New analytical instruments for Brookhouse's composites laboratory
New analytical instruments for Brookhouse's composites laboratory
With the installation of two state-of-the- art analytical instruments,Brookhouse reports that it can now extend the scope and capability of its“captive laboratory” status to existing customers, while offering this important facility to other organisations in the aerospace sector. The new Perkin Elmer instruments allow Brookhouse to carry out thermal and dynamic mechanical analysis of both incoming raw material and processed composite components. They also represent further indication of the Darwen company's commitment to quality and to continuous investment to reinforce its position as the UK's largest independent composites manufacturer for the aerospace sector.
To achieve better, in-house control over the quality of incoming raw materials, such as pre-preg, Brookhouse can now use their own differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), a sophisticated device, which can be used to determine the chemistry of resins and to establish curing characteristics. In operation, a sample to be assessed is compared with a reference sample in terms of the way it absorbs heat while undergoing a programme temperature change. The results provide indication of the cross linking performance of the material and hence the actual or predicted degree of cure, as the technique can be used to asses both cured and uncured samples.
The other Perkin Elmer instrument is a dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA),which is an invaluable quality-control tool for checking a composite material's mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. Typically, it can provide information on the visco-elastic response of materials, to allow characterisation of the limits of mechanical rigidity through elevated temperatures. As such, the DMA will be used to inspect samples from composite components at various stages of the manufacturing process to ensure comprehensive fitness-for- purpose of the finished component.
Brookhouse is an organisation totally focused on the aerospace sector,providing solutions in composites. It offers design and manufacturing for composites tooling, a facility for the repair of composite components and a capability for design, prototyping, manufacture, testing and finishing of complete composite components. As a result, Brookhouse can offer its world- wide customers a global facility to take responsibility for complete parcels of composites' development and manufacture projects.
Details available from: Brookhouse, Tel: +44 (0)1254 706000, E-mail: jim.nichols@brookhouse.net
