Time to invest in the best

R-TECH Materials’ rapidly growing polymer and composites testing laboratory has invested in a new Zwick 10kN ALLroundLine universal testing machine.

The German-made Zwick machine – which will be aligned to aerospace standards – will enable R-TECH to carry out more complex testing and fulfil the growing needs of its customers. The machine runs on the latest Zwick testXpert III control software package which includes the complete range of modules, including tensile, compression, flexure, tear growth, adhesion, peel and cyclic testing. Embedded programs meet the requirements of more than 600 standard tests, and can be customised for bespoke requirements.

As well as being able to test any type of sample; be it tensile, compression, flexure or shear at loads from 1N to 10kN, the Zwick machine, which has been equipped with thermal chambers from Severn Thermal Solutions, can perform tests in the temperature range of -70°C to 250°C. R-TECH can also carry out liquid, humidity or temperature pre-conditioning of samples, which is essential for the aerospace sector.

The new investment also includes the latest Zwick camera system for fracture toughness testing. This camera system allows for accurate tracking of crack propagation and for the test to be replayed after the event to ensure accurate detection of the crack front, making it the most accurate and repeatable system in the UK. In addition to this, R-TECH has also invested in fixturing that will allow it to carry out V-notched rail shear testing, further increasing the scope of the testing the company offers.

“We are delighted with our new Zwick machine,” states R-TECH’s composite manager, Dr Geraint Harvard. “In recent years it has become apparent that there is a growing appetite for fracture toughness testing within the composites industry, which along with the publication of ISO 20144, the standard qualification plan for composite materials, including fracture toughness testing, we decided that it was important to position ourselves with the most accurate and repeatable system on the market for all fracture toughness modes available.

“Our continued investment in state-of-the-art equipment and the development of our team of highly qualified engineers, materials scientists, and chemists has helped us forge our reputation as one of the UK’s fastest growing composite testing laboratories.”

R-TECH’s investment in the Zwick machine is another example of how the business has invested heavily in its composite capabilities over recent years. Other purchases include a 250kN Zwick universal testing machine and a 100kN fatigue machine, along with a Hirox digital microscope and Zeiss Scanning Electron Microscope with EDX micro-analysis for failure investigation and materials characterisation.

The R-TECH Materials group provides materials testing, characterisation and consultancy services on a wide range of engineering materials and applications. Operating predominantly in the aerospace, marine and automotive sectors, the Composites Department tests the mechanical, thermal and chemical properties of non-metallic materials, components and products, including plastics and fibre reinforced composites, for material approval and characterisation, quality control and research and development.

R-TECH’s combination of testing, characterisation and interpretation expertise can also be applied to problem solving, such as product or processing problems or materials failure investigation. Additionally, R-TECH runs training courses to the industry in conjunction with Zwick Roell, which have been very well received by over 100 engineers.

R-TECH is accredited by UKAS and Nadcap to perform testing to ISO and ASTM standards under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. Standard tests include lap shear, in-plane shear, climbing drum peel, shore hardness, compression of core materials and shear properties of sandwich panels. As well as a full suite of static testing, fatigue testing (in tension or in bending) at loads of up to 100kN can also be delivered.

www.r-techmaterials.com