Testing the properties of the materials involves a large number of quality tests defined by the sector where you operate. Our experts are called upon to assist the R&D team in evaluating customized test protocols or benchmarking programs. This consultative approach offers a broader view of the performance characteristics of a specific material and how it could be applied to end use. The Test & Validation activities advanced by our technical team are fundamental, activities that take place on the prototype in the development phase and on the finished product in the validation phase, in order to guarantee products that comply with the specifications of our customers.
More than 80 new raw materials are tested in the laboratories and more than 120 compounds are developed per year. These, both black and colored, are produced with different polymers from natural rubber (NR), to synthetic rubbers (IR, SBR, EPR, EPDM, CR, IIR, BIIR, CIIR, NBR) including high tech polymers (HNBR, ACM, AEM, FKM, FFKM) and silicone polymers (VMQ, PVMQ, FVMQ).
Materials must be evaluated under a wide variety of conditions to understand the full implications of applying it to a product. How the material withstands environmental exposure, various forces, or interaction with fluids or other materials will determine final selection.
Oldrati laboratories are equipped with a wide range of tools for characterizing materials, they are in fact able to evaluate:
- Density
- Viscosity
- Rheometric curve
- Hardness (ShA and IRHD)
- Traction properties in climatic chamber (from -60 ° C to + 250 ° C) *
- Tear resistance in climatic chamber (from -60 ° C to + 250 ° C) *
- Abrasion resistance
- Elastic yield
- Compression stiffness in climatic chamber (from -70 ° C to + 250 ° C)
- Permanent deformation in compression (from -60 ° C to + 250 ° C) in air
- Permanent deformation in compression (from -60 ° C to + 250 ° C) in fluids
- Glass transition temperature (DSC, TR10, BENDING TEST, BRITTNLESS)
- Thermal aging in air (up to + 250 ° C)
- Chemical aging in fluids (oils, gasolines, detergents, plasticizers)
- Resistance to ozone
- Dielectric strength
- Electrical conductivity of surface or volume
- Color determination (CIELAB scale)
- TGA and infrared for chemical analysis
- Rubber Process Analyzer RPA of both raw elastomers and compounds before, during and/or after vulcanization
- Axial and radial fatigue, static and dynamic axial and radial compression/traction tests
* using plates according to the main standard standards: ISO – ASTM – DIN
