Engineering Composites Research Centre

Manufacturer : Bonas
Controller :Series 250
No. of hooks : 1152
No. of Bobbins : 600
Weave width : 500mm max

The loom is used to weave designs in both 2-D and 3-D.It uses single rapier weft insertion and has a variable speed take up motion.

The controller accepts design data from a 3.5” floppy disc.

This versatile set-up allows the machine to weave many complex designs in carbon fibre.

The work completed so far has included the manufacture of net shaped performs such as T pieces and I sections for structural applications.

The 3-D designs are first completed on XS cross-sectional design software and then formatted for use with the Bonas 250 loom controller.

Manufacturer : Gewlab/ Widnes England 
Model Number : A41HS 
Serial Number : 96L009 
Electrical Heating : 3 Phase, 415 V, 9kW,3kW/Phase 
Max Temperature : 300oC 
Heat up time for Max Temp : <100 Mins>
Internal Oven Dims : 720mm x 1500mm x 1180mm Temperature Controller : Eurotherm 902 
Rotary Vacuum Pump : Edwards model speedivac Vacuum Controller : Edwards 553 Vacuum Controller Code No. : D395-53-000

The resin transfer moulding system located in the Engineering Composites Research Centre has been used to manufacture a range of composite components.

These components include 3-D and 2-D reinforced composites

Manufacturer: Micromet Instruments, Inc. USA. 
Year Of Manufacture : 2001

SMARTweave® is a resin flow analysis system developed by the US Army Research Laboratory.

The SMARTweave® system consists of a sensor grid, an electronics package to rapidly interrogate the grid, and a software programme to control, record, and display the sensor data.

The sensor grid is laid up in the RTM mould and used to map the flow of resin during mould filling by measurements of the electrical properties at each junction of the grid.

Control screen on Monitor SMARTweave® Detection grid in RTM Mould

Thermal Analysis Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

Manufacturer : TA Instruments
Model Number : DSC Q100

The DSC is used to measure temperature and heat flow associated with material transitions providing quantitative and qualitative data on endothermic and exothermic processes.

Glass transitions, Melting points, Crystallisation, Rate of cure, Degree of cure, Purity, Thermal stability

DSC provides important information that can be used to characterise materials, selection of best materials for specific applications, provides ability to predict product performance, optimisation of processing conditions and to improve quality.

Simultaneous Thermogravimetric Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TGA/DSC)

Manufacturer: TA Instruments
Model Number : Q600 TGA used to characterise thermal decomposition behaviour.

Provides information on

• fibre volume fraction of composites
• thermal stability
• temperature of on-set of degradation
• oxidative degradation
• composition of polymer blends

Instrument operates on null-balance principle. TGA can be interfaced with other analytical instruments (gas chromatography or mass spectrometer) for multiple measurements.

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)

Manufacturer : TA Instruments

Model Number : Q800 DMA measures changes in the viscoelastic properties of materials resulting from changes in temperature, frequency, and time.

Predict end use product performance

• Measuring glass transition and secondary transition temperatures
• Understanding and optimising curing phenomena in thermosets
• Predicting physical ageing of amorphous materials
• Correlating impact stability and damping

DMA one of the most sensitive single techniques available for characterising and interpreting the mechanical behaviour of materials. The concept of DMA is based on observing the viscoelastic response of materials subjected to a small oscillatory strain.

The DMA operates under four modes: resonant frequency, fixed frequency, stress relaxation, and creep. Each of these modes measures different aspects of the viscoelastic properties.

Dielectric Analysis (DEA)

Manufacturer: TA Instruments
Model Number : DEA 2970 Dielectric Analyser

Uses of DEA

Process optimisation

• End-use performance prediction
• Identification of key cure parameters
• Glass transitions
• Polymer morphology

Provides valuable information about molecular and rheological behaviour of materials. DEA can characterise molecular relaxations, monitor the flow and cure of resins, and calculate activation energies for molecular relaxations.

It is an ultrasensitive technique making it possible to detect transitions which are not seen by other techniques.

Four sensor types available which are interchangeable and disposable.

The systems exceptional versatility permits analysis of bulk or surface properties.

Impact Testing Equipment

Manufacturer: Instron
Model Number : Dynatup® 9200 Series

The Instron Dynatup impact testing machine is designed to measure energy absorption and related impact properties of polymers, metals, composites and resulting final components. It is ideally suited for use in aerospace, automotive, biomedical and specializing in finished product applications.

Zwick Materials Testing Machine

State of the art materials testing instrument with computer aided data acquisition and analysis.

Type : Z100/TL3A with 3D ESPI Strain Measuring System

Load range : 0 to 100KN.

Instron 1000 Materials Testing Machine

Traditional materials testing instrument currently used for testing of textile yarns, sewing threads and fabrics.

Load range : 0 to 5 KN.