Silicone Rubber Analytics

Are you facing a challenge in silicone analysis, processing, application, or formulation development and looking for an analytical solution?

We are not an ordinary lab for routine analyses – we specialize in customized concepts designed to meet your specific requirements.
Our interdisciplinary team of experts in science, engineering, and technology has extensive expertise in the field of silicones and is ready to provide expert support.
 

We support you with: 

• Problem definition
• Identification and implementation of suitable standard analysis methods
• Development and adaptation of problem-specific analysis and testing methods
• Interpretation of analysis results and derivation of practical measures

In collaboration with our Center for Applied Analytics (ZAA), we offer the following silicone analyses:

• Characterization of rheological behavior of silicone rubber, liquid silicone rubber, RTV silicones, and silicone precursors in rotational or oscillatory mode
• Investigation of the thermal crosslinking reaction of addition-curing silicones

• Stress-strain curves
• Determination of tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus)
• Cyclic tensile test, material characterization before and after cyclic loading
• Tensile testing of electrically conductive composites, online monitoring of resistance during the test
• Cyclic compression test
• Swelling behavior in different liquid media (polar/non-polar)
• Material exposure under climatic conditions (temperature, humidity) and UV exposure

• Detection of metallic impurities (particularly platinum) after digestion using photometry and/or ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy)
• Soxhlet extraction combined with qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of the extract for volatile components using GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry)
• Soxhlet extraction combined with quantitative analysis of the extract for non-volatile organic components using HPLC-MS (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry).
• IR and Raman spectroscopy: Detection of functional groups (particularly Si-H and vinyl) in precursors and vulcanized elastomers
• NMR spectroscopy of liquid/soluble precursors
  • Detection of, for example, methyl, ethyl, phenyl, vinyl, and Si-H groups
  • Differentiation of M-, D-, T-, Q-groups in the precursors
• Determination of thermal behavior (e.g., glass transition, softening point, decomposition) and characterization of released volatile components via TGA/DSC-MS/IR
• Determination of the polymer molecular weight distribution using size exclusion chromatography/gel permeation chromatography (SEC/GPC).