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Let a team of experienced material scientists equipped with state-of-the-art instruments tackle the hard development problems. Explore our detailed catalogue ranging from basic quality control testing to full material development services. Save time and maximize your resources with Applied Molecules’ engineered material design team.
FTIR (IRAaffinity-1S)*
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a technique used to obtain an infrared spectrum of absorption or emission of a solid, liquid, or gas. A laser is passed through the material and a molecule’s covalent bonds each selectively absorb radiation which changes the vibrational energy in the bond. The instrument outputs a spectrum which displays varying intensity peaks at different wavenumbers. Like a puzzle, we can piece together information about the structure and/or composition of the material from this spectrum.
Properties/Testing Capabilities
QC testing
Conversion testing for acrylic systems
Photo-Rheometer (TA instruments HR20)
A rheometer measures the way a fluid flows in response to an applied force. By varying the amplitude and frequency of this applied force, rheological properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus, and viscosity can be measured. By modifying the temperature, the thermal effect of these measurements can be determined as well. If we attach a light source to the rheometer, photoactive liquids can be radiated during these measurements allowing us to view the time dependency of the photorheological properties during crosslinking.
Properties/Testing Capabilities
Viscosity, measured across a range of shear rates or temperature ranges.
Oscillatory stress strain sweeps, obtain storage and loss modulus, yield stress, and phase angle measurements. Can sweep frequency, temperature, or strain.
Quality control (testing batches for consistency)
Thixotropy analysis (thixotropic recovery rate or thixotropic breakdown rate)
Amplitude sweep
Single frequency over time
Viscoelasticity
Temperature profile and cycling
Creep and recovery
Cure testing w/ conversion measurements (paired with FTIR)
Contact angle / Surface Tension
The contact angle instrument uses a sessile drop technique with a camera to optically visualize the angle between the edge of the drop and the surface as well as visualize the shape of the droplet as it is ejected from the tip of a syringe.
Properties/Testing Capabilities
Contact Angle Measurements
Surface Tension Measurements
Droplet analysis/imaging
Substrate testing/Wettability
Formulation modification (advanced)
DMA (Discovery DMA 850)
The Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) applies measured stress to a sample in a sinusoidal manner under given temperature ranges. The resultant deformation is measured and is ideal for determining the viscoelastic effect of materials given temperature, amplitude, and force.
Properties/Testing Capabilities
Tg, melting point, elastic modulus, creep, etc.
3 pt bend and compression geometries available
Heat Deflection Temperature (ASTM D648)
Quality Control
Instron (Instron 5943)
A mechanical testing apparatus applies a tensile or compressive force to a sample to determine the material’s strength, ductility, and durability.
Properties/Testing Capabilities
Tensile modulus, ultimate tensile stress, elongation at break, yield stress (ASTM D638)
Compression modulus, yield stress, stress and strain and rupture (ASTM D695)
Tear strength (ASTM D624)
Flexural modulus and strength (ASTM D790)
Lap Shear (ASTM D3163/D5868)
Finch Testing (ASTM D829)
Impact Strength
An IZOD impact strength uses a weighted swinging pendulum to strike a sample causing breakage. The machine determines the energy absorbed by the material by measuring the angle the pendulum reaches on the follow through.
Properties/Testing Capabilities
IZOD notched and unnotched impact strength (ASTM D256)
UV/Vis (UV-1900I)
UV-VIS spectrophotometers use a light source to illuminate a liquid or thin film sample with light of varying wavelengths across the UV and visible range (typically 190-900 nm). A detector then measures the light at each wavelength that is absorbed, transmitted, or reflected by the sample based on Beer-Lambert Law in reference to a blank control. This can also be used to measure the concentration of an analyte or determine the molar extinction coefficient.
Properties/Testing Capabilities
Absorption/Transmission of a liquid or solid sample
Cure Testing/Light Source Analysis
We have a large selection of light sources common in industrial curing applications ranging in intensity and wavelength.
Properties/Testing Capabilities
Bulk cure testing with dose/intensity/wavelength changes
Can be run in parallel with FTIR to get conversion of acrylate systems
Contact us today to schedule a meeting with our scientists!