Lab Services

Tacusil's laboratory is equipped to ncharacterize polymers and formulations including potting compounds and adhesives. These capabilities support new product development, technical service, and quality assurance. The laboratory team is also available for contract lab services and custom formulation consulting work.


Imaging


Using the Hitachi TM3030 Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with Bruker Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) attachment, Tacusil® is capable of imaging samples at magnifications from 15 to 30,000x, including a chemical analysis of the sample surface – helpful for a variety of applications:


● Fiber impregnation

Fracture analysis

Polymer and composite analysis

Elemental analysis of impurities (to 0.1 atomic %)

Pigment and filler dispersion analysis

Image processing for sample feature dimensions (down to 500 nm)

Cross-sectional surface analysis of a cured material is possible for specimens with thickness less than 3 mm.


Test specimens must be solids.


ASTM:E1508,F1877


Rheological Analysis


Our Malvern Gemini 2 Bohlin Rheometer, can perform standard viscosity measurements as well as cure response. Equipped with a thermoelectric heating and cooling plate, it can enable isothermal and programmed temperature schedules, operating from 10 to 120 °C at a wide range of shear rates.


Properties include:

Gel time

Creep analysis

Viscosity


ASTM:D4473,D7836,D3795


Tacusil® also utilizes the Gardco Gel Timer and Gardco Hot Pot Gel Timer to generate a gel time value for a 150 cc or 100 cc sample. The Gardco Hot Pot Gel Timer can cure at ambient room temperature, as well as elevated temperatures ranging from 65 to 175 °C.


The digital Brookfield DV-II Viscometer aids in measuring viscosity.


Thermal Analysis


Our TA Instruments Q400 Thermomechanical Analyzer (TMA) measures the dimensional changes of materials under conditions of controlled temperature, time, and force. The temperature range of the instrument is -50 °C to +350 °C. Test specimens should have parallel faces and will ideally be 1-10 mm thick. A small piece that is roughly 0.7 cm by 0.7 cm is the maximum size capable of sitting on the stage.


Properties that can be measured:

● Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE)

Glass transition temperature (Tg), softening (HDT), and melting temperature

Compression modulus

Flexure by 3-point bend


ASTM:E831,E1545

Our Netzsch 200 F3 Maia Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) allows for full ncharacterization of polymer formula cure and cured product thermal properties such as:


Glass transition temperature (Tg)

Melting and boiling temperature

Specific heat (Cp)

Heat of fusion and vaporization

Crystallization temperature and energetics

Degree of cure

Cure kinetics


The temperature range of the instrument is -150 °C to +550 °C.


ASTM:D3418,D7426

Our Thermtest TPS 2500S "Hot Disk" Analyzer measures thermal properties with high accuracy and reproducibility. Our current capability allows for testing of solids, viscous liquids / pastes, and powders at room temperature. In a typical test configuration, two identical specimens are tested, prepared as disc-shaped 'pucks' of material, and compress the thin-film sensor that both sources and senses during the measurement.


Properties include:


Thermal diffusivity

Thermal conductivity

Specific heat capacity

Volumetric specific heat capacity


We also are equipped to perform UL94 testing, both vertical(UL94V) and horizontal(UL94HB) burn methods, with capability to cast bars at 3 and 6 mm. Please note that Tacusil® is not a certified test laboratory, and UL certifications cannot be provided by Tacusil®. These tests provide data that supports the pursuit of certification.


Chemical ncharacterization


Our Nicolet iS10 Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infared Spectrometer (ATR-FTIR) generates a fingerprint of a sample's chemical functional groups. The ATR attachment enables non-destructive analysis of the sample.


Properties include:

● Chemical composition

Impurity analysis

Comparison of chemicals for quality assurance


ASTM:E1252


Mechanical Property ncharacterization


Our Instron 3369 Universal Tester measures a wide variety of properties across a full spectrum of materials including plastics, metals, ceramics, ntextiles, adhesives, elastomers, foams, and more. We also have an Instron 3119-615 Environmental Chamber with a temperature range of -100 to +350 -°C. It is tall enough to allow for tensile testing of materials with a significant elongation to break.


Properties include:

Adhesive strength (lap shear, 180° or 90° peel)

Tensile strength, yield stress, elongation to break, and modulus

Compressive strength, yield stress, resiliency, and modulus

Flexural strength, yield stress, and modulus (3-point bend)

Tear strength


We can measure a wide range of polymeric materials, including tough, high hardness epoxies and urethanes, and softer silicone elastomers.


ASTM:D903,D1876,D695,D1002,D3163,D638,D790,D624


We also have Shore Durometers in the D,A,and OO scales available to measure material hardness.


ASTM:D2240


Electrical Property ncharacterization


Our Jandel RM3000 is a 4-point probe that can measure electrical properties of both thin film and bulk materials, including electrically conductive adhesives.


It can be used for ncharacterization of the electrical resistivity (conductivity):

Electrical conductivity measurement, 1 milliohm-per-square (10-3) up to 5 x 108 ohms-per-square with 0.3% accuracy

Bulk/volume resistivity measurement, 1 milliohm-cm (10-3) up to 106 ohms-cm


ASTM:D2739


Our Keysight B2985A Resistivity Meter with 16008B Resistivity Cell can measure volume and surface resistivity of electrically insulating materials. Temperature and humidity are measured in tandem with resistivity. The test meter is specified for use from 0 to 55 °C at less than 70 % RH. Values are typically generated at a source voltage of 500 V. A typical sample size is a 4" by 4" square with a thickness of 3 mm. The two faces of the square should be as flat and parallel as possible.


Resistivity measurement ranges are as follows:

Volume resistivity [1 x 107 ohm.cm to 4 x 1018 ohm-cm]

Surface resistivity [1 x 106 ohm/sq to 4 x 1017 ohm/sq]


ASTM D257


Our Keysight E4908AL Dielectric Constant Meter and 16451B Test Cell measures dielectric constant (relative permittivity) and dissipation factor (tan delta). The test cell can be used at temperatures ranging from 0 to 55 °C. The test meter can provide measurements in the frequency range 20 Hz to 300 kHz. To generate accurate and reproducible results, the fixture requires disc-shaped specimens with thickness less than 10 mm, with 2 mm or less ideal, a diameter of 40 to 56 mm (1.6 to 2.2 inches), and surfaces as flat and parallel as possible.


ASTM D150


Our Phenix 4TCE100-10/D149 DC Dielectric Strength Tester measures the dielectric strength, or voltage required to generate failure, in insulating materials. We have Type 2 and Type 5 electrodes and a room-temperature oil bath with transformer oil that conforms to ASTM D3487 Type II. The unit can source voltages up to 100 kV with minimum ramp rate of 500 V/s. Samples must be thin and flat with parallel faces. When using the Type 2 electrodes, the specimen must be at least 2" in diameter. Each specimen must also be thin enough to fail within the maximum range of the unit, which usually corresponds to 2 mm or less thickness for the most highly insulating specimens.


ASTM D3755

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+86 755 27295358
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6F,Block A,Zhongyu Green High-tech Industrial Park,Guangming District,Shenzhen,China