Metal Forming Research Center

Laboratory of multifunctional materials

The laboratory includes several pieces of equipment designed for destructive testing (tension, compression, bending, torsion) in a static regime, through which the mechanical and elastic characteristics of various tested materials can be determined. Among these, we mention:

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Universal Testing Machine (tension, compression, bending) Quasar 25, for static tests, produced by Galdabini. This machine is a rigid system with two columns and a maximum capacity of 25 kN, suitable for testing specimens made of metallic, plastic, composite, and other materials. The machine offers extremely high resolution of load and displacement readings, with a minimum testing speed of 0.0005 mm/min, ensuring high performance and accurate results. It is equipped with an extensometer for measuring specific deformations and features the GraphWork software, which allows the creation of testing methods specific to different standards. This machine is manufactured by an ISO 9001 certified company.
Universal Testing Machine for Textile Materials (yarns, fibers, knits, and fabrics) Titan 2 Universal model 710. This machine can support a wide range of loads, from small to large forces, with a maximum load capacity of 3 kN. It can perform a variety of tests, including tension, compression, bending, and load-unload cycles, making it ideal for research and development laboratories as well as quality control in production.

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Torsion Testing Machine model ETT202X, produced by Wance, which allows torsion testing of specimens with diameters between 1 mm and 10 mm, at a testing speed of 30/60/90 rpm in clockwise or counterclockwise directions. This machine can test specimens made of aluminum, steel, copper, or other metallic and non-metallic materials, developing a maximum torque of 200 Nm. The machine has a maximum power of 1.5 kW, equipped with a DTC 500 controller and dedicated TestPilot software, allowing the creation of testing methods specific to different standards.

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Insize Universal Hardness Tester for determining Brinell, Rockwell, and Vickers hardness, suitable for all types of metals and alloys, hard and soft, of different shapes. The main characteristics of this hardness tester are: Rockwell Load: 98N; Brinell Load: 306, 613, 1839N; Vickers Load: 294N; Total Load: 588, 980, 1471 N; Image Magnification: 37.5X / 75X (selectable).

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Three-Axis Force Transducer PCB Piezotronics, model 261A13, capable of measuring maximum forces up to 17.7 kN on the X and Y axes, and up to 44.48 kN on the Z axis. Its sensitivity is 7.19 pC/N for the X and Y axes, and 3.37 pC/N for the Z axis. For signal amplification, the laboratory also has an HBM digital charge amplifier, model PACEline CMD 600, which provides a unified output signal ranging from 0 to 10 V. The correlation between the input signal variation range of 0 to 10 V and the measurement range of the transducer is as follows: 0 – 17.7 kN for forces Fx and Fy, and 0 – 44.48 kN for force Fz.
Chatillon DFS II Force Gauge 2500 N, which can be used for measuring both tensile and compression forces.
Vacuum Kit: Used in the process of preparing specimens made from epoxy resins or silicones to eliminate air bubbles that may appear during the mixing of resin or silicone components. Specifications include a suction capacity of 4 CFM (114 l/min), power of 120 W, final vacuum of 5 Pa, and main material made of stainless steel.

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Metallographic Microscope, Leica DM 1750M: Features a trinocular tube for reflected light and a 3.1 MP camera. It has an ergonomic stand with a vertical construction suitable for large metallographic samples. The microscope includes LED illumination with high-power LEDs having a lifespan of at least 25,000 hours and integrated segmented oblique illumination. It offers a light intensity control system and the ability to vary the oblique illumination angle for optimal imaging of the studied sample. Contrast methods in reflected light include bright field (BF) and oblique illumination, with upgrade options to polarized light (POL) and differential interference contrast (DIC). The trinocular tube has a maximum viewing angle of 30°. Eyepieces are 10x with a 20mm field of view and lateral light protection, with at least one focusable eyepiece that accepts a 24.5mm diameter reticle for quick measurements. The microscope stage allows movement on the X/Y axes of 76mm x 50mm, with a ceramic-coated, scratch-resistant surface suitable for industrial samples. It supports samples up to 80 mm in height and can be operated with either the left or right hand. Focusing is achieved through macro and micro focus knobs, with a maximum focus position to prevent damage to the objectives and tension adjustment for vertical stage movement. The macro-micro focus assembly height can be adjusted. Objective Turret: Holds six objectives. Included objectives are: 5x Planachromatic objective for episcopic illumination, minimum aperture 0.12, working distance at least 11.7 mm; 10x Planachromatic objective for episcopic illumination, minimum aperture 0.25, working distance at least 12 mm; 20x Planachromatic objective for episcopic illumination, minimum aperture 0.40, working distance at least 1.15 mm; 50x Planachromatic objective for episcopic illumination, minimum aperture 0.75, working distance at least 0.37 mm; 100x Planachromatic objective for episcopic illumination, minimum aperture 0.85, working distance at least 0.33 mm. Digital Camera: Color digital camera with a CMOS sensor with a minimum diagonal of 1/2"; resolution of at least 3.1 MPixels, with a physical pixel size of at least 3.2 x 3.2 µm. It can transmit live images in a minimum format of 1024 x 768 pixels at a minimum rate of 30 frames per second, with data transmission via USB3. The image acquisition software is compatible with Windows operating systems.

The laboratory also has equipment designed for studying the stress and strain states in various structures. These include:

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Universal Data Acquisition System: Spider 8 with 8 channels.
Universal Data Acquisition System: QuantumX MX840A (from HBM) with 8 channels, dedicated to laboratory and field tests, maximum acquisition rate of 192 kS/s, 24-bit resolution, covering a wide range of measurements: thermal, mechanical, electrical, etc. The system supports the following types of transducers: full-bridge or half-bridge strain gauges (DC excitation or carrier frequency 4.8kHz); quarter-bridge strain gauges with an adapter; piezoelectric transducers with current excitation (IEPE / ICP®); full-bridge piezoresistive; thermoresistance (PT100 / PT1000); thermocouples (types K, N, R, S, T, B, E, J, C); pure ohmic resistor; potentiometric transducer; full-bridge or half-bridge inductive, LVDT. The software used by this system for monitoring, measuring, and real-time data acquisition of forces is CATMAN, developed by National Instruments.
Photoelastic Stand: For determining stress states.

Additionally, for performing numerical simulations using the Finite Element Method, the laboratory has academic licenses (12) and a research license (1) for the ABAQUS software package. This software allows the simulation of the mechanical behavior of various structures in the elastic and/or plastic domain, using the stress-strain characteristic curves obtained from physical tests conducted in the laboratory. Moreover, among the equipment used for investigating materials in the field of textile engineering available in the laboratory, we mention:

TRILUS 191G MESDAN Stereomicroscope
ELTENS Micro Dynamometer
Crockmaster Model 670: For determining the rubbing fastness of dyes
NU-MARTINDALE Universal Abrasion and Pilling Tester: For abrasion and pilling testing

It should be noted that the laboratory conducts research on the performance of raw materials and materials obtained through advanced surface modification technologies, the physical-mechanical characterization and comfort parameters of textile products, and the investigation of functional changes resulting from the application of natural products or coatings made with metallic nanoparticles. The laboratory is also equipped with a device for determining abrasion resistance, which provides characterization of the wear behavior of materials obtained through the aforementioned surface modification techniques.