3. Mechanical Characterization

Mechanical Characterization Lab

Instron 3365 Dual Column Universal Machine with Optical extensometer

Instron 3365 dual column universal testing machine

Accessible to trained users on the booking system. Session duration 1 h, max 8 sessions per week. Out-of-hours access can be allowed in exceptional cases. Official web page

Characteristics and available clamps:

  • 500 N and 10 N load cells
  • Video Extensometer SVE2
  • Tensile pneumatic clamps
  • Compressive plates
  • 3-point bending clamp
  • Peel-off clamp
  • Penetration clamp for fabric testing (custom)
  • Micro-compression (custom), 20 and 15 mm
  • Confined compression for biological samples
Some documents are available to download and in hardcopy for reference purpose: a quick guide, a guide to cell switching and an advanced guide on the use of bending clamp, of the test profiler methods and of the paper frame method for weak materials.
TA Instruments Q800 DMA

TA Instruments Q800 Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis

Accessible to trained users on the booking system. Session duration 4 h, max 4 sessions per week. Out-of-hours access can be allowed in exceptional cases. Official web page

Characteristics and available clamps:

  • Tensile clamp
  • Compressive clamp
  • 3-point bending clamp
  • Cantilever clamps (35 mm, 20 mm)
  • Fiber tension clamp
  • Submersion compression clamp
  • Submersion tension clamp
Anton Paar indentation/scratch platform

CSM (Anton Paar) Platform for Nanoindentation and scratch

Accessible to trained users through email contact. Session duration 4 h, max 4 sessions per week. Out-of-hours access not allowed. Official web page

Characteristics and available tips:

  • Ultrananoindentation head
    • Berkovich tip
    • Spherical tip (100 um)
    • Spherical tip (100 um)
    • Flat punch tips (10, 20, 100 um)
  • Micro-combi indentation-scratch head
    • Vickers tip
    • Knoop tip
    • Ball holders (1 mm, 2 mm)
Deben micro-uniaxial stage

Deben micro-uniaxial stage

Micro-tensile stage, 2KN load cell, for testing in situ (e.g. XRD) and in liquid
Accessible to trained users through email contact. Session duration 4 h, max 4 sessions per week. Out-of-hours access not allowed.

Characteristics and features:
  • Available for tensile and compressive tests
  • Bath for testing in liquid up to 70°C
  • Coupling with electrical measurements
  • Coupling with XRD
  • Coupling with optical microscopy
  • Low frequency cyclic testing
Optics11 Chiaro Nanoindenter

Optics11 Chiaro BioIndenter

Interferometric-based indenter for characterization of soft materials, also in liquid environment
Accessible to trained users through email contact. Session duration from 1h up, max 8 hours booked. Out-of-hours access not allowed.
official webpage

Characteristics and features:
  • Combined with an Optical Fluorescence Microscope
  • Broad choice of tips size and stiffness
  • Measures Young's modulus from 100 Pa to 1 GPa
  • Displacement, indentation or load control
  • Indentation mapping function
  • NanoDMA