Facilities & Equipment
The MRI hosts an extensive analytical laboratory, micro fabrication facilities, clean rooms, a polymer processing hall, physical and mechanical testing laboratory, surface analysis laboratory (AFM and microTA), thermal analysis and support infrastructure.
This extensive range of equipment facilitates private and publicly funded collaborative research as well as a comprehensive range of analytical services for industry.
Analytical Laboratory
High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Routine analysis (quantification and/or comparative identification) of components in mixture by HPLC. Cleaning Validation Studies and Trace Analysis by HPLC. Purity analysis by HPLC
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS)
Routine analysis (quantification and/or comparative identification) of components in mixture by GC-MS Cleaning Validation Studies and Trace Analysis by GC-MS. Purity analysis by GC-MS. Identification of unknown compounds (e.g. contaminant materials) by GC-MS. Volatile materials identification in solid and liquid samples by Headspace GC-MS.
Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Microscopy
FTIR identification of materials. FTIR comparative analysis of materials. FTIR microscope analysis of foreign bodies and other contamination sources in materials.
Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC)
Molecular Weight Distribution of Polymers by GPC. Comparative Analysis of materials by GPC (e.g. failure analysis in polymeric materials, Mw differences can show why a part is failing in a certain area).
% Moisture Karl Fischer Coulometer
% Moisture content of liquid and solid samples by Karl Fischer Coulometer (e.g. ensuring that components are dried to appropriate levels before being processed).
Polymer Processing Hall
Injection Moulding Equipment Demag 240 ton
Arburg 2 shot 50 ton
Blow moulding Equipment
Battenfeld fischer 3 layer co-extrusion 25mm and 35mm extruders 1 litre capacity
Compounding Equipment
Leistritz 27mm
APV 19mm
Prism 16mm
Killion 38mm (single screw)
Extrusion Equipment
Sheet extrusion Width <600mm, Thickness <7mm
Cast film Width <600mm Thickness <30µm
Pilot Blown Film
Tube and Profile
Physical and Mechanical Testing Laboratory
Melt Flow Rate Analysis (MFR)
MFR is the primary polymer property used to determine batch consistency and specification conformity. Directly correlates to the average molecular weight of the polymer.
Verification of incoming raw material MFR.
Assessment of quality of moulding conditions.
Regrind affects and material heat stability can also be investigated.
Advanced rheology testing also available for melt viscosity measurements.
Mechanical Strength Tensile, Compression and Flexural analysis
ISO testing on standard specimens or testing of the final product
Tensile testing to measure material strength and elongation (flexibility).
Compression testing eg pipe, tubing.
3-point bend flexural testing to measure flexural strength and modulus (stiffness).
Weld strength, tear strength and bond strength.
Customised testing eg force to snap-fit product, force to open casing, resistance to high loads, product safety, and so on.
Impact Resistance
Pendulum Impact testing to Charpy and Izod notched and un-notched tests
Falling dart impact testing using instrumented impact tester
Film impact testing using the ‘staircase method.'
Testing on ISO standard specimens or final product.
Customised impact tests to simulate end product exposure.
Product Shelf Life Testing and Lifespan Estimation
Oven ageing to determine lifespan of product.
Oven ageing to verify Product Shelf Life stability of Medical Products.
Humidity chamber also available for more specific environments
Xenon Arc Accelerated Weathering
1000 hour test to assess 2 years exposure, Northern hemisphere
Product stability can be measured using colour change, yellowness index or mechanical strength deterioration
Consultancy
Materials; material selection and troubleshooting problems.
Processing; manufacturing problems and conditions.
Product; service environments and product failures.
Research and Development, including literature searches and product testing
Testing; in-house testing and advice on selection of equipment
Training; using test equipment for QC, R&D and troubleshooting
Other tests
Shore A and Shore D hardness
Vicat Softening Point and Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT)
Optical testing; Colour, light transmission and haze
Abrasion testing
Measurement of Chemical Resistance and absorption tests.
Surface Analysis Laboratory
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
The AFM provides pictures of atoms on or in surfaces and is used to solve processing and materials problems in a wide range of technologies affecting the electronics, telecommunications, biological, chemical, automotive, aerospace, and energy industries. The materials that can be investigated include thin and thick film coatings, ceramics, composites, glasses, synthetic and biological membranes, metals, polymers, and semiconductors. The AFM produces images of materials at the nanoscale level and provides a true three-dimensional surface profile.
Micro-Thermal Analyser (m-TA)
Micro-thermal analysis combines the imaging capabilities of the atomic force microscope with the ability to perform localized thermal analysis (calorimetry and thermomechanical measurements). This affords a means of physical characterization of different areas of a specimen by their thermal properties (e.g. melting point or softening temperature).
Thermal Analysis
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
DSC identification of materials by their Crystalline Melting Temperature (according to IS EN ISO 3146:2000; Method C2). Crystallinity determination by DSC (based on IS EN ISO 3146:2000; Method C2). Purity analysis by DSC. Thermal Stability of materials (e.g. – oxidative induction time (OiT) of materials) by DSC.
Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)
% Inorganic Content (including % Carbon Black and % CaCO3) by TGA (based on ISO 11358). Material Thermal Stability by TGA. Moisture and Volatiles Content by TGA. Composition of Multi-Component Systems by TGA. Shelf-Life Studies Using Kinetic Analysis by TGA. Decomposition Kinetics by TGA.
Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA)
Mechanical-Thermal Properties of materials by DMTA (e.g. – glass transition temperature, Tg, of materials).
