Plastic/Polymer/Rubber Characterization

Plastic/polymer/rubbers widely used in almost every industry such as aerospace, automotive, consumer, medical and so on. There are several scenarios when manufactures need to characterize the polymer products, such as routinely QA/QC, R & D for developing new products/ improve performance/ reduce cost, contamination identification, as well as competitor products analysis. Plastic/polymer/rubber characterization includes determining molecular weight distribution, molecular structure, morphology of the polymer, thermal & mechanical properties, as well as identifying any additive, preservative, residual, contamination, etc. Our plastic/polymer/rubber characterization analysis services are listed as follows:

• Additive, Preservative, Residual, Contamination Analysis

• Chemical, Physical, Mechanical Properties of Plastics

• Plastic/Polymer Failure Analysis

• Packaging

It is a complex process and need to use various analysis technologies including chromatography, spectroscopy, rheology, surface chemistry, electron microscopy, thermal analysis, and physical testing, etc. Details as below:

• Spectroscopy (FTIR, UV/Vis spectrometry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR), AAS, XRF, Raman spectroscopy)

• Chromatography (GC, GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS, GPC, TLC)

• Thermal techniques (DSC, DMTA, TGA) which can provide some information such as melting point, transition, filler content and the polymer behave with temperature, and so on

• Elemental Analysis (ICP-OES, XRF and SEM-EDS)

• Microscopy (SEM, TEM, AFM) which can provide the morphology information

• Other classical and wet chemical techniques such as titrations

Alfa Chemistry delivers a complete portfolio of plastic/polymer/rubber analysis including additive, preservative, residual, contamination and other chemical analysis, physical, mechanical properties analysis and failure analysis to support a wide range of industries and applications. We can help clients understand, manage and improve the performance of their materials and products using a wide range of analytical techniques along with professional explanation of results, guidance and advice.

Our experienced chemical analysis team will work with you to understand your needs and recommend appropriate tests. Our chemical analysis includes but not limited to:

• Identification of types of plastic

• Quality control of raw material and finished product including additive (anti-degradants, anti-oxidants, curatives, extenders, fillers, plasticisers, preservatives, etc.), residual, contamination analysis, material characterization and failure analysis related to some organic or inorganic substances content

• Determination of polymer molecular weight

• Determine molecular structure like whether a polymer is a homopolymer or a copolymer

• Viscometry of polymers

• Compliance with regulatory standards

• Composition of recycled plastics

• Measurement of extractables and leachables

• Method development and validation

• Others

We determine physical properties in the following ways:

• Tensile testing
  Tensile properties are evaluated by placing a test sample between two clamps in a tensile or universal tester. The clamps are pulled apart to apply tension until the sample breaks. The force applied is measured as well as the elongation (deformation or strain) induced in the sample. Since the cross-section of the polymer sample is known, a plot of stress versus strain can be generated. Tensile properties such as break tensile strength, tensile modulus or secant modulus and percent elongation at break can be determined. Tensile testing standards are available from ISO, SAE, JIS, DIN and ASTM. The figure below shows the test geometry.



• Flexural testing
  The flexural strength of a material reflects its ability to resist deformation under load. The figure below shows the test geometry. The specimen is placed on two supports and a load is applied at the center. The load at yield is the sample material's flexural strength.



• Compression testing
  Compressive testing is commonly done to determine the compressive strength, compressive modulus, yield stress, deformation past the yield point.



• Durometer testing which is used to test the hardness of polymer, such as the Shore Hardness (Shore A, Shore D)

• Specific gravity & density determination
  The common test procedure is that the specimen is weighed in air then weighed when immersed in distilled water at 23°C using a sinker and wire to hold the specimen completely submerged as required. Density and specific gravity are calculated.