Zwick has introduced the Hydraulic Composite Compression Fixture (HCCF) for testing fibre-reinforced plastics.
The Hydraulic Composite Compression Fixture (HCCF) features hydraulically operated specimen grips.
Its open C-frame construction facilitates the simple and fast loading of specimens and allows for easy attachment of extensometers.
The difficulty in specimen alignment and mechanical set-up often found with traditional fixtures has been eliminated, mainly due to a friction-free and precise guidance system.
Zwick claims the HCCF reduces variance in test results and speeds up test throughput, saving time and money.
Hydraulic operation guaranties reliable and reproducible clamping of the specimens, as the clamping force is applied uniformly and securely across the specimen.
The compression-testing fixture can also be used at high or low temperatures ranging from -60C to +95C, and the ability to utilise extensometers saves more money by avoiding the need to bond strain gauges to the specimen.
Zwick's HCCF is used specifically for testing carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRP) and glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GFRP) with unidirectional fibre-reinforcement.
It is suitable for testing standards such as prEN 2850, DIN EN ISO 14126, DIN 65380 and QVA-Z10-46-38.
