Described are a test device, a multi-specimen test fixture star and a multi-specimen test fixture. The test device includes a bath chamber that is automatically replenished with bath liquid throughout an extended test period. The multi-specimen test fixture star is non-circularly symmetric and can be used, for example, in a rectangular bath chamber to hold a greater number of test specimens than a circularly symmetric test fixture star. The multi-specimen test fixture includes, in part, a multi-specimen test fixture star and a shaft having one or more keyways and enables the test fixture star to be repositioned along the shaft without loss of rotational alignment to the shaft.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes a chamber configured to control one or more of humidity, pressure, or temperature and a jaw configured to flex a material system. The chamber includes an enclosure disposed within the chamber, the enclosure having an insulating material, and a motor or an actuator disposed within the enclosure. The chamber includes an inlet tube coupled with the enclosure at a first end and a first wall of the chamber at a second end. In one aspect, a method for determining material performance includes exposing a material system to a relative humidity of from 0% to 98% and flexing the material system at a first temperature in a chamber, the chamber comprising an enclosure disposed within the chamber and a motor disposed within the enclosure. The method includes operating the motor at a second temperature different from the first temperature during the flexing.

The present invention provides a standard testing methodology for making quantitative determinations as to the chemical resistance of thermoplastics commonly used for non-disposable medical devices by evaluating the retention of tensile and/or impact properties of the thermoplastic materials after exposure to chemicals associated with healthcare grade disinfectants. Versions of the test methods may be used with any of a variety of different thermoplastic materials, each having a different stiffness or elastic modulus; and versions of the test methods may be used with any of a variety of different hospital grade cleaning agents or disinfectants. Using the methodology of embodiments of the present invention, different thermoplastic materials may be tested against different cleaners or disinfectants to provide a uniform basis for comparison. This allows those who make chemicals, polymers and medical equipment to have a uniform way of evaluating those materials for compatibility with various cleaners and disinfectants used in the medical industry to make objective comparisons, and to allow end users to make the same evaluations and comparisons.

The invention relates to a fastening assembly (3) for fastening a test device holder (5) to a force measuring apparatus (1), having a test device holder (5) and a slide part (7) which can be or is arranged on a force measurement tower (9) of the force measuring apparatus (1) in such a way that the slide part can move in the vertical direction of the force measurement tower (9). The test device holder (5) has at least one position defining element (11), and the slide part (7) has at least one counter position defining element (13). The position defining element (11) and the counter position defining element (13) are designed to fix the position of the test device holder (5) relative to the slide part (7) in at least one direction, selected from the vertical direction of the force measurement tower (9) and a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and at the same time to allow rotation of the test device holder (5) relative to the slide part (7) about an axis of rotation (D) defined by the position defining element (11) and/or the counter position defining element (13). The test device holder (5) has a first angle adjustment device (15) and the slide part (7) has a second angle adjustment device (17), which are designed to adjust and preferably to fix the angle of the test device holder (5) relative to the slide part (7) about the axis of rotation (D). The test device holder (5) has at least one fixing element (19) and the slide part (7) has at least one counter fixing element (21). The fixing element (19) and the counter fixing element (21) are designed to fix the test device holder (5) on the slide part (7).

The described technology can quantitatively evaluate a material embrittlement behavior under various gaseous hydrogen environments (temperature and pressure). The described technology may include a small-punch test device allowing a specimen to be fixed inside a jig comprising upper and lower dies, gas to be filled at the lower part of the specimen, and a punch for applying force to be included at the upper part thereof so as to bend the specimen in a vertical downward direction under an environment of the influent gas and measure the same. The small-punch test device also includes an insulating container provided so as to encompass the jig therein and a temperature measuring device connected to the inside of the insulating container so as to measure the internal temperature of the insulating container and the temperature of the specimen. The small-punch test device further includes a heat transfer device transferring heat to the specimen.

Described are a test device, a multi-specimen test fixture star and a multi-specimen test fixture. The test device includes a bath chamber that is automatically replenished with bath liquid throughout an extended test period. The multi-specimen test fixture star is non-circularly symmetric and can be used, for example, in a rectangular bath chamber to hold a greater number of test specimens than a circularly symmetric test fixture star. The multi-specimen text fixture includes, in part, a multi-specimen text fixture star and a shaft having one or more keyways and enables the test fixture star to be repositioned along the shaft without loss of rotational alignment to the shaft.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes a chamber configured to control one or more of humidity, pressure, or temperature and a jaw configured to flex a material system. The chamber includes an enclosure disposed within the chamber, the enclosure having an insulating material, and a motor or an actuator disposed within the enclosure. The chamber includes an inlet tube coupled with the enclosure at a first end and a first wall of the chamber at a second end. In one aspect, a method for determining material performance includes exposing a material system to a relative humidity of from 0% to 98% and flexing the material system at a first temperature in a chamber, the chamber comprising an enclosure disposed within the chamber and a motor disposed within the enclosure. The method includes operating the motor at a second temperature different from the first temperature during the flexing.

The described technology can quantitatively evaluate a material embrittlement behavior under various gaseous hydrogen environments (temperature and pressure). The described technology may include a small-punch test device allowing a specimen to be fixed inside a jig comprising upper and lower dies, gas to be filled at the lower part of the specimen, and a punch for applying force to be included at the upper part thereof so as to bend the specimen in a vertical downward direction under an environment of the influent gas and measure the same. The small-punch test device also includes an insulating container provided so as to encompass the jig therein and a temperature measuring device connected to the inside of the insulating container so as to measure the internal temperature of the insulating container and the temperature of the specimen. The small-punch test device further includes a heat transfer device transferring heat to the specimen.

A test fixture is provided for containing a pair of test samples (i.e., sample pair) that contact each other along an interface. The fixture receives exposure to laser emission for radiative heating while providing compression to the sample pair. The text fixture includes a housing, an isolation container, and a compressor. The housing has an axial cavity with annular cross-sections including an internal helical thread portion and a window for receiving the laser emission. The isolation container receives the sample pair. The container inserts into the axial cavity and including an opening for disposition adjacent to the window. The compressor has circular cross-sections for insertion into the axial cavity and includes an external helical thread portion for engaging the internal helical thread portion of the housing. Axial pressure applies to the isolation container by turning the compressor inside the axial cavity. The isolation container provides thermal insulation from the housing and the compressor. In additional embodiments, the isolation container comprises a cup with the opening to isolate the sample pair from the housing, and a washer to isolate the sample pair from the compressor.

The invention relates to a fastening assembly (3) for fastening a test device holder (5) to a force measuring apparatus (1), having a test device holder (5) and a slide part (7) which can be or is arranged on a force measurement tower (9) of the force measuring apparatus (1) in such a way that the slide part can move in the vertical direction of the force measurement tower (9). The test device holder (5) has at least one position defining element (11), and the slide part (7) has at least one counter position defining element (13). The position defining element (11) and the counter position defining element (13) are designed to fix the position of the test device holder (5) relative to the slide part (7) in at least one direction, selected from the vertical direction of the force measurement tower (9) and a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and at the same time to allow rotation of the test device holder (5) relative to the slide part (7) about an axis of rotation (D) defined by the position defining element (11) and/or the counter position defining element (13). The test device holder (5) has a first angle adjustment device (15) and the slide part (7) has a second angle adjustment device (17), which are designed to adjust and preferably to fix the angle of the test device holder (5) relative to the slide part (7) about the axis of rotation (D). The test device holder (5) has at least one fixing element (19) and the slide part (7) has at least one counter fixing element (21). The fixing element (19) and the counter fixing element (21) are designed to fix the test device holder (5) on the slide part (7).