Opened in August 2006 in the Jack Burke Research and Economic Development Center, Penn State Behrend's plastics manufacturing laboratory is often hailed as the most advanced and well-equipped of its kind in the country. Nearly all major product manufacturing methods are represented in the lab, which was designed to provide practical, hands-on experience.
The 10,500-square-foot laboratory contains multiple pieces of processing equipment. Injection molding is featured, with ten microprocessor-controlled machines ranging from seventeen to 200 tons. Many of these machines are on rotating consignment and are replaced with the latest models every few years. They are supported with a complete selection of auxiliary equipment, data-acquisition systems, and a measurement and quality-control laboratory.
Take a virtual tour of the Plastics Lab and the Jack Burke Research and Economic Development Center.
Design Capabilities
- (5) 25-seat Pentium PC labs
- Software includes Pro/ENGINEER, ANSYS, Moldflow, and Polyflow
Processing Capabilities
Injection Molding: Arburg, Boy, Cincinnati Milacron, Demag, Engel, Ferromatik, Husky, Sumitomo, and VanDorn
- Electric, hydraulic, and hybrid
- 11-220 ton capacity (0.1-14 oz)
- Molds used in industry applications as well as molds for testing standards (ASTM, ISO) (many instrumented with pressure and temperature sensors)
Blow Molding: Bekum and Jomar
- Extrusion and injection blow molding machines
- Parison programming
Extrusion: Davis Standard, Killion, CW Brabender, and Wayne, Steer
- 1 to 2ΒΌ inch diameter screws
- Dies: strand, pipe, and sheet
- Twin Screw
Thermoforming Machines
- 18 inch x 18 inch Formech 660
- MAAC ASP 30 x 30
Blown Film Tower
Compression Molding Machine
- 75 ton Loranger press
Auxiliary Equipment
- Data acquisition hardware and software: Kistler, Moldflow (Shotscope), Priamus, and RJG
- Hot runner controllers: Athena, DME, and MSI
- Gas-assist units: Battenfeld
- Mold temperature controllers: Advantage, AEC, Conair, PPE, Sterlco, Mokon, and Singletemp
- Dryers: Bry-Air, Conair, Dri-air, Novatec, and Maguire
- Granulators: Battenfeld, Conair, Cumberland, and Rapid
- Pullers: Conair and Ferris
- Vacuum tank: Conair
- Ultrasonic welders: Branson
Gravimetric Blender
- Maguire
- Conair
Material Testing/Measurement Capabilities
- Universal testing machines: Tinius Olsen + Lustron
- Gardner impact tester
- TMI
- Izod impact tester and notcher
- Creep test stations
- Shore C and D hardness testers
- Rheometers: capillary, torque, and dual bore capillary rheometer
- Melt flow rate testers: Dynisco and Kayeness
- QUV
- Ultraviolet weathering machine
- Moisture analyzer (lost weight systems)
- Color meter
- Flammability tester
- Micrometers: digital and laser
- OGP
- Video inspection system
- Coordinate measuring machine
- Digital scales and analytical balances
- Surface plates
- Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC)
- Flash Differential Scanning Calorimeter (Flash DSC)
- Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA)
- Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA)
- Bruker Vertex FTIR w/ Hyperion 3000 Microscope
- Leica Microscope (Polarized Microscope)