Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of Waterloo
$89,000.00
Universal Tester for material characterization
EF 2010-11
Résumé
Funds are requested for the purchase of the MTS Insight 30 Universal Tester with an extra 10kN load cell, a thermal chamber, an environmental bath, a laser extensometer and a clip gauge. The requested equipment will enable researchers at the University of Waterloo to undertake comprehensive interdisciplinary research primarily on the behaviour of polymers, but also on metals for applications in construction and automotive industries. The interdisciplinary research at Waterloo on the mechanical behaviour of polymers linking their chemical composition with mechanical properties has allowed us to explain the mechanisms in the molecular architecture of polyethylene that slow down the environmental stress cracking ESC. We have recently proposed and rationally explained the applicability of large strain mechanical tensile testing for the determination of environmental stress crack resistance ESCR. Typical ESCR tests are done by notching and subjecting the samples to an Igepal solution at 500C . The test is time consuming and the scatter of the results is large. Our proposed tensile test is simple and shows great promise (Cheng et al. 2008, J. Macr. Sci. 45:3 599-611). However, our testing capability at the University of Waterloo is inadequate when deformations are large. Only overall displacement of the grips of the tester, under ambient conditions, can be recorded. In order to make progress in the development of this method for ESCR we do need appropriate testing capabilities. The availability of the requested equipment will allow us to bring the newly proposed large-strain tensile test for ESCR to the industrial level implementation, and potentially replace the widely used ASTM technique of the last 25 years. The selection of the equipment is motivated and supported by the laboratory testing experience of the applicants and of the technical staff in the University of Waterloo Laboratories. This equipment is compatible with other equipment modules already available at Waterloo.
Programme
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Ontario, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
407876-2011
Name nom
Polak, Maria
Department département
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Organization id
33
Institution établissement
University of Waterloo
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2010
Competition year année de concours
2011
Award amount
89000
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1509
Committee name en
Civil, Industrial and Systems Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie civil, industriel et des systèmes
Area of application code
602
Area of application group en
Construction, urban and rural planning
Area of application group fr
Construction, urbanisme et aménagement rural
Area of application en
Materials performance
Area of application fr
Performance des matériaux
Research subject code
2001
Research subject group en
Materials science and technology
Research subject group fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Research subject en
Materials structure, properties and testing
Research subject fr
Structure, propriétés et essais des matériaux
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Universal Tester for material characterization
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Funds are requested for the purchase of the MTS Insight 30 Universal Tester with an extra 10kN load cell, a thermal chamber, an environmental bath, a laser extensometer and a clip gauge. The requested equipment will enable researchers at the University of Waterloo to undertake comprehensive interdisciplinary research primarily on the behaviour of polymers, but also on metals for applications in construction and automotive industries. The interdisciplinary research at Waterloo on the mechanical behaviour of polymers linking their chemical composition with mechanical properties has allowed us to explain the mechanisms in the molecular architecture of polyethylene that slow down the environmental stress cracking ESC. We have recently proposed and rationally explained the applicability of large strain mechanical tensile testing for the determination of environmental stress crack resistance ESCR. Typical ESCR tests are done by notching and subjecting the samples to an Igepal solution at 500C . The test is time consuming and the scatter of the results is large. Our proposed tensile test is simple and shows great promise (Cheng et al. 2008, J. Macr. Sci. 45:3 599-611). However, our testing capability at the University of Waterloo is inadequate when deformations are large. Only overall displacement of the grips of the tester, under ambient conditions, can be recorded. In order to make progress in the development of this method for ESCR we do need appropriate testing capabilities. The availability of the requested equipment will allow us to bring the newly proposed large-strain tensile test for ESCR to the industrial level implementation, and potentially replace the widely used ASTM technique of the last 25 years. The selection of the equipment is motivated and supported by the laboratory testing experience of the applicants and of the technical staff in the University of Waterloo Laboratories. This equipment is compatible with other equipment modules already available at Waterloo.
