FMLab can provide a wide range of design and testing services, using both internal resources and employing external partners with attested experience.

 
WHAT WHY HOW
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS ANDFEASIBILITY STUDY
Evaluation of criticalities within complex research projectssharing of expectations and results, search for the expertise andcenters of excellence to be involved. Decades of know-how aboutMetal Replacement in different market sectorsPossible use ofproduct and process CAE simulations.
CONSULTING ANDMANAGEMENT IN  FACILITIES’ APPLICATIONSFOR SUPPORTING THE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES Support to the customer in the implementation of facilitations and support for the costs incurred for the research project commissioned.
Constant monitoring of regional, national and European announcementsconcerningresearch funding.
STUDY, DEVELOPMENT ANDOPTIMIZATION OF NEW ORIMPROVED PLASTIC MATERIALS. Achievement of a material with the best performance for the specific application. Decades of know-how in the industry, collaborations with producers of raw materials.
STUDY, DEVELOPMENT ANDOPTIMIZATION OF NEW ORIMPROVED PLASTICARTICLES
Achievement of  customer’s required specifications.
Decades of know-how in the sectorAbility to use process and product CAE simulations.
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OFPLASTIC ARTICLES Structural analysis of each construction solution developed and forecast of themechanical behavior of plastic products. Product CAE simulations(structural FEM)
SIMULATION OF INJECTION MOULDING Prevention of injection molding process criticalities and reduction of industrialization and timing cost. Simulations of injection molding process.
DEVELOPMENT, OPTIMIZATION, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OFPROTOTYPE MOULD. Optimization of the production process and achievement of functional and technological prototypes Decades of know-how in the sector.
CONSTRUCTION OFPLASTIC PRE-SERIES AND PROTOTYPES Iterative optimization of product and processValidation through product testing.Achievement of aesthetic / functional /technologicalprototypes.  Rapid prototyping (ABS, etc.).
 Prototypes obtained ​​fromplates, rolled and extruded products (PA, POM, etc..).
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TEST BENCHES.
EXPERIMENTAL TESTS ONPLASTIC ARTICLES
Implementation of taylor made tests on plastic products with the purpose of quantifying their mechanical and tribological performance  Decades of know-how in the sector.
MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OFPLASTICS •Assessment and test of  mechanical properties(traction, compression, bending, resilience even at low temperatures, etc.) of plasticscarried out on std testin compliance with international requirements; 
Determination of stress relaxation and creep effects on materials and plastic products;
Identification of plastic materials‘ resilience, even at low temperaturethrough standardtests (Izod, Charpyand impact tests directly on the plastic product;
Surface hardness tests (Shore A, D),through normed testson samples or plastic product. 
Decades of know-how in the sector;
Tensile tests;
 Bending tests;
 Impact tests (IzodCharpy);
 falling dart impact testing withASTM D5628-10 / EN ISO 6603-1 or through special tests onmaterials and products;
 Testing of hardness (Shore A /D).
ANALYSIS OF THE THERMAL RESISTANCE OF PLASTICS Characterization of the behavior of plastic materials at high temperatures. •Vicat;
•Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT).
ANALYSIS OF THE  PLASTICS CAST VISCOSITY Characterization of the viscosity andprocessability of molten plastic materials. •Spiral Molding;
•Melt Flow Index (MFI);
•Rheometry
TESTS OF AGING /WEATHER RESISTANCE Characterization of plastic materials towards the weather aggression, and towards environmental conditions (chemical resistance, UV rays, etc..). •Climatic cells;
•Ovens.
TRIBOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OFPLASTICS
Sliding and rolling contact properties(coefficient with frictionwear, scratch resistance) between  
various types of materials
 (plastics, metals…) through standard special tests.
Test pin on disk according toASTM G99 and with a special equipment;
 Scratch test;
 Evidence of wear even onspecial products.
CHEMICAL AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AND CHARACTERIZATIONOF POLYMERIC MATERIALS Analysis of materials used by competitors.
Reverse-engineering for the development of new materials and compounds
Investigations on material 
toxicity and their compliance with the requirements of international standards (food compatibility, environmental, biological, etc…)
Spectroscopy (FITR, UV-visible,FT-Raman);
 X-ray diffraction;
 Calorimetry DSC;
 Thermogravimetry TGA;
 Electron microscopy SEM, TEM.

STANDARD SPECIMEN MOLDING

Possibility to test all thermoplastics,both commercial and experimental.  

Special equipment and possibility to develop standard specimens according to the customer requirement. 

CONSULTING AND TRAINING ON PLASTICS PROPERTIES, TECHNOLOGIES AND DESIGN

Support to the technical department of manufacturing companies in order to create a shared culture on plastics.

Decades of know-how in the sector, multi-years of training experiences (high schools and universities)

In case the activity you need is not included among those offered by our lab, you can consult the list of other H.T.N. laboratories of Emilia Romagna to find the necessary expertise.
Consult the list of laboratories HERE