CBB 4423

Polymer Process Engineering

Laboratory Report

Experiment 5
UNIVERSAL TESTING MACHINE

Group members
Nur Izne Aqilah Binti Ismail 13597
Natthika Siriwat 14197

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI PETRONAS

INTRODUCTION

This experiment is designed to help student to be familiar with universal testing machine.
Universal testing machine is used to test the tensile and compressive properties of materials.

Schematic diagram of a tensile test

A universal testing machine, also known as a universal tester, materials testing

machine or materials test frame, is used to test the tensile stress and compressive
strength of materials. It is named after the fact that it can perform many standard tensile and
compression tests on materials, components, and structures.

Load frame - usually consisting of two strong supports for the machine. Some small
machines have a single support.
Load cell - A force transducer or other means of measuring the load is required.
Periodic calibration is usually called for.
Cross head - A movable cross head (crosshead) is controlled to move up or down.
Usually this is at a constant speed: sometimes called a constant rate of extension (CRE)
machine. Some machines can program the crosshead speed or conduct cyclical testing,
testing at constant force, testing at constant deformation, etc. Electromechanical, servo-
hydraulic, linear drive and resonance drive are used.
 Means of measuring extension or deformation- Many tests require a measure of the
response of the test specimen to the movement of the cross head. Extensometers are
sometimes used.
Output device - A means of providing the test result is needed. Some older machines
have dial or digital displays and chart recorders. Many newer machines have a computer
interface for analysis and printing.
Conditioning - Many tests require controlled conditioning (temperature, humidity,
pressure, etc.). The machine can be in a controlled room or a special environmental
chamber can be placed around the test specimen for the test.
Test fixtures, specimen holding jaws, and related sample making equipment are called
for in many test methods.

OBJECTIVES

Help the students to familiar with universal testing machine.

Understand the relationship between tensile strength, young modulus and elongation

METHODOLOGY

Procedure
1. Switch ON power system
2. Press safe line yellow button until light off
3. Machine will starting up and at machine controller keyboard press A button to
establish open access
4. Select B for remote control program
5. Start up the computer system and select NEXYGEN software, after that select Lr Lrx
Console
6. Display monitor at machine controller keyboard must display Under control of
remote computer. From now the gripper frame can control from computer (console).
7. From Nexygen program, go to EDIT, select Insert New Test and select sample type
(plastics, rubber, metals or etc.)
 8. Select either Compression Setup or Tensile Setup
9. Fill in the dimension or specification of the sample.
10. Insert the specimen ( PE, PP, composite) to gripper frame.
11. Select zero 0 for zeroing the Load and Stroke. Start the test by select the Start
Test
12. The machine now under running condition and will stop automatically after fracture
detected.
13. Switch off POWER and DO the CLEANING PROCESS

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

1. Plot the curve of Stress vs Strain.

Graph 1: The curve of Stress vs Strain of Polypropylene (PP)

 Graph 2: The curve of Stress vs Strain of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

2. Calculate the tensile at yield, tensile strength and modulus of the polymer samples.
Compare the results and explain the difference.

Table 1: The tensile@ yield, tensile strength and modulus of Polypropylene (PP)
 Table 2: The tensile@ yield, tensile strength and modulus of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Tensile at Yield
The value of tensile at yield for PP and LDPE are not provided the yield load values.
Tensile Strength
The results are shown that, the sample of PP gave a higher tensile strength than LDPE
for triple value.
Modulus
This result has been shown that the modulus value difference between the PP and
LDPE polymer. The PP is given higher modulus than LDPE, which relate with the
trend of tensile strength as well.

3. Explain the phenomenon of necking from molecular point of view during the
experiment.

The phenomenon of necking has been observed when the sample of polymers are
grasped and stretched slowly. Both of them are changed from simple homogeneous
extension to a non-homogenous motion but both of them maintained their axial
symmetry but thin down in one or more short regions along its length.
The neck of both sample are deepen and lengthen at early stage, then, after stretching
to their maximum limit. Then the next stage is presented the strain of the polymer,
where polymers present their moderate molecular orientation, while the material
inside the neck in which their molecular orientation is very high.
 4. Explain the significance of tensile strength, tensile at yield, modulus and elongation at
break from engineering point of view.

Tensile strength represented the maximum stretching force that the materials could
withstand before cracking. This tensile strength involves with quality control of the
material. It tells the upper limit of force load to apply to the materials as well as the
design. The examples of materials production control techniques are forging, rolling
or pressing.
Young modulus represented the ratio of stress and strain within the elastic region. The
modulus defines as the materials properties which undergo the stress (deforms and
then returns to its original shape after removing the force). The young modulus
measures the stiffness of materials or the modulus of elasticity. This value is required
for instances rod or wire stretches under a tensile load.
Elongation represents the extent to which a material will elongate or deform before
fracture or also known as ductility. Its necessary for insight in case of overload
damage to a material before its cracked.

5. How do you relate the tensile test or area under the curve with the energy required to
break the sample?

The area under the stress-strain curve is explained as toughness, where its measured
the amount of energy which absorbs up to the fracture of the polymers. Hence, the
greater area will present the stronger, and also present the higher energy required to
break the polymers. In this experiment shown, the PP is given much higher strength
than LDPE since, its required more energy for cracking.

CONCLUSION

This experiment showed that, the Polypropylene (PP) gives higher strength than Low
Density Polyethylene (LDPE). They are concluded by their tensile at yield, tensile strength,
and modulus which all the results of PP is much higher than the LDPE.
REFERENCE

1. G. Fantoni, G.T., D. Gabelloni, H. N. Hansen, Modelling injection moulding machines for

micro manufacture applications through functional analysis. 2012.

2. On-line testing equipment of PVT properties of polymers based on an injection molding

machine. Polymer Testing, 2009. 28(3): p. 228-234.

3. http://www.pitfallsinmolding.com/index.html

4. http://www.articlesbase.com/ethics-articles/the-working-principle-of-injection-molding-
machine-and-process-3008179.html

5. Richardson, T. L., Lokensgard, E. Industrial Plastics: Theory and Application

6. Stress Strain Curve, Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress%E2%80%93strain_curve

7. Young Modulus, Retrieved from http://www-

materials.eng.cam.ac.uk/mpsite/properties/non-IE/stiffness.html