Imatek has installed an IM10T-20 Impact Tester at the The Centre for Advanced Composite Materials (CACM) at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
The goal of the centre is to conduct research into advanced composite materials and manufacturing processes, and it has pioneered the development of a polymer-polymer composite that is made by blending and processing two recycled plastics.
This product has a range of applications in manufacturing, biomedical areas and packaging, particularly for products that have limited shelf life.
The IM10T-20 has a 2m drop height and offers standard impact velocities within the range 1 to 6.26m/s and up to 20m/s with the optional high-velocity system.
Impact energy is in the range 2.5 to 588J for the standard machine, rising to 2,000J with the high-velocity system.
Options selected by the University of Auckland included the high-velocity system, hemispherical strikers and anvil clamping to enable testing to the requirements of ISO6603, Imatek's stripper system for automated removal of tough/ductile specimens from the striker and second impact prevention (SIP), which arrests mass in the event of a rebound.
The machine was also fitted with a removable temperature conditioning chamber, dynamic displacement system for direct measurement of mass displacement during specimen impact, a Film Testing Kit (for ASTM - D1709A, D1709B, and D4272 methods) and a compression after Impact (CAI) kit for testing to the requirements of ASTM D7136 and ASTM D7137.
The University of Auckland will also be using Imatek's Integrated High Speed Video option, which combines data captured by the IM10 during the impact test, together with high-speed video imagery.
A video sequence provides qualitative information about a test event and the software also allows quantitative information to be extracted.
