News
Textechno Enhances its Composite Testing Technology with ITA Reinforced Partnership
Carbon Fibres
Textechno is pleased to announce its ITA Reinforced Partnership. Textechno will be working in close collaboration in the ITA Reinforced partnership to drive innovation in composite testing and to further advance excellence in lightweight production.
Dr. Ulrich Mörschel, Textechno’s managing director: “The precise knowledge of key material parameters is the fundamental basis of the production of high-quality composite products. With its innovative composite testing instruments Textechno supports its customers to be more successful. Our ITA Reinforced partnership will further help us to contribute to the advances of the composite industry.”
Dr. Stefan Fliescher, Textechno’s assistant managing director:” Textechno’s strategic decision to apply our knowledge of textile testing technologies to the benefit of composite materials has by now led to the development of four dedicated testing instruments. These are applied by customers worldwide to strengthen their lightweight production and R&D. With FAVIMAT+ the most relevant characteristics of reinforcement fibres are tested, FIMATEST reveals the fibre/matrix adhesion, the drapeability of fabrics and NCFs is probed with DRAPETEST and ROVINGTEST measures the processing properties of rovings and yarns. We are looking forward to a close collaboration with ITA Reinforced to contribute to joint development and expert knowledge.”
Standardization of the Single-Fibre Pull-Out Test
FIMABOND embedding station
Fast and effective micromechanical testing of the interfacial shear strength is the focus of the novel DIN SPEC 19289. Published in August 2022, this pre-standard or ‘technical rule’ specifies how to characterize the bonding between fibre and matrix by means of a single-fibre pull-out test.
The technique is well suited for the needs of the composite industry and the specification was developed in the scope of a publicly funded research project between the partners Fraunhofer IGCV, Faserinstitut Bremen e.V. (FIBRE) and Textechno. The method described in DIN SPEC 19289 is implemented in Textechno’s FIMATEST system.
Up to now a characterization of the interfacial shear strength according to standards was only possible with elaborate and hence expensive macromechanical testing techniques such as interlaminary shear strength testing (ILSS). Whereas the results of macromechancial tests tend to depend on the exact mechanical structure of the test specimen, the single-fibre pull-out test gives a direct measure of the fibre-matrix adhesion strength on its own.
World leading interface expert Michelman counts on Textechno's FIMATEST for cost-efficient and customized sizing development for composite materials
Michelman, a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials, including sizing for glass and carbon fiber, has invested in the FIMATEST adhesion measurement system to ensure their sizing solutions continue to contribute to enhanced performance of composite parts.
“As we continue our vision to be the interface expert, it is critical to have analytical equipment that can efficiently fine-tune our sizing to optimize adhesion properties. This is one of the key performance attributes we provide our customers, and the fact that the Textechno FIMATEST system works according to the fiber pull-out principle makes it extremely valuable”, explains Steve Bassetti, Michelman’s Global Marketing Director for Industrial Manufacturing. “We have utilized this equipment in our development lab for almost two years, and it is suited for any fiber-matrix combination we have developed. It has been helpful that Textechno developed these instruments because they are, and will continue to be, a great benefit to the entire Composites industry. We look forward to supporting Textechno in establishing more standardization for the Industry regarding fiber-matrix-adhesion and processing properties.“
Dr. Ulrich Mörschel, CEO of Textechno, added: “We are proud that Michelman, the industry’s leading interface expert, invested in our testing system.” Bassetti further elaborated on the system’s benefits: “For Michelman’s customers, this equipment has allowed for great collaboration, increased screening of sizing concepts, and a more robust and efficient product development process.”
Dr. Michael Effing, Senior Advisor to Textechno and one of its relationship managers: “I am happy to support the matchmaking between these two organizations because the market for high-end structural composite applications in the aerospace, automotive and wind energy sectors is growing at a rate of 6 to 8% year over year, representing over $125B globally. 90% of the market value is glass fiber-based, and 10% is carbon fiber-based. Therefore, reliable testing systems measuring the quality of fibers, fabrics, and the quality of the fiber-matrix adhesion are of tremendous importance to the industry. “
Textechno has enhanced its Composite Testing Technology with AZL Partnership
Textechno has worked with the Aachen Center for integrative Lightweight Production (AZL) to drive innovation in composite testing and to further advance excellence in lightweight production.
About the Aachen Center for Integrative Lightweight Production (AZL) of RWTH Aachen University and AZL Aachen GmbH
The Aachen Center for Integrative Lightweight Production (AZL) of RWTH Aachen University is specialized in research and development of lightweight products, materials, production processes and systems focusing on integrated and combined process chains and multi-material systems.
As a service provider partnering with companies in the field of lightweight production technology, AZL Aachen GmbH provides industrial services in the areas of engineering, consultancy and project management, networking and business development. With the AZL Partnership, AZL Aachen GmbH together with the AZL of RWTH enables the close cooperation between the lightweight industry and nine research institutes of RWTH Aachen Campus along the whole value chain. The AZL Partner Network consists of more than 80 industrial partners from 21 countries representing the entire lightweight production value chain.
FIMATEST – Quality Assessment of Composites
JEC Composites Magazine No. 102, 2016, 49-51
The glass and carbon fibre industry continues to grow rapidly and into many new applications. A key quality characteristic of composite materials is the bond strength between fibre and matrix. This article describes the different mechanisms, as well as future testing solutions to ensure that a constant quality can be measured and achieved.
Textechno establishes New Department for Composite Testing Services
Textechno establishes a new department for composite testing services. Besides testing basic fibre properties with FAVIMAT+, customers can also examine the fibre/matrix adhesion with the new FIMATEST system and the drapability of woven and non-crimp fabrics for composites with DRAPETEST. Through our services you gain easy access to award winning testing technology. Read more in our press release and our flyer on Textechno’s testing services.
Textechno receives JEC World 2016 Innovation Award
For its novel FIMATEST testing system Textechno is awarded with the JEC World 2016 Innovation Award. The price ceremony is held on March 8th in Paris at the JEC World 2016 which is the leading exhibition for the composite industry. FIMATEST measures the fibre to matrix adhesion which is critical for the performance of composites materials. The system was developed in partnership with the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF) and the Bremen Fibre Institute (FIBRE) and is suitable for all kind of reinforcement fibres and matrix materials such as thermoplastics, thermoset resins or concrete.
Winning the JEC Innovation Award 2016 for the FIMATEST System
