Michael Sepe Independent Consultant

Materials 22 Jun 2022

Understanding Strain-Rate Sensitivity In Polymers

Material behavior is fundamentally determined by the equivalence of time and temperature. But that principle tends to be lost on processors and designers. Here’s some guidance.

Elastomers 26 May 2016

MATERIALS: Thermoplastic Urethanes: Why Annealing Makes a Big Difference

Under the right conditions, annealing can drive TPU performance to a greater level than can be achieved at room temperature.

Testing 25 Apr 2016

MATERIALS: The Problems with Single-Point Data

It’s time for material suppliers to take a fresh approach to providing data. Thankfully, things are starting to move in that direction. Part 12 of 12.

Materials Know How 24 Mar 2016

MATERIALS:The Problems with Single-Point Data

This real-world scenario explains why molders and their customers need to ‘think in terms of graphs’ and gather as much data as possible before selecting a material for an application. Part 11.

best practices 22 Feb 2016

MATERIALS: The Problems with Single-Point Data: Part 10

You can predict creep performance of a material over time at a particular temperature by examining how its modulus changes over a range of temperatures.

best practices 20 Jan 2016

MATERIALS: The Problems with Single-Point Data: Part 9

Time—and not just temperature—governs the behavior of materials under load. Both must be considered when evaluating a polymer for an application.

best practices 21 Dec 2015

MATERIALS: The Problems with Single-Point Data, Part 8

DTUL tests may have made sense in the 1940s and 1950s, before the advent of dynamic mechanical analysis. But designers and engineers today need better tools.

Testing 23 Nov 2015

MATERIALS: The Problems with Single-Point Data, Part 7

The industry can choose between continuing to perform DTUL tests that provide single points that are part of a curve never seen, or perform the test that provides the entire curve.

Testing 26 Oct 2015

MATERIALS: The Problems with Single-Point Data--Part 6

Data sheets can be limited in the information they provide on how the material performs at elevated temperatures.

best practices 25 Sep 2015

MATERIALS: Impact Testing: The Problems With Single-Point Data

Knowledge of test conditions and graphical data showing the course of the impact event can help provide engineers and designers with the information they need to make informed choices about material toughness.