The Project
This Project will develop methods of obtaining accurate time dependent properties of materials that are reproducible not only by indentation instruments but also by independent test methods. It will also develop and validate new measurement methods for high-resolution dimensional, mechanical property and/or deformational behaviour mapping of viscous materials based upon tactile probe (mechanical contact) methods. The approach of this JRP is to target physical properties of materials that can be equally accessed and measured by independent methods and in units traceable to the SI.
The JRP will address new measurement methods based upon mechanical contact and demonstrate their capability and reproducibility for high-resolution dimensional and mechanical property mapping of viscous materials in a number of industrial case studies. Key to its success will be to achieve a step improvement in the characterisation and control-by-design of the dimensional drift in metrological platforms and measurement systems. New and improved analysis methods will be developed and validated to describe contacts with viscous materials. These will be used to improve measurement procedures and correction routines for contact-based dimensional measurement of visco-elastic materials, expressing outputs as property values traceable to the SI. The new validated measurement methods will be used to develop a specification for and identify a list of candidate certified reference materials, for which there is a demand from the polymer and life science industries.
Overall, the JRP will:
- Improve the characterisation of the dimensional drift in metrological platforms and measurement systems (used in the measurement of viscous materials).
- Develop improved analysis methods to describe contacts with viscous materials, and validate these method
- Write measurement procedures and correction routines for contact-based dimensional measurement
- Develop validated methods to obtain the mechanical properties of visco-elastic materials as property values traceable to the SI.
- Demonstrate applicability of the methods in a number of industrial case studies, which shall include demonstration of the ability to distinguish mechanical property differences between products manufactured from recycled or virgin feedstock
- Develop a specification for and identify a list of candidate certified reference materials, for which there is a strong demand, inter alia from the polymer and life science industries
