On July 2^nd and 3^rd 2012 a meeting of the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) working group ISO/TC 138/SC5/WG20 was held at PCCL. This group is working on new test methods for the characterization of slow crack growth in plastics for pipe applications.
One main focus of this meeting was given on the Cyclic CRB Test which was developed in Leoben and which is currently evaluated by a worldwide round robin organized by the ISO group and PCCL. With testing times of approximately one week this test allows a significant acceleration of a fracture mechanics material testing of modern polyethylene pipe grades. While most conventionally test methods are conducted at 80°C (and sometimes even under the influence of additional media), an essential advantage of the Cyclic CRB Test is the evaluation of the resistance of a pipe material against slow crack growth at an application relevant temperature of 23°C.
The attendance of more than 20 people from 8 nations emphasized the special interest to develop new accelerating test methods for a reliable material characterization. Apart from the technical discussion, also the opportunity to present the research competence in plastics in Leoben was used. In this context especially the large scale of research topics and the comprehensive infrastructure could impress.
Contact at PCCL: DI Dr. Andreas Frank (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +4338424296226)