New testing procedure to characterise polymer membranes and films
Polymer membranes represent a very strongly growing business in fuel cell, medical device and polymer industry.
In practise their lifetime and performance depends very much on mechanical, thermal and atmospheric effects which were very difficult to generate in the past.
Triton Technology provides a new coupling of the DMA (dynamic mechanical thermal analysis) with a microprocessor controlled humidity generator.
This is a unique option to study the mechanical features of a sample depending on the real environment of use.
Membranes and films can be tested in a dry or wet state - immersed in a fully temperature controlled bath - or for the first time in a highly accurate RH environment.
It is quite a bit difference which pH value, cations or humidity value has been chosen.
The effects are reflected by the modulus of the material.
For high accuracy the humidity is generated and controlled next to the sample in the reaction chamber.
This technology can be transferred to other applications like natural fibre composites or biopolymers which react very sensitive with the environment.
Furthermore products are tested in their future field of use like salt water, body fluids or oil.
In addition new applications in pharmaceutical technology can be studied since the Tritec-2000 is the only DMA which is capable to test powder samples.
