Plastic Tests Plastics

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XXV

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Richard Moser

   Pages 1-4

3. Fundamentals of Elasticity

   • Richard Moser

   Pages 5-37

4. Design of the Measurement Device

   • Richard Moser

   Pages 39-70

5. Pertinent Example Measurements

   • Richard Moser

   Pages 71-94

6. Conclusion & Outlook

   • Richard Moser

   Pages 95-97

7. Back Matter

   Pages 99-150

   PDF

Richard Moser shows how to use and upgrade toy bricks for the construction of a lightweight, low-cost and easy to reproduce tensile testing setup. Tailored for the characterization of elastomers and stretchable electrodes, the setup is capable of performing stress-strain studies along with resistance-strain measurements. Based on the underlying theory of material deformation and rubber elasticity, the author applies the setup to mechanically characterize polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with different grades of stiffness. The versatility of the device is highlighted with the electromechanical characterization of stretchable thin film metal electrodes on PDMS. Applications of the author´s setup range from using it as an educational tool in practical physics and engineering courses over being showcase in scientific exhibitions to its utilization as an inexpensive and reliable laboratory tool.

• Material Characterization
• Rubber Elasticity
• Stretchable Electronics
• Tensile Testing
• laboratory tool

• Institut für Experimentalphysik Abteilung Physik weicher Materie, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Linz, Austria

  Richard Moser

Richard Moser studied Technical Physics at Johannes Kepler University Linz and wrote his Master Thesis at the Soft Matter Physics Department (Institute of Experimental Physics) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Siegfried Bauer, where he is currently working on his PhD thesis.

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