Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) is an indispensable tool for determining the visco-elastic properties of materials, mainly polymers. Elastomers, for example, are very rigid below the glass transition temperature (T_g) and have a high modulus of elasticity. Above T_g, they are flexible and show damping performance. DMA measures the visco-elastic properties during a controlled temperature and/or frequency program.

Lab Contact

The dynamic-mechanical properties of visco-elastic polymer materials are dependent on the operating temperature, the type of oscillating force applied to the sample in a defined deformation mode and the frequency or time of the applied oscillating force. The determined modulus of elasticity of a polymer material is not a constant number, but a function of the temperature, time and frequency of the dynamic force applied to a specimen with a defined geometry.

During the test, a sinusoidal force (stress σ) is applied to the sample (input). This results in a sinusoidal deformation (strain ε; output).

Certain materials, such as polymers, exhibit viscoelastic behavior; i.e., they have both elastic properties (such as an ideal spring) and viscous ones (such as an ideal dashpot). This viscoelastic behavior causes shifting of the corresponding stress and strain curves. The deviation is referred to as the phase shift δ. The response signal (strain, ε) is split into an “in-phase” and an “out-of-phase” part by means of Fourier Transformation.

The method is described in, for example, ISO 6721-1 to 12, ASTM D4065-90, ASTM D4092-90, ASTM D4473-95, ASTM D5418-99, ASTM D5023-99, ASTM D5024-95a, ASTM D5026-95a, ASTM D5279-99, ASTM E1640-94 and ASTM E1867-97.

• 3-point bending
• 4-point bending
• Single/dual cantilever bending
• Tension
• Shear
• Compression
• Penetration

• Static Modes: TMA, iso-strain, creep and relaxation
• Dynamic Modes: Standard, stress and strain-sweep
• Multi-Frequency Tests
• Immersion Tests

• Complex modulus E*
• Complex shear modulus G*
• Compliance D*
• Damping factor tanδ
• Amplitude A
• Spring constant c*
• Static length change dL
• Dynamic force F_dyn
• Static force F_stat

• Design data concerning stiffness and damping properties (modulus values and damping factor under a variety of conditions)
• Data on the composition and structure of polymer blends (compatibility)
• Glass transition temperature T_g of highly cross-linked, amorphous or semi-crystalline polymers and composites
• Curing/post-curing
• Aging
• Prediction of the material behavior using Time-Temperature-Superposition (TTS)