The testing laboratory at KUZ is an independent materials laboratory for plastics testing. In the context of developments and optimizations, for the material and processing behavior of plastics, a wide variety of characteristic values are required, which the test laboratory can provide. Quality, objectivity and loyalty to our customers belong to the fundamentals of our activities.
Since 1991, we have the status of an accredited testing laboratory according to DIN 17025. We offer tests according to more than 200 national and international test specifications. In addition to standardized plastics testing procedures, our testing spectrum also includes special and component tests, and damage analyses as well. Within the scope of research project,s we further develop plastics testing methods or design new tests up to the construction of testing devices and individual fixtures.
Does your component actually hold on?
Mechanical tests
The mechanical properties determine the behavior of a part under various loads. These properties are important within the field of plastics testing. Whether for the standard-compliant determination of characteristic values for component design, for the control of specifications and standards from automotive standards, and for the comparative evaluation of different material batches, the full range of mechanical tests is often applied here.
Plastic components combine an increasing number of functions in electrotechnical applications. Functionalized plastic components include insulators, heat conducting elements and user interfaces. Various electrical tests are required to ensure the intended function and safety of the application.
Characteristics for processability and flow behavior
Rheological tests
Plastics show viscoelastic behavior. This means that they exhibit neither properties of an ideal-elastic solid nor of an ideal-viscous liquid. The KUZ test laboratory possess various rheological testing and investigation methods at its disposal. They are used, on the one hand, to characterize the flow behavior in the shear rate range relevant to processing and, on the other hand, to investigate the quiescent structure of the polymer at very small deformations or deformation rates.
Environmental simulation imitates natural environmental influences on materials and components. The aim is to shorten practical testing, reduce development risk and gain sufficient knowledge about the reliability and service life of components and subsystems even before prototypes are completed. At the KUZ, a variety of testing equipment is available to simulate the stresses imposed on your products by temperature, climate and solar radiation in a wide range of ways.
Most plastics are flammable by nature. To ensure that they can nevertheless be used in areas where flame protection is required, the use of flame retardants and the verification of their burning behavior by means of various fire tests have become established. Characteristic values in this area include, for example, burning speed (or burning rate), flammability (or ignitability), and the ability of a material to self-extinguish after contact with a flame.
The appearance of a surface determines the visual impression of a product and should convey a feeling of value and quality to the viewer. The look and feel of a surface should also last as long as possible in use. Surface tests simulate the resistance of surfaces to different influences such as scratching, rubbing, and various media (hand perspiration, sunscreen, cleaning agents, ...). Depending on the load, possible damage can thus be identified in advance and thus avoided. The assessment of the visual impression, as well as the color and gloss measurement are also part of the surface inspection.
One of the characteristic features of plastics are their strongly temperature-dependent material properties. These depend on the type of plastic and the additives used (e.g. impact modifiers, reinforcing materials, etc.). By using polymer blends or radiation crosslinking, an additional increase in thermal resistance can be achieved.
Imaging techniques are the basis for understanding the behavior of a component under load. Its properties are primarily influenced by the existing structure of the plastics. This results from the material used, additives and the actual processing conditions. Imaging techniques provide a view into the material or the component. At the KUZ, various imaging techniques are available that provide important information on a component, which can be used for everything from material development to failure analysis.
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