Mission








Techniques

Team 

Contact

Ext

Office/Lab

Brittany Gilkenson

Research Scientist

Physical Mechanical

ISO 17025 accreditation and audit.

T: 770-772-8351

M: 470-345-5785

Office E1046

Lab E1002, E1010


Chris Batson

Physical Mechanical, TPC testing

8652

E1010

Chianne Alford

Physical Mechanical

8553

E1002

John Cown

Physical Mechanical

8600

E1002

Cubicle E1028.6

Quinn Greaves

Physical Mechanical

8453

E1002

Guang Ji

Physical Mechanical

8257

E1002

Colter Smith

Physical Mechanical

8771

E1002

Jared Ziegenbein

Physical Mechanical

8842

E1002

Cubicle E1028.4

Benjamin (Ben) Zusmann

Physical Mechanical

8376 

E1002

Cubicle E1028.5

  • Tensile, Flex, Compression

    • Tensile (ASTM D638, ISO 527, ASTM D1708, ASTM D882): ability to resist breaking in tension (strength)

    • Flex (ASTM D790, ISO 178): ability to resist deformation under load

    • Compression (ASTM D695): ability to withstand compressive loads before fracturing

    • Testing temperatures (-40°C to 250°C)

    Equipment 

      • Tensile/Flex automation system
        • Kuka robotic arm
        • 1 UTM for tensile
        • 1 UTM for flex
        • 1 CMU (cross-section measurement unit)
      • 100 kN floor frame with larger capacity environmental chamber 
      • 50 kN table top frame with environmental chamber
      • 50 kN table top frame
      • 5 kN single column frame (small parts, films, filaments)

    Specimen/Sample Types

    • ISO - Type I

    • ASTM - Type I, IV, V, 1BA, microtensile, film




    Impact 

    • Izod (ASTM D256, ISO 180) pendulum impact

    • Charpy (ISO 179) pendulum impact

    Testing temperatures (-40°C to 23°C)

    • Equipment
      • Izod/charpy automation system
        • Kuka robotic arm
        • Three impact testers
        • 1 CMU (cross-section measurement unit)
        • 1 TMU (depth under the notch measurement unit)
        • Notch and break detection
        • Hammers
          • Izod: 2.75J, 5J, 7J, 11J
          • Charpy: 
      • Izod/charpy pendulum impact tester (manual)


    • Multi-axial impact (-40⁰C to 100⁰C, ASTM D3763)
      • Drop/Instrumented impact with load-deflection curves

    • HDT/Vicat (ASTM D648, ISO 75, ASTM 1525, ISO 306)
      • Temperature at which plastic deformation takes place under load
      • Investment in new machine with more automated sample loading and safety features

    • Hardness
      • Rockwell Hardness Scales M, R, E (ASTM D785, ISO 2039) & Shore A,D (ASTM D2240, ISO 7619)
      • Measurement of resistance to localized plastic deformation
      • Replacement of both hardness testers allows for PC connection for data transfer

    • Density/Specific Gravity (ASTM D792, ISO 1183)
      • Invested in new balance to allow for automatic measurement transfer to PC

    • Flammability testing (UL94)
      • Vertical and horizontal burn
      • New flame chamber coming in Q4 2022. New chamber features a semi-automatic design with spindle system for positioning samples and burner and built-in gauges for flame height and samples.  

    • Other available tests: water absorption, tensile fatigue, shear stress, lap shear, mold shrinkage, shear punch, adhesive/peel, taber abrasion, filament tensile, fiber tensile, pin-adhesion




    Composite & Thermoplastic Composites (TPC)

    Testing in Composites & TPC materials 

    • Tensile D3039, Flex D7264 (-40⁰C to 200⁰C)
    • Short beam shear D2344 (-40⁰C to 200⁰C)
    • Compression D6441 & D695 (-40⁰C to 200⁰C)
    • In-plane shear D3518 (-40⁰C to 200⁰C)
    • GIC, GIIC
    • In house “T-pull” test for overmolded specimens

    New Investments

    • 100 kN load frame with environmental chamber 
    • VideoXtens 
      • Non-contact strain measurements for a variety of tests
      • Eliminates need for strain gauges
    • GIC camera assembly - allows for crack propagation tracking in real time