Peel strength and elongation testing of water-blocking tape

Case study

Multi-layer fabric tear resistance test

Tear resistance testing of pressure sensitive materials with graphical results and custom report

Solution

MultiTest software-controlled tensile tester
EmperorTM Force software to run the test routines
Selection of grips matched to the tape characteristics and load expected

Benefits

ISO test standards reliably performed time after time
In-house testing procedures to maintain class-leading innovation and performance

We are satisfied with the programs for the measurement of our products and the possibility of exportation and storage of our data into Excel documents.

Danila Bavcon, Production Manager
Ekstel d. o. o.

Requirement

Ekstel d.o.o. manufactures a range of water-blocking tapes under the branding X-tra tapes®, which have specific applications in the cable industry. These technical textiles are in the form of non-woven fabrics having a single layer or multi-layer laminations, with non-conductive or semi-conductive properties. As part of the ISO 9001-certified quality system, several testing strategies are implemented both on the raw materials and the end-product textile configurations. The ISO 9073-3 international test standard, “Test methods for nonwovens - Determination of tensile strength and elongation”, is used alongside other adhesion and tear resistance methods. Ekstel wanted to replace their existing ‘dynamometer’ with a tensile force testing system that could provide optimum accuracy and flexibility. It needed to have the versatility to test in accordance with ISO 9073-3, plus other performance-related tests and their own R&D analysis requirements.

Solution

Mecmesin supplied a software-controlled tensile tester and a selection of interchangeable loadcells for use with a variety of vice grips. Using a loadcell with a capacity closely matched to the expected peak value optimises the accuracy of the test results. The grips were fitted with wave-form and rubber jaw faces to ensure appropriate gripping of the fabric, across the whole sample strip width, without damage or risk of slippage.

The EmperorTM software controls the tests to apply a constant rate of extension of 100 mm/min as per ISO 9073. It plots the force-extension graph in real time and outputs results in customer-formatted reports. The semi-automated test method provides a reliable audit trail, which Ekstel can use to formally document the performance of raw materials from their own suppliers— thereby ensuring the desired quality of input to their own cable protection products. The ability to create a library of different test routines, enables adhesion tests on various laminate construction tapes to all be performed on the same tensile tester.