Xpansion Instruments

Videos of the SER in Action

The SER Universal Testing Platform can be easily attached to a rotational rheometer host station and configured to operate with the existing control software. By specifying the operating temperature and steady rotational rate, the SER can be used to generate the tensile stress growth curves necessary for evaluating the extensional flow behavior of polymeric materials. By operating the SER in step strain or cessation of steady extension mode, the extensional stress relaxation behavior of a material can also be evaluated. Unique to controlled stress/rate host systems, the SER can also be configured to operate in tensile creep mode.

Note that for all of the SER videoclips depicted below, the sample deformation remains in a fixed plane and is ALWAYS clearly and easily accessible for flow and deformation visualization, which makes in-situ rheo-optics, laser light, x-ray and neutron beam scattering possible during sample deformation.

These videoclips are best viewed with Windows Media Player or other such media player with XVID video codec playback capability.

The following stop frame videography study depicts the evolution of the true and theoretical extensional strain deformation (yellow box outline) for an elastomeric extensional rheology sample stretched until rupture.

The following videographic animation further demonstrates the evolution of the true and theoretical extensional strain deformation in real time for a Hencky strain rate of 1 s^-1.

	Note the excellent agreement between the theoretical width dimension evolution (depicted as a yellow box) superposed over an actual extensional strain deformation of a specimen being stretched all the way to rupture. (AVI file format: 0.95 MB)

	This video depicts the attachment procedure of the SER's detachable windup drums. (AVI file format: 1.51 MB)
	This video depicts the uniaxial extensional flow deformation of an uncured butyl elastomer being stretched at a Hencky strain rate of of 1.0 s^-1. (AVI file format: 0.57 MB)
	This video depicts the uniaxial extension deformation of a candy fruit chew being stretched at an applied Hencky strain rate of 1.0 s^-1. Note the non-uniformity of the deformation, thereby demonstrating the critical importance of flow visualization at all times, particularly with heterogeneous and/or complex materials. (AVI file format: 0.28 MB)
	This video depicts the uniaxial extension deformation of a candy fruit chew being stretched at an applied Hencky strain rate of 0.1 s^-1 while immersed within a fluid environment at body temperature. Note how the sample dissolves during the deformation, again demonstrating the critical importance of flow visualization at all times. (AVI file format: 0.63 MB)
	This video depicts a peel/adhesion test for a double-sided PSA tape versus its release liner at a peel rate of 0.1 cm/s. Because the drums of the SER are detachable, drum surfaces can also be prepared from any number of materials with any number of surface properties for interfacial adhesion testing. (AVI file format: 0.83 MB)
	This video depicts the tensile test of a solid LLDPE specimen being streched at room temperature at a Hencky strain rate of 1 s^-1. Witness the necking behavior immediately followed by acute opacity and ultimately fracture. Note that unlike conventional tensile tests, fracture occurs in a fixed stretch zone between the two drums so that it can be easily visualized. (AVI file format: 0.17 MB)
	This video depicts a trouser tear test of a double-sided PSA tape reinforced with polyester cord at a tear rate of 10 cm/s. (AVI file format: 0.25 MB)
	This video depicts the cut/crack growth of a pre-notched HIPS sample under a constant applied tensile stress of 25 MPa. Note the evolution at the crack tip and how the stress stored in the unfractured region of the sample is subsequently released via crack propagation. (AVI file format: 0.45 MB)

	This video depicts the utility of the optional dual blade cutter assembly in preparing the small SER sample specimens of fixed uniform width. (AVI file format: 0.59 MB)
	This video depicts the specimen loading procedure demonstrating the quick and ease of loading an extensional rheology specimen on the SER. (AVI file format: 0.90 MB)
	This video depicts the uniaxial extensional flow deformation of a low viscosity LDPE polymer melt at 150�C being stretched at a Hencky strain rate of 1.0 s^-1. (AVI file format: 2.34 MB)
	This video depicts a T-peel test of a general purpose adhesive tape versus paper at a peel rate of 1 cm/s. (AVI file format: 0.45 MB)
	This video depicts the tensile test of a solid LDPE specimen being streched at room temperature at a Hencky strain rate of 0.1 s^-1. Witness the necking behavior immediately followed by acute opacity and ultimately fracture. (AVI file format: 1.55 MB)
	This video depicts a trouser tear test of a solid LDPE specimen at a tear rate of 1 cm/s. (AVI file format: 2.20 MB)
	This video depicts the rapid cut/crack growth of a cured rubber at an applied rate of 5 cm/s. Note how at these low rates a majority of the energy input goes toward material deformation (storage) not towards fracture propagation (dissipation). At much higher rates (> 100 cm/s) the fracture is clean. (AVI file format: 0.19 MB)
	This video depicts the rapid cut/crack growth of solid HIPS at an applied rate of 1 cm/s. Note that because of the high modulus of the HIPS at room temperature most of the energy input goes directly towards fracture propagation. Notice how clean and immediate the fracture is. (AVI file format: 0.63 MB)

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