via Massari Marzoli 21
21052 Busto Arsizio (VA)
Laboratory
In 2017 Laborplast has created an internal laboratory in order to run physical-mechanical, rheological and colorimetric tests.
To run the physical-mechanical tests Laborplast has chosen Zwick Roell tools:
Plastometer for MFR (g/10min) and MVR (cm3/10min) flow measurement;
20KN dynamometer for traction tests and 3-point-flexure test (on ISO extruded samples) and compression on pipes and other items;
HDT/Vicat with 3 test stations to check the materials softening temperature on samples obtained from compound or other items;
- Pendulum for Izod e Charpy impact strength tests.
We have confided on Konica Minolta quality for the colorimetry, since it is a leader of spectrophotometer measurement. We have picked a portable model which is directly used by the machinery by the compound production supervisor. It is possible to check and correct the colour. Thanks to this tool it is possible to produce compound and cores according to the RAL indicated by the client. The rheological tests enable us to understand how materials behave during the process. We have then equipped a Bausano single-screw extruder with temperature and pressure probes, placed on determined points along the screw. The probes allow us to know the material gelification degree and to check its thermal stabilization. The extruder than is equipped with a part that produces the tests needed to run the other following tests.
Laborplast technical sheets are divided into three sections:
- Customer indication about the packaging;
- Technical specifics;
- Characteristics of the tested sample.
With regards to the pipes (cores), the relevant legislation is ISO 604 and the indicated technical specifics are:
Inner diameter – measured in millimeters [mm]. When the inner wall is not smooth “inner diameter” means the diameter of the imaginary circle inscribed to the wall knurling;
Outer diameter – measured in millimeters [mm]; ⁃ Weight per meter – measured in Kilos [Kg];
Load at 3% – measured in Newton [N]. It indicates the strength needed to distort the sample by 3%. Usually, this distortion corresponds to the yield point on cardboard cores;
Load at 5% – measured in Newton [N]. It indicates the strength needed to distort the sample by 5%;
Crush resistance – measured in Newton [N]. It indicates the strength needed to crush the samples. When the sample reaches the 50% distortion without breaking, the test will be considered over for safety reasons and the technical sheet would indicate that the crush resistance is superior then the maximum reached strength;
Length – measured in millimeters [mm].
With regards to the compound, the relevant legislation are: ISO 1183, ISO 527, ISO 1133; ISO 306; ISO 75 and the indicated specifics are:
Density – in grams each cubic centimetre [g/cm3];
Young Modulus – measured in MegaPascal [MPa] or – in a similar way – in Newton on square millimeter [N/mm2]. It indicates the relationship between load and distortion. ⁃ Yield load – measured in MegaPascal [MPa] or – in a similar way – in Newton each squared millimeter [N/mm2]. It indicates the needed tension to take the material to the yield point;
Crush resistance – measured in MegaPascal [MPa] or – in a similar way – in Newton each squared millimeter [N/mm2]. It indicates the needed tension to take the material to the breaking point;
Elongation at break – measured in percentage [%]. It indicates how much the sample has elongated to get to the breaking point;
MFR (melt flow rate) – measured in grams on 10 minutes [g/10min], it indicated the material melt flow considering the grams extruded by a regular section nozzle within that time-frame;
MVR (melt volume rate) – measured in cubic centimeters on 10 minutes [cm3/10min], it indicates the material melt volume considering the cubic centimeters extruded by a regular section nozzle within that time-frame;
Vicat (VST) – measured in centigrade degrees [°C], it indicates the material softening temperature so that a 1 square millimeter tip penetrates the sample surface;
Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) – measured in centigrade degrees [°C], it indicates the temperature the sample softens at, under a regulated load and a cylindrical tip.
Impact resistance (Izod or Charpy) – measured in [kJ/m2] indicates the impact resistance of the material;
Thermal stability – measured in [min] indicates the resistance of the material to thermal degradation. The result is provided considering a threshold value of 50 microsiemens/cm;
Rheology – carried out by Brabender instrument, reproduces the rheological behavior of the material during extrusion.
The sample is dimensionally in accordance with regulations and is acclimatized in a room at a controlled temperature of 20 ° C for at least 24 hours.
