Two new Kappa Multistation creep testing systems for UL TTC
The UL Thermoplastics Testing Center (UL TTC) in Krefeld, Germany, is a leading global provider in the fields of compounding, specimen manufacture and testing and certification of innovative plastics. The materials covered range from simple polyolefins to high-performance thermoplastics. The company has recently expanded its creep tensile testing capacity by investing in two Kappa Multistation creep testing systems by ZwickRoell.
Each system is equipped with five testing stations which can apply dynamic or static loads of up to 10 kN to the specimen and can be controlled individually without influencing each other. To cover the varied testing requirements the five testing stations have been equipped with load cells of 10kN, 2.5kN and 500N nominal force. Both systems also possess a temperature chamber to enable creep testing in a temperature range from 23°C to 300°C.
In both systems precise, standard-compliant testing is facilitated by the provision of a videoXtens HP optical extension measurement system (Class 0.5 to ISO 9513) featuring a high-resolution camera plus a precision lens for each test axis. This measures specimen elongation while exerting no mechanical influence on the specimen. To ensure precise force and strain measurement the sensors are thermally and mechanically decoupled from the relevant sources of interference. Special screw-grips with automatic re-tightening guarantee correct, consistent application of the gripping force to the specimen throughout the test.
Both creep testing systems are controlled by the testXpert II Creep Test master test program, enabling creep tensile and compression testing (e.g. to ISO 899-1 and ISO 899-2) under different loads and temperatures. The test results are used to assess the deformation behavior and strength characteristics of components which are subjected to static tensile loadings.