Center for Light and Environmentally-Friendly Structures ZELUBA®

Technical Equipment

The Fraunhofer WKI offers extensive technical equipment for research and development. For the work in our department we mainly use the following equipment.

Thermal analysis

  • Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
  • Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with a Fourier transformation infrared spectrometer and a mass spectrometer (TGA-FTIR-MS)
  • Thermomechanical analysis (TMA)
  • Simultaneous Thermal Analysis (STA)
  • Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA)
  • Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
  • Photo DSC for UV-curing

Analytical equipment for characterizing fire properties

  • Oxygen index (LOI = Limiting Oxygen Index)
  • Non-combustibility oven (test in accordance with DIN 4102 – A1/A2)
  • Fire cases (DIN 50051) for determining the normal inflammability (B2)
  • Fire shaft (DIN 4102-15) for determining the flame retardancy (B1)
  • Small test bed (DIN 4102-8) ) for determining fire resistance in accordance with DIN 4102-2 (structural engineering) and IMO FTP CODE 2010 Part 3 (shipbuilding)
  • Testing facility for the determination of a building product's propensity to undergo continuous smoldering/glowing (DIN EN 16733)
  • Testing facility for determining the flammability of plastic materials for parts in devices and appliances (UL 94)
  • Muffle furnaces for investigating shrinkage behavior
  • A testing facility developed at the Fraunhofer WKI for analyzing the glow behavior of insulation materials made from renewable raw resources
  • Horizontal and vertical fire test according to Aircarft Materials Fire Test Handbook based on DOT/FAA/AR-00/12

Thermohygric analysis

  • Twin climate chamber with testing area up to 4m²
  • Climatic test cabinets
  • Climate simulation facilities for ventilation (RISK)
  • Heat flow meter for determining the heat flow of components (DIN EN 12667:2001) (accreditation under development)

Mechanical analysis

Further analysis equipment

  • Vacuum drying oven
  • Particle size measurement device
  • Smoke gas density measurement device
  • Temperature/moisture monitoring
  • Hybridizer for the nanocoating of particles
  • Stress rheometer
  • Electrochemical analysis (pH and conductivity electrode)
  • Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)