CDB4423

POLYMER LAB
MAY 2017 SEMESTER

LAB REPORT
EXPERIMENT : Composite

GROUP :2

GROUP MEMBERS :

NAME ID

Aleu Majok Aleu Majok 0020486

Mimi Nurizlyn Binti Zainal 0019321
Muhammad Azizi Bin Topek 0018869

LAB INSTRUCTOR :

LECTURER : DR. WAN ZAIREEN NISA YAHYA

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 15th & 22th June, 2017

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 2

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE EXPERIMENT .................................................................................... 4

3. lITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................... 5

4. PROCEDURE, Materials and Apparatus/Tools ........................................................................... 5

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION................................................................................................. 7

6. CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 11

7.0 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................... 12

1
1. INTRODUCTION

There are many types of testing machines used in the laboratory or industry. The most
common are universal testing machines, which test materials in tension, compression or
bending. A universal testing machine (UTM) is a servo hydraulic fluid controlled machine
used to test tensile stress and compressive strength of materials (Anthony, nd). It is so named
because it can perform many standard tensile and compression tests on materials,
components, and structures. UTMs stretch, bend and compress test samples at controlled test
speeds or constant loading rates. They are used to evaluate static product and material
strength properties including uniaxial tensile, compression, cyclic, shear, flexure, bend, peel,
tear and material characteristics such as elongation and modulus (Anderson, 2013). The
purpose of this experiment is to help student to be familiar with universal testing machine.
For this purpose, Polypropylene (PP) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bars
will be used and the results of the experiment analysed with conclusion.

Based on the functions or tests performed by UTM, several types of UTM testers have
been developed and characterised, namely; tensile tester, compression tester and bend tester
among many others (Anderson, 2013). Some of these are as shown in the following
figures. Based on industrial applications, UTM testers have also been given specialized
names such as texture analyzer for food, top load compression tester for packaging and
pipe, and peel tester for adhesives, tapes and labels (Anthony, nd). Today, a UTM is a
great multi-purpose instrument for Research & Development labs or Quality Control
departments.

Figure 1: Tensile Test

2
Figure 2: Bend Test

Figure 3: Compressor Test

Figure 4: Peel Test

3
2. OBJECTIVES OF THE EXPERIMENT

The objectives of the experiment are:

1. To enable students have hands-on training and familiarise with UTM
2. To make students better understand the operation and applications of UTM
3. To study the tensile behaviour of the polymers under UTM treatment

4
3. LITERATURE REVIEW

A UTM is designed for testing of materials under tension, compression, bending

transverse and shear loads. There are two classes of universal testing machines;
electromechanical and hydraulic (Anthony, nd). The electromechanical machine uses an
electric motor, gear reduction system and one, two or four screws to move the crosshead up
or down (Anderson, 2013). A range of crosshead speeds can be achieved by changing the
speed of the motor through the software control (Anthony, nd). A microprocessor based
closed-loop servo system can be implemented to accurately control the speed of the
crosshead (Anthony, nd). UTM consists of a two column dynamically rated load frame with
the capacity of load up to 100kN (dynamic), hydraulic power pack (flow rate 45 litre/minute)
and 8800 Fast Track 8800 Controller test control systems is stand alone, fully digital, single
axis controller with an inbuilt operating panel and display (Anderson, 2013). The controller is
fully portable and specifically designed for materials testing requirement. This controller has
position, load and strain control capability.

The operation of a UTM is by hydraulic transmission of load from the test specimen
to a separately housed load indicator. The hydraulic system replaces transmission of load
through levers and knife edges which can wear easily and damage due to shock on rupture of
test pieces (Anderson, 2013). The load is applied by historically lubricated ram. The main
cylinder pressure is transmitted to the cylinder of the pendulum dynamometer system
contained in the control panel (Anderson, 2013). The cylinder of the dynamometer is also
self-lubricating and the load transmitted to the cylinder of the dynamometer is transferred
through a lever system to a pendulum (Anthony, nd). Displacement of the pendulum actuates
the rack and pinion mechanism which operates the load indicator pointer and the autographic
recorder (Anderson, 2013). The deflection of the pendulum represents the absolute load
applied on the test specimen. Return movement of the pendulum is effectively damped to
absorb energy in the event of sudden breakage of a specimen (Anthony, nd).

The main components of the universal testing machine are: actuator, control panel,
attachment kit and measuring and safety devices. On the other hand, the software available
with the machine are: (a) Merlin Testing Software for Tensile Test (b) da/dN Fatigue Crack
Propagation Test. (c) Kic Fracture Toughness Test and (d) Jic Fracture Toughness Test
(Anderson, 2013).

5
4. PROCEDURE, MATERIALS AND APPARATUS/TOOLS

4.1 Materials and Apparatus/Tools

Polymer material (PP, HDPE)
Ruler
Vernier Callipers
Universal Testing Machine
Power system
Computer System
4.2 Procedure
ASTM D638 test method was applied by UTM in the experiment procedure. To perform the
tests on PP and HDPE using UTM, the followings steps of the procedure are followed.

1. The power system is switched ON.

2. The safe line yellow button is pressed until light is off.

3. As the machine is starting up, the A button at machine controller keyboard is pressed to
establish open access.

4. Button B is selected for remote control program.

5. The computer system is started up, NEXYGEN software is selected and then Lr Lrx
Console is selected. The display monitor at machine controller keyboard should display
Under control of remote computer. From now the gripper frame can control from computer
(console).

6. From Nexygen program, the EDIT tab is clicked, Insert New Test is selected and the
sample type (plastics, rubber, metals or etc.) is selected.

7. Either Compression Setup or Tensile Setup is selected.

8. The dimension or specification of the sample is filled in.

9. The specimen (PE, PP, composite) is inserted to gripper frame.

10. Zero 0 is selected for zeroing the Load and Stroke and the test is started by selecting
Start Test. The machine should now be under running condition and should stop
automatically after fracture is detected.

6
11. After facture has occurred POWER is switched off and CLEANING PROCESS done.

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

5.1. Collect the raw data from the test and plot the curve of stress vs Strain.
Table 1: Polymer Dimension settings before test

Sample Label PP HDPE

Thickness (mm) Width (mm) Thickness (mm) Width (mm)
1 3.33 13.38 3.43 12.86
2 3.32 13.11 3.43 12.80
3 3.41 13.11 3.34 12.93
4 3.43 13.16 3.39 13.00
5 3.21 13.00 3.42 12.69
Total 16.7 65.76 17.01 64.28
Mean 3.34 13.15 3.40 12.86

Figure 5: Different elongation stages during tensile test

Average Measurements PP HDPE

Thickness (mm) 3.340 3.40
Width (mm) 13.15 12.86
Max. Load (N) 891 799
Elastic Modulus (MPa) 647 486
Tensile Strength (MPa) 20.29 18.27
Yield Load (N) 544.005 491.28
Yield Strength (MPa) 12.386 11.236
Elongation at Break (%) 221.91 233.95
Yield Point Elongation: (%) 12 12.5
Original area (m2) 4.3921x10-6 4.3724x10-6

7
Figure 6: Tensile load variation with percentage elongation for PP at 50mm/min speed.

Figure 7: Tensile load variation with percentage elongation for HDPE at 50mm/min speed.

8
 5.2 Calculate the tensile stress and strain at yield, tensile strength and modulus of the
polymer samples. Compare the results and explain the difference.

Sample PP HDPE
Tensile Strain 0.1584 0.1347
Tensile Stress Load at yield/ original area Load at yield/ original area
544.005 491.28
at Yield, N/m2 = =
4.3921x105 m 4.3724x105 m

= 12,110,260.23 N/m2 = 11,236,962.49 N/m2

= 12.11 MPa = 11.24 MPa
Tensile = Max. load/ original area = Max load/ original area
881 829
Strength, = 4.3921x105 m = 4.3724x105 m
N/m2
= 20,058,741.83 N/m2 = 18,961,573.65 N/m2
= 20.06 MPa = 18.96 MPa
Young Yield Stress/Yield Strain Upper Yield Stress/Yield Strain
12.11 11.24
Modulus, = =
0.1584 0.1347
MPa
= 76.45 MPa = 83.44 MPa

Tensile at Yield
The tensile at yield from calculations for both PP and HDPE are nearly equal to the UTM
measured values from the test. This correspondence between calculated and test values
indicates the accuracy of the UTM. Also PP has higher tensile at yield than HDPE due to PP
being denser than HDPE.
Tensile Strength
The calculated tensile strength values for PP and HDPE are each about the same as their
respective test values. From both the test and calculations, PP has higher tensile strength than
HDPE and this owes to the fact that PP is made from a higher molecular weight propylene
compared to ethylene for HDPE.
Young Modulus
The calculated Young Modulus values are way much lower than the test values for both PP
and HDPE. This could be due to experimental errors which affect strain values and ultimately
Young modulus. However, the trend between PP and HDPE is different from the other above
tensile properties. PP instead has less Young Modulus than HDPE.

9
10
6. CONCLUSION

11
7.0 REFERENCES

Anderson, B. (2013). Incorporate design features to enable high accuracy testing with
economic, speed and versatility. .
Anthony, L. (nd). What is a Universal Testing Machine? Retrieved from ADMET:
http://www.admet.com/what-is-a-universal-testing-machine-2/

12