27 November, 2012

The Basic Functions Of A Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer

By Ethel Harris


The basic purpose of the dynamic mechanical analyzer is to study and characterize materials used in manufacturing. This method of study is very useful in conducting research on the viscoelasticity of polymers. The complex modulus of the polymer is determined by applying a sinusoidal strain and measuring the strain created to the material.

The variation in environmental conditions like temperature of the material and stress application frequency also led to a fluctuation in the modulus data. This is the reading after the application of tension. These data are utilized to determine the placement of the glass conversion temperature of the polymer.

No two polymers have the same glass transition temperatures. It is found in studies that if the materials are subjected to preconditions above this transition state, they acquire rubber like properties and dramatically lose their glassy properties. The viscosity of the material is increased and the storage modulus is also decreased.

The instrument is also utilized to determine polymer composition. The result of the reading can be affected by the variety of composition of monomers and cross links. It can also change the function of the polymer under study.

The mechanical analyzer method is also utilized to evaluate effectively the miscibility of the material. To gather sufficient information, readings on the transitions that result from the different blends are gathered. Characteristics are determined based on the significant readings. If there is a broad transition observed on the storage modulus, the sample is not entirely homogenous.

There are two sorts of analyzers currently in use. One kind is called forced resonance analyzer. Another is the free vibration instrument. The latter instrumentation is used to quantify freely generated oscillations. A limit in using this tool is it can only be utilized for representatives that are rod like or rectangular. However, it was found to be also functional for materials that can be woven. The forced resonance tool is the instrument that is more commonly seen inside laboratories. Using this tool, oscillations are forced on the representative material using predetermined frequencies to obtain results. This is especially useful in determining temperature sweeps.

Both types are used to control the stress and the strain that is applied on the sample material. To control the strain, the stress is measured after a series of shafts are displaced and a force balance transducer is enforced. An advantage by the control of strain is the shorter time it takes for many materials of low viscosity to response. Thus, the experiments for stress relaxation is done with ease.

Controlling the stress and applying strain on representatives require more patience. It involves varying the conditions at which the process is carried out. The different environmental variables include the frequency and the temperature the tension is placed to the representative. This is also hard to perform. However, this procedure is less expensive since it uses only one shaft to apply the stress and can yield samples that can still be used in other experiments.

A torsional or axial mechanical analyzer can be used in the stress and strain experiment. Solids are analyzed using the axial instrument. On the other hand, liquids are analyzed using the torsional dynamic mechanical analyzer.




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