Salient Characteristics - Rheometer.doc

Salient Characteristics

Commercial Availability Certification:

I have evaluated the commercial marketplace and determined that all of the salient characteristics documented below are available in products/services offered in the commercial marketplace.

Signature (typed name): __Ian McAninch______________________

Technical Point of Contact (TPOC)

C.1 Objective

In an effort to enhance the basic research capability to characterize rheological properties of materials, including new molecules, formulations, resins and polymers. The Materials division of the Weapons and Materials Research Directorate (WMRD) within the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), requires the supply and installation of two (2) stress-controlled rheometers with ultra-violet (UV) cure capability to analyze high-melting materials. The Contractor shall supply and install the aforementioned rheometers in accordance with section C.2 of this document.

C.2 Requirements

C.2.1 The Contractor shall deliver a quantity of two (2) stress-controlled rheometers with UV cure capability to analyze high-melting materials. The required lead time for delivery is no more than 14 weeks After Receipt of Order (ARO). The delivery location shall be ARL, Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland 21005. The required stress-controlled rheometers with UV cure capability to analyze high-melting materials shall meet the following salient characteristics:

Rheometer Specifications

1. National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA) 5-15 or 5-20 plug for electrical connection

2. Maximum torque greater than or equal to (≥) 200 mN∙m (milli-Newton-meters), and be capable of applying the maximum torque continuously for at least 15 minutes in steady shear without the need of external circulating fluid for motor cooling.

3. Minimum torque (oscillation) 0.5 nN∙m (nano-Newton-meters) or less, minimum torque (shear/rotation): 5 nN∙m or less

4. Shall be able to control and measure normal force over a range of 0.005-50 N (Newton), normal force resolution: 0.5 mN (milli-Newton)

5. Oscillation frequency range: 1x10-7 - 100 Hz (Hertz)

6. Angular velocity range: 0 - 300 rad/s (radians per second)

7. The rheometer shall be capable of operating in the following modes:

a. Oscillation Mode Tests:

i. Torque/Stress sweep (linear or log) at single frequency

ii. Frequency sweep (linear or log) at single torque

iii. Frequency sweep (linear or log) at single strain

iv. Strain/angular displacement sweep (linear or log) at single frequency

v. Temperature sweep at single frequency/torque

vi. Superimposed stress oscillation and steady shear

vii. Superimposed strain oscillation and steady shear

viii. Multiple simultaneous frequencies superimposed on above modes

b. Flow Mode Tests:

i. Controlled stress or torque sweeps.

ii. Controlled rate (1/s) or speed (rad/s) sweeps.

iii. Stress stepped flow.

iv. Equilibrium stress stepped flow (ensures material has time to respond to each level of stress).

v. Temperature sweeps at constant stress or rate.

vi. Squeeze flow and pull off.

c. Creep Mode (transient) Tests:

i. Constant stress creep and recovery.

ii. Automatic sensing of steady state during creep test.

iii. Stress growth

d. Stress relaxation (transient) test

e. While running the procedure, succeeding steps can be adapted or new steps added.

8. During measurements, the gap shall automatically adjust for thermal expansion.

9. The rheometer shall correct for residual bearing friction & motor & geometry inertia with the actual inertia measured by the instrument.

10. UV (ultra violet)-cure accessory/attachment, using a broad spectrum mercury lamp as a source, to enable characterization of materials during UV cure. Mercury lamp shall come with filters to control the spectrum of light, including: 320-500nm (nanometers), 400-500nm, and 365nm, exposure and intensity should also be controllable.

11. Temperature Control:

a. Primary temperature control shall be provided by a Peltier plate, with a non-cooled pumped cooling fluid providing a temperature range of 0-100°C with ±0.1°C control; extended temperature range maybe achieve through chilling the cooling fluid

b. A Peltier plate compatible with disposable plates for curing samples.

c. Extended temperature range shall be provided with a range of −100-600°C, 50-600°C shall be controlled to ±0.1°C without the use of liquid nitrogen, temperature control below ambient shall utilize liquid nitrogen or a mechanical chiller for temperature control. Tubing/fittings/adaptor to connect to a standard liquid nitrogen dewer shall be provided.

12. Required test geometries:

a. 40 mm (millimeters) aluminum and stainless steel parallel plates, with and without solvent traps to minimize evaporation

b. 40 mm cone (2°) stainless steel

c. 25mm SS (Stainless steel) parallel plates, bottom with a drip channel, for melt processing of material at elevated temperature

d. 25mm disposable parallel plates, bottom with drip channel, compatable with both Peltier and the extended temperature range – SS & Al (Aluminum). (25x sets ea)

e. Disposable plates for UV cure (40x sets)

13. Shall include a warranty for a minimum of one (1) year from installation.

Contracting Officer:

Template last updated 07/28/2016