Manufacturer: Brabender

The TSSR-Meter can be used to perform conventional isothermal relaxation measurements as well as Temperature Scanning Stress Relaxation (TSSR), an anisothermal stress relaxation measurement method (AISR method). The measurement data provide reliable information on the phase morphology of the tested materials. In addition, this instrument can be used to test the modification of materials by various additives and to determine the properties of these modified polymers.

The TSSR meter is used in many areas where mechanical-thermal properties are to be measured and verified.

• The determination of the cross-linking density offers advantages in the development of new materials and quality assurance.
• The compression set value can be predicted from the limit temperature using a linear correlation.
• Better delimitation of application areas of TPE compared to carbon black filled elastomers
• Gain additional information for carbon black filled EPDM compounds by anisothermal stress relaxation curves.
• Represent thermal application limits of commercially available TPE materials and characterize different TPE blends with relaxation spectra.
• Individual materials can be assigned to product groups using the TSSR index determined.

Two different measuring methods are possible with the TSSR meter:

• the conventional isothermal relaxation measurement
• the application of the TSSR method

[1] The measuring system is housed in a sturdy cast housing. The specimen, a type 2 A standard bar, is clamped in a moving crosshead driven by a linear lifting motor and stretched by 50% of its length at an initial temperature of 23°C. The specimen is then subjected to a constant temperature of 23°C for two hours. Over a period of two hours, the relaxation of the specimen is then measured at a constant temperature of 23°C (isothermal relaxation measurement). After these two hours have elapsed, the integrated temperature controller begins to heat the test chamber at 2°C/min up to a maximum of 300°C. The relaxation of the test specimen is measured until the stress has dropped by 90% compared to the initial stress (anisothermal relaxation measurement) or the set maximum temperature has been reached. The convenient measurement and evaluation software under Windows enables automatic test execution, records the data, displays it online as a clear color diagram and evaluates the measurement data fully automatically. [2]

[1] Link to Manufacturer

[2] Manual TSSR-Meter