in itself is a complex test seeing as it is connected with the other properties of the material (tensile strength, hardness and elastic modulus). The unit of measurement of the abrasion resistance is expressed in mm3. The lower this value is, the higher the material’s resistance. Thanks to our research we have been able to obtain materials with an optimum abrasion resistance.
DSC
Through this technique we can evaluate the glass transition, melting temperature, crystallization, phase changes, thermal and oxidative stability, kinetics of cure, etc.
This information is gathered by measuring the energy that the sample must show or give in until it gets to the same temperature as the reference sample.
TMA
The thermomechanical analysis TMA, is a technique used for the measurement of the dimensional variations of the materials in the function of time, temperature and the applied force.
Through this technique we can determine the coefficient of thermal expansion, elastic modulus, the variation of specific volume and the material’s softening point.
DMA
With this tool the viscoelastic properties of polymers can be characterized.
The most common applications of this technique, which is based on the detection of exothermic and endothermic phenomena that occur in the material placed in the calorimeter, are concerned with the determination of the melting temperature, the glass transition temperature, the specific heat and the study of the kinetics of crystallization of materials in the polymer matrix.
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The chemical resistance of a material depends on a number of factors including the exposure time, from the temperature, from the concentration. When there is a chemical degradation, the molecular chains of the polymer react with the chemical substance and the material could be damaged. At the beginning of the process of degradation there is the process of swelling in which the solution with the chemical agent is absorbed within the structure of the material, and after the evaporation of the liquid either the material interacts with the liquid or it returns to its original shape.
Resistance to acids and basic solutions: these substances are aggressive for polyurethane, even in room temperature. Our material is resistant to acidic solutions and diluted alkaline solutions for a short period of time in room temperature. Long-term contact with concentrated acid and concentrated base solutions is not recommended.
Resistance to saturated hydrocarbons: when polyurethane is in contact with saturated hydrocarbons such as diesel, kerosene petroleum ether, isooctane suffers bulges on the surface, but after a certain amount of time the material tends to return to its original dimensions.
Resistance to aromatic hydrocarbons: contact with aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene causes a bulge on the surface and a reduction of the material’s mechanical properties.
Resistance to oils and fats: the polyester-based polyurethane is more resistant to oils and fats, one must verify the compatibility with additives to their content which could cause irreversible damage.