Dynaflow Research Laboratory
We Can Test Your Fiberglass Material!
- Tensile testing machine Testometric X500-50 (50kN)
- High temperature oven for LOI Glass Content Testing
- Barcol hardness measurement.
- Optical microscope testing
Applications And Examples
Tensile testing of Fiberglass is typically conform standard ASTM D2105. Test samples are prepared by waterjet cutting to create dogbone-shaped test samples. We use water cutting to ensure that the strength of the dog bone is not negatively impacted by heat generated from mechanical cutting. The dog bone shape prevents that failures occur conform a different failure mechanism than intended. Dynaflow has a 50kN max force tensile test bench to determine the tensile strength of the tested samples.
Typical glass content testing (LOI) is done in accordance with the ASTM D2584, the test is used to obtain the so-called glass-resin ratio of the pipe wall laminate by measurement of the ignition loss of a cured reinforced sample. Samples, cut from pipe, contained in a crucible are heated in a dedicated oven to 550-650°C and the resin is burned off. The remains of the samples after burning of the resin contain only glass fibers. A comparison of the sample weights before and after the LOI tests allows the determination of the glass resin ratio. At this stage after the LOI test also the fiber architecture of the pipe wall laminate can be studied by peeling off the sample layer by layer.
Barcol hardness testing of pipe laminate samples provides information about the curing of the plastic matrix of the fiberglass reinforced sample. For pipes this is typically performed conform the procedure in ISO 14692, which is similar to the ASTM D2583. The samples are tested, after which the test result is determined conform ISO 14692. The measured values are compared to DRG’s in-house database of manufacturer values to interpret the data.
Images of the surface of samples can be studied and assessed using the ASTM D2583. The ASTM practice document covers acceptance criteria for visual inspection of parts made from glass-reinforced plastic laminates. It presents worded descriptions of possible defects to serve as a guide for contracts, drawings, product specifications, and final inspection.
The Dynaflow Approach And Third Party Testing
Integral in the Dynaflow approach is the interpretation of the test data. Dynaflow has over 30 years of experience with fiber-reinforced plastic materials. We are therefore able to do the tests and also to interpret the outcome of those tests. The main questions to be answered in most cases are:
- Is this material suited for its purpose?
- Is the quality sufficiently homogenous?
Because of our capacity to interpret the data meaningfully, we have regularly partnered up with other dedicated material testing companies. Some of the tests that we can offer through third parties are.
- DSC (Tg): ISO 11357-2 & ASTM E1356
- SEM/EDX – Energy Dispersive X-Ray
- FTIR
- Permeation Test: water absorption test ASTM D570
