Reliable Testing of Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance in Ethylene Plastics
The Ray-Ran Environmental Stress Cracking Apparatus is designed to determine the susceptibility of ethylene-based plastics to environmental stress cracking (ESCR) when exposed to chemical environments such as soaps, detergents, wetting agents, oils and acids.
By applying a controlled bending stress to test specimens and exposing them to selected reagents under controlled temperature conditions, the apparatus helps identify the potential for cracking, brittle failure and reduced material performance before production or final product design.
Designed to meet the requirements of ASTM D1693, this reliable and easy-to-use system provides accurate environmental stress cracking evaluation for polymer manufacturers, research laboratories and quality control environments.
Understanding Environmental Stress Cracking
Environmental stress cracking is one of the most common causes of unexpected brittle failure in polymers.
When plastics are subjected to mechanical stress, exposure to certain chemical environments can accelerate crack formation and reduce material durability. The Ray-Ran Environmental Stress Cracking Apparatus enables manufacturers to evaluate how materials perform under these challenging conditions.
Testing helps support:
- Material selection
- Product development
- Quality control
- Polymer formulation evaluation
- Failure prevention
How Environmental Stress Cracking Testing Works
The testing process is straightforward:
- Test specimens are cut to the required dimensions using the supplied sample cutter.
- A controlled notch is introduced using the specimen nicking jig.
- The sample is bent to apply a predetermined stress.
- Specimens are placed into holders and immersed in test tubes containing the selected reagent.
- The test tubes are maintained at a controlled temperature in the heated bath.
- Samples are periodically inspected for cracking.
- The number of failures is recorded to evaluate environmental stress cracking resistance.
Controlled Temperature Testing
The Ray-Ran Environmental Stress Cracking Apparatus includes an integrated temperature-controlled bath designed to provide stable and repeatable test conditions.
The system features:
- Digital PID temperature control
- PT100 platinum resistance sensor
- Integrated heater and thermometer
- Stirrer motor for temperature uniformity
- Electronic test timer
The bath typically operates at test temperatures of 50°C or 100°C ±0.5°C, ensuring consistent environmental exposure throughout the test period.
High-Capacity Sample Testing
The stainless steel sample rack accommodates up to 48 glass test tubes, allowing multiple specimens to be tested simultaneously.
Each test tube is supplied with:
- Rubber stopper seals
- Sample specimen holders
- Controlled stress application fixtures
Specimen holders maintain consistent stress on the centre section of the test sample, with up to 10 specimens able to be fitted into a holder at one time.
Complete Sample Preparation Accessories
The Ray-Ran Environmental Stress Cracking Apparatus includes essential tooling for accurate specimen preparation:
- Sample Cutter – Produces 38 mm × 13 mm test specimens
- Sample Nicking Jig – Creates a controlled notch defect
- Sample Bending Clamp – Applies the required stress to specimens
- Sample Transfer Tool – Safely transfers samples into holders
Features & Benefits
- Determines environmental stress cracking resistance of ethylene plastics
- Complies with ASTM D1693 testing requirements
- Suitable for testing plastics exposed to chemical environments
- Controlled temperature testing environment
- PID electronic temperature control
- Temperature accuracy to ±0.1°C
- PT100 PRT temperature sensor
- Integrated stirring system for temperature stability
- Electronic test timer
- Stainless steel temperature bath
- Holds up to 48 glass test tubes
- Complete specimen preparation tooling supplied
- Simple operation and reliable results
- Ideal for research, development and quality control laboratories
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | RR-ESC |
| Applications | Environmental Stress Cracking Testing, Sample Testing |
| Standard | ASTM D1693 |
| Weight | 25 kg |
| Dimensions | 500 × 400 × 500 mm (W × D × H) |
| Power Supply | 110–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz |
| Display | Digital Temperature Controller |
| Temperature Control | PID Electronic Control |
| Temperature Resolution | 0.1°C |
| Sensor | PT100 PRT |
| Sample Capacity | Up to 48 glass test tubes |
Applications
The Ray-Ran Environmental Stress Cracking Apparatus is suitable for:
- Polyethylene testing
- Ethylene plastic evaluation
- Polymer research
- Plastics manufacturing
- Quality assurance laboratories
- Material development
- Chemical resistance assessment
Standards Compliance
The Ray-Ran Environmental Stress Cracking Apparatus conforms to:
ASTM D1693 – Standard Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of Ethylene Plastics