Absorption
Behavior
The MicroAbsorbMeter
is a new optical instrument to study the kinetics of droplet
absorption by capillaries and porous substrates. The instrument
provides a millisecond resolution and is capable of simultaneously
measuring the surface tension of tested fluids. Applicable
for complex fluids and biofluids.
Accelerated
Weathering
Bending
Coating
- Product Deposition
Microfluorometry
is used to characterize product deposition on the surface
of a single fiber. The TRI/SCAN™ Surface Force Analyzer
measures uniformity of a compound on the fiber surface. These
techniques can measure evenness of distribution and the thickness
of the coating.
In addition,
A PC-based imaging system including video playback that is
very useful for studying the interactions of fluids with nonwovens.
The instrument has been used to observe the spreading of fluids
on nonvoven surfaces.
Color
Depth
Using
a color ppectrophotometer, researchers can measure color depth
and can quantify the amount of dye in materials.
Contact Angle/Wettability
The TRI/SCAN™
instrument is a turnkey system for acquiring, processing and
displaying wetting and friction data on films and fibers.
The system includes the latest release of the TRI / WET©
software. All ancillary equipment for measuring surface tension,
substrate perimeter, fiber wettability and fiber friction
is provided.
Crystallinity
FTIR and
MicroFTIR Spectroscopy are used to study various microstructural
features in fibers and films, including molecular conformations,
molecular orientation, crystal phase fractions, amorphous/crystalline
character, degree of crystallinity.
A Density
Gradient Column provides precise measurement of polymer density
for determining the degree of crystallinity of fibers, films
and other semicrystalline polymers.
Differential
Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
DSC can
be used to measure melting temperature, glass transition temperature
and heat of fusion in polymers. Crystallization kinetics and
curing phenomena can also be monitored by this technique.
Dyeability
During
microfluorometric analysis, we monitor the intensity of emitted
fluorescent radiation as we scan along the length or diameter
of a fiber that is being irradiated by an excitation beam.
For example, microfluorometry is used to follow the diffusion
paths of dyes and other compounds into the interior structure
of fibers and films. It can also be applied to studies of
dye fading and the effectiveness of stainblockers.
Flammability
During
the seventies TRI developed methodology to evaluate the flammability
of apparel fabrics. Side by side we developed methods to characterize
the burning behavior of different types of fabrics and the
hazard associated with them. All this information is available
at TRI and can be used in developing new approaches to evaluate
flame resistance.
Friction
Hardness
Material
Identification
FTIR Spectroscopy
is used to identify unknown materials, including polymer additives.
UV/Visible/Near
IR Spectroscopy measures the absorption of light in the UV/Visible
range. It can be used to quantify additives and foreign material
in polymers that absorb light in this range.
Moisture
Retention
Our Dynamic
Vapor Sorption™ analyzer provides sorption/desorption
isotherms which determine the moisture retention ability of
various moisturizing agents.
Orientation
Intrinsic
Fluorescence directly measures the degree of noncrystalline
(amorphous) orientation in amorphous and semicrystalline poly(ethylene
terephthalate) and poly(butyl terephthalate) fibers and films.
This method has been developed into an online instrument for
monitoring orientation changes during fiber and film formation.
Photodegradation
UV Microspectrophotometry
identifies the presence and location in polymers of colorless
compounds that absorb in the UV range (e.g. UV stabilizers,
polymer degradation products).
Shrinkage
ThermoMechanical
Analysis (TMA) determines the shrinkage force and dimensional
changes (expansion or contraction) of materials as a function
of temperature.
Strength
Stress-Strain
Properties
Instron
Tensile Testers are used to determine stress-strain properties
(modulus, tenacity, elongation at break etc.) of fibers and
films at room temperature and at elevated temperatures.
Viscosity
A viscometer
can be used to determines the relative viscosity, the specific
viscosity and the molecular weight of polymers
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