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Environmental Testing

The various materials in a component can have different coefficients of expansion, resulting in thermal stresses and premature failure. Constant temperature operation is often not the cause for failure. More commonly it is the stressing induced by temperature cycling which does the damage. Combine that with condensation and the potential for shortened life can be easily anticipated . Well designed and manufactured products can withstand the repeated stress reversals of heating and cooling without failure. Conversely incompatible materials can result in premature failure of otherwise well made components.

cogsHow does it work?

Subjecting a material, combination of materials or finished product to thermal cycling provides information on their resistance to thermal fatigue, a degradation and failure mechanism common in a variety of industries

Applications:

Climatic chambers are widely used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, pharmaceutical and marine industry to demonstrate that products will perform under storage, transportation and operation conditions.

Sample handling requirements:

A typical sample will be a complete finished product, in the form it will be when subjected to harsh environment conditions. The component size is limited to the size of the chamber on the testing rig (typically no larger than 1m3)

Complementary techniques:

Mechanical Testing, Optical MicroscopyLink opens in a new window, Scanning Electron MicroscopyLink opens in a new window, X-Ray DiffractionLink opens in a new window, Thermal AnalysisLink opens in a new window.

Warwick Capability:

Various including Weiss Gallenkamp WK3 340/40 Temperature and Humidity.

Contact:

Claire Gerard: c dot gerard at warwick dot ac dot uk / 07385 145064

Environmental Testing Rig


Typical results format, and sample:


Status
Availability

Warwick collect/analyse data

Warwick collect data
  Available to user with expertise/ contribution
  Spare capacity for collaborative research
 

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