The Testing Times

The ASTM D429-03 69.1 (Method G) is for testing the adhesion properties of rubber. The rubber is pre-formed onto 3 metal plugs. this gives a double rubber sandwich that can then be tested. This attachment holds the metal components of the sandwich and allows a double shear test to be performed.

This attachment consists of a bath and holder to test the tension applied to a section of artificial skin. The sample is tiny, only 0.508 mm in section. The sensitivity of the system allows for small samples to be tested. Testing Artificial Skin has some unique requirements, the sample needs to be kept moist, in this case there is a simple saline bath. The sample is lowered into the bath and then can be tested...

This attachment simply pulls nails and staples from wood, as you could imagine it is very important to know and understand the way in which fixings behave in wood. As wood is a natural substance each plank is different from the next, and it is the job of BS EN 1382:1999 to ensure that fixings (nails and staples in this case) that are a known quantity behave the same way in different kinds of wood (nails and staples are produced on mass and so are quantifiable). There are two attachments, one for nails and one for staples. It can hold a variety of nails and staples due to the taper on the attachments. The lower component holds the wood, it is common with ASTM D1037 & D1761 Standards which are similar wood tests.

830-001 ASTM D2519-02 Electrical Insulating Varnish The ASTM standards (sometimes) give accurate and very precise instructions on how a specific test should be performed. This is an example of one of these tests, the parts and method are explicitly layed out within the standard document. This attachment uses a 3 point bend applied to a coil to test the strength of Electrical Insulating Varnish. The coil, made from various metals, are wrapped tightly around an anvil. The anvil is then removed and the coil placed in the varnish solution. The coated coil is then placed in this 3-point bend and then tested. This is then used to show the properties of the varnish when applied to the metal. As this test uses the appropriate materials in an accurate situation it should produce good results.