Thermo Fisher Scientific Extends Polymer Application Range for Its High End Rheometer Platform

Thermo Fisher Scientific, have launched a new accessory for its Thermo Scientific HAAKE MARS rheometer platform. The SER (Sentmanat Extension Rheometer) system extends a conventional steady rotational rheometer into a robust extensional rheometer for melts and semi-solids.
Detailed information is provided at HAAKE MARS rheometer


The SER system, exclusively built by Xpansion Instruments, was developed by Dr. Martin Sentmanat and can be adapted to the HAAKE MARS rheometer. The measuring principle is based on clamping a sample between two counter rotating wind-up drums. Measurements in controlled extensional rate mode as well as controlled tensile stress mode are both supported. In addition to the uniaxial extension, the system also supports solid tensile testing, pear and peel testing, as well as friction testing. The adapted SER system covers an operating temperature range from 0 °C to 250 °C. Combined with the HAAKE MARS Controlled Test Chamber (CTC), fast temperature changes and uniform temperature distribution within the sample is guaranteed. The SER platform is fully integrated into the Thermo Scientific HAAKE RheoWin measuring and evaluation software for Thermo Scientific viscometers and rheometers.

The recently launched RheoScope HT (High Temperature) module simultaneously records rheological properties and changes in the microscopic structure of a tested sample up to high temperatures. By bringing together rheological measurements with optical analysis, microstructures can be analyzed visually to obtain more information about a sample’s mechanical properties based on a more detailed analysis, such as the melting or crystallization behavior of polymers.
Key features of the Thermo Scientific HAAKE RheoScope HT module for high temperatures:
Fully integrated into the HAAKE MARS rheometer platform
Temperature range from -5 °C to 300 °C
Object lens, polarizor, and camera control via HAAKE RheoWin software
Online display of data, video sequences and storage for later analysis
Image analysis software for the determination of particle size, particle size distribution and for structural analysis
Thermal curing is used in a wide range of applications in the industry such as powder coatings, adhesives, sealants, soldering materials, inks, etc. Recently there is an increased interest in replacing thermal curing by UV-assisted thermal curing in an effort to improve product properties, increase productivity and reduce production costs, for example, by reducing the amount of energy needed for initiating the curing reaction, at the same time. For the development of and measurements on such kind of samples a new high temperature UV-curing measuring cell was developed for the HAAKE MARS rheometer. In addition, a standard version of a UV-cell and a customizable cylindrical measuring unit with freely configurable distances for optical components such as light guides, condensers and glass plates are available.
Key features of the measuring cells for UV-assisted thermal curing:
• Fully integrated UV-cell for Controlled Test Chamber (CTC)
• Software triggered UV-light source

Detailed information is provided at HAAKE MARS rheometer