Instron Universal Tester

The labor-intensive nature of polymer tensile and flexure tests makes them logical candidates for automation. We have developed a fully automated instrument for performing these tests on rigid materials. The instrument is comprised of an Instron universal tester, a Zymark laboratory robot, a Digital Equipment Corporation minicomputer, and custom-made accessories to manipulate the specimens and measure their dimensions automatically. Our system allows us to determine the tensile or flexural properties of over one hundred specimens without human intervention, and it has significantly improved the productivity of our laboratory. This paper describes the structure and performance of our system, and it compares the relative costs of manual versus automated testing. 

At various time intervals, animals were sacrificed and specimens of the wound contents as well as of an intact skin area about 5 cm from the wound perimeter were either removed for mechanical testing, or were fixed prior to processing for histological staining. Tensile specimens were stored in physiological saline at 4°C and were stretched in an Instron Universal Tester Model TM at 100% min at room temperature within 24 h of sacrifice. Specimens for histological study were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and viewed in a light microscope. 

Crimp extension refers to the extent to which the graft or biotextile stmcture stretches under longitudinal tension. A spedmen of known relaxed length is extended on a mechanical tester, such as an Instron Universal Tester, so as to remove most of the crimps by applying a standard constant load of 1.2 N. The amount of crimp extension is calculated from the difference between... 

NMR and Si-NMR spectra were obtained in CDCI3 with chemical shifts (6) referenced to tetramethylsilane. Elemental silicon was analyzed by Galbraith Laboratories. Instron Universal Tester (Model 1000) was used to measure the tensile properties of the cured coatings. Pull-off adhesion tester (Elcometer, Model 106) was used to evaluate the adhesion of the coatings to aluminum substrates. 

Tensile and flexural analyses were performed on the Instron Universal Tester Model 4301 in aceotdance to ASTM D638 and ASTM D747, respectively. Fleximal tests were also done at 2 mm/minute and tensile tests at 50 mm/minute. 

Figure 1. Overall instrument layout showing (A) Instron 1125 universal tester (B) Zymark laboratory robots (C) Specimen bar magazine (D) Specimen bar measuring device.

Mechanical Properties. Mechanical properties obtained on the cured resins included tensile strength and fracture toughness. Tensile tests were run on an Instron model 1122 Universal Tester with a crosshead speed of 0.02 /minute. Tests were run on dry and saturated samples in air. Fracture toughness (K ) values have been obtained using a MTS 610 Materials Testing System at 0.02 /minute at ambient and elevated temperatures in air. The compact tensile specimens tested were 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.125 in dimension. Mechanical properties data are based on the results from four or more tests run at each condition. 

Two aspects of texture were considered firmness of the intact segment and toughness of the carpellary membrane. Both were measured on stored segments with an Instron model 1011 Universal Tester (Instron Corp., Canton MA 02021) set on compression mode. Firmness was determined by crushing a pair of segments in an Ottowa Texture Measurement System to 3 mm final thickness. Crushed segments were then transferred to a Kramer Shear Cell and the force necessary to shear the membranes determined. 

Four-point bend tests were performed at room temperature and at 1400°C. All bending tests had an upper span of 10 mm and a lower span of 30 mm. An Instron-type universal tester was used for bending tests, with a constant cross head of 0.2 mm/min. Figure 5.36 shows the dimensions and coordinate system of the beam specimen with ground surface in a four-point bend test. 

Mechanical properties were evaluated using an INSTRON universal testing machine (Model 4301). Tensile, flexural and interlaminar shear properties were determined according to relevant ASTM standards. Izod impact strength was determined using impact tester (Zwick, Germarty). 

The experimental setup for the strain and elecfiical resistance measurements used simultaneously an Instron Universal Material Tester 4466 and a Keithley Multimeter. The researchers adopted a cycle test with a crosshead speed to a given maximum strain. 

The breaking tenacity and strain of each SMPU fiber spun in different water baths was tested by an Instron universal terrsile tester and the resirlts are shown in Table 11.15. Some typical tensile test results of the above fibers are provided in Fig. 11.25. A significant change in fiber breaking tenacity and strain is observed... 

Mechanical test was done using the Instron 4400 Universal Tester to measure the tensile strength at the point of breakage for each sample. Tensile tests were carried out at room temperature, according to the ASTM D882 type V. A fixed crosshead rate of 12.5 mm/min was utilized in all cases, and the results were taken as an average of five tests. 

The tensile properties of a T -type SMPU fiber were tested by an Instron 4411 universal tensile tester with a specimen length of 5 cm, and strain rate of 10 cm/mia Ten specimens were tested for each sample, and the mean values of the breaking tenacities and stresses of the specimens under tensile testing are shown in Table 11.6. 

The shape memory properties of a T -type of wet-spim SMPU fiber were also examined by an Instron 5566 universal tensile tester, equipped with a temperature cabinet. A bundle of eight fibers was first clamped onto the gauges, then heated to 75°C and stretched to 100% strain at a rate of 10 rttm/rttin. The fibers were then cooled to room temperature under 100% strain, and held for 15 minutes. Finally, the clamps were returned to ground level, and the cabinet was heated to 15°C before the next tensile cycle started. 

The dispersion of organically modified clay within polypropylene matrix was measured by XRD. The diffractogram were scanned in 20 range from 1.0 to 10° at a rate of l°/min The tensile and flexural properties were measured with an Instron 4202 universal testing machine and the notched izod impact strength was measured with an Izod impact tester, model 5102. Grafting yield of compatibilizer containing styrene was measured by IR spectroscopy, model Biorad. 

Tensile tests were conducted using a universal testing machine (Instron 4466, INSTRON USA) at a cross head speed of lOmm/min. An Izod impact tester (Toyoseikei Inc., Japan) was used to measure the Izod impact strength. 

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