Minimum Specification Thermal equipment - FINAL.pdf

PR 61-0533-21/1300925115 SPECIFICATIONS FOR THERMAL AND MECHANICAL TESTING SYSTEM

SPECIFICATIONS FOR LABORTORY-SCALE THERMAL

AND MECHANICAL TESTING SYSTEM

I. OVERVIEW: The NRL has a critical need for a thermal and mechanical testing system capable of performing measurements under extreme conditions for testing high temperature polymeric materials and ceramics.

II. BACKGROUND: The thermal and mechanical testing equipment including differential thermal analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of materials are critical tools that assess the performance of samples under a variety of conditions. The current capabilities in the Materials Chemistry and Dynamics Branch consist of routine equipment that are decades old and are limited in the thermal rates and mechanical loads available to apply to specimens. Additionally, these capabilities lack the accuracy needed for full understanding of a materials performance. Our branch and division needs have shifted whereby we need equipment that can reach higher temperatures, faster heating rates and higher mechanical stresses on a variety of sample dimensions. Having a system of readily available instruments in the branch will allow us to evaluate materials and timely complete research objectives.

III. SCOPE: The thermal and mechanical testing system shall be comprised of four (4) components;

(a) a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), (b) a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), (c) a thermomechanical analyzer (TMA), and a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA); and a software package that integrates all components. The system shall provide accurate and easily interpretable data of the thermal and mechanical performance of materials under extreme conditions, such as rapid heating and high strain rates required for a new Applied Research for Advancement of S&T Priorities Program Award titled “Surface Morphing and Adaptive Structures for Hypersonics

(SMASH)”

IV. SPECIFICATIONS AND SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS FOR LABORTORY-SCALE

THERMAL AND MECHANICAL TESTING SYSTEM:

The thermal and mechanical testing system, hereinafter referred to as “The System” shall be comprised of four (4) components or instruments; (a) a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), (b) a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), (c) a thermomechanical analyzer (TMA), and (d) a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA);

and a software package that integrates all components. The system SHALL meet all of the following minimum technical, physical, and performance requirements:

A. DYNAMIC MECHANICAL ANALYZER (DMA): The dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) shall be capable of a minimum of 550 °C temperature with the application of force in a range from 0.001 to at least 30 newton of maximum force.

B. DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETER (DSC): The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) shall be capable of temperatures between -90 to 700 °C and high accuracy on samples sizes as low as 1 mg.

C. THERMOMECHANICAL ANALYZER (TMA): The thermomechanical analyzer (TMA) shall be capable of reaching a minimum room temperature of 800 °C with sample sizes less than 30 mm in total length.

D. THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ANALYZER (TGA): The thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) shall be capable of extremely rapid heat rates up to 1500 degrees Celsius per minute to a maximum temperature of at least 1000 °C

E. SOFTWARE PACKAGE: The software package shall integrate the above four (4) components/instruments so that parameters can be input from one instrument to another.

PR 61-0533-21/1300925115 SPECIFICATIONS FOR THERMAL AND MECHANICAL TESTING SYSTEM

F. The overall system and all components/instruments shall be compatible with a typical instrument laboratory setting in terms of power and utility needs, and safety considerations; i.e., 120/240 power and should not require any special safety standards outside of normal instrument operation..

V. PROPERTY ITEMS FOR EXCHANGE

NRL’s used Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) (identified below) are being offered for exchange (trade-in allowance), in accordance with the exchange provision of 40 U.S.C. 503.

The procurement of the new thermal and mechanical testing system, specified above, will include the replacement of two pieces of NRL’s existing equipment; specifically:

A. TA Instruments Differential Scanning Calorimeter DSC 2920 (DSC) (NRL# N00173-451348-000 /serial# 2920-978) and

B. TA Instruments Thermogravimetric Analyzer TGA Q50 (TGA) (NRL# N00173-459857-000 /serial# 0050-0202).