Unique Features of Triton Technology Ltd DMA (Continued)
5. Minimal running costs once installed. The 10 litre dewar (which fits under the bench) is equivalent to 35L for the old PL DMTAs or 100litres for some other systems which are not as well insulated or are much more massive in construction. A -170ºC run start uses less than 1 litre only of liquid N2! 2 runs can start from -100C using the standard 1 litre dewar. There is no need for an annual service visit unless such a visit is useful for training and updating purposes. Calibration after 4 years is still spot on, and the spring and pt resistor* which were changed regularly on the old PL DMTA have been redesigned altogether and made more robust*, and the drive shaft is hollow stainless steel rather than ceramic, so cannot be broken.
6. Technical Support from the team which started selling DMTAs in 1981 and are still supporting some mid 1980 systems. (PL was bought by Rheo Sci who then wasted everyone in Europe, so the old PL team for the last 5 years has re-emerged as Triton Technology Ltd - and I was sales director PL - and set up on my own 9 years ago.) After the first day of installation and training a second day is scheduled between 1 and 3 months later according to customer needs. After 1 year a courtesy visit is made to check on calibration etc and for advanced training. The operator’s manual is on the CD and loaded onto the computer, and the “Handbook of Polymer testing” Edited by Roger Brown has many useful chapters, including one specifically on DMA with 146 historical and application references upto 1999.
7. The sample can be run in 3 modes - vertically up - perhaps for a liquid being cured using UV or visible light through the optical windows, and the most convenient way to measure accurate modulus of plastics or composites in 3 pt bending. Horizontally - the most popular way for shear and dual- or single-cantilever bending. Vertically down for tensile DM of thin films/fibres, and also for quench cooling to preserve the amorphous form into liquid N2 or cold water for crystallinity studies, or for running in liquids or at a controlled relative humidity. The bulk / compression modulus mode would also be vertically down.
Tel: 01462 742007 or Email: info@gearingscientific.net