The SER (Sentmanat Extension Rheometer) Universal Testing Platform built exclusively by Xpansion Instruments was first developed by Dr. Martin Sentmanat in his pioneering work at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. This novel fixture can transform a conventional steady rotation rheometer into a robust universal test station capable of a broad spectrum of physical material characterization. The SER’s unique patented technology (US Pat. Nos. 6,578,413 & 6,691,569) incorporates dual wind-up drums that allow for a truly uniform extensional deformation during measurement. Although first developed for use in characterizing the physical behavior of polymeric materials in uniaxial extension, this miniature unit is not just limited to extensional rheology applications. It can also be used for solids tensile testing, tear testing, peel testing, friction testing, as well as high-rate fracture testing. Since it can be accommodated within the environmental chamber of the rotational rheometer host station, the physical properties of melt and solid, filled and unfilled, cured and uncured polymers can be measured over a very wide range of temperatures and kinematic deformations and rates on miniature sample specimens weighing just a few milligrams. Building on the huge success of the original SER-HV model line, the new SER2 model line includes additional features such as detachable drums and fluid immersion capabilities. This new SER2 model line of SER Universal Testing Platforms truly represents the new paradigm in physical material characterization technology.

Building upon the incredible versatility of the SER2 Model Line of the SER Universal Testing Platform, the patent-pending XIM Miniature Mixer attachment which has been designed for accommodation on certain SER2 models can convert a commercial CSR (Controlled Stress Rheometer) rotational rheometer system equipped with a single transducer/motor module into a miniature compounding, blending and mixing work station capable of processing batch sizes less than 4 mL in scale. Equipped with both dual 2-wing rotors and dual sigma-blade rotors, the XIM can be used for mixing doughs, gels, pastes, powders, pharmaceuticals, as well as for the blending of polymers and the compounding of melts with nano-particles or other such fillers when configured with high temperature heater control. Whether working with exotic ingredients or materials only available in very small quantities, the XIM Miniature Mixer attachment is ideally suited for mixing protocols requiring only 2g to 2.5g in total batch weight.

The Dual Blade Cutter is a manually actuated cutter assembly that greatly facilitates the SER sample preparation procedure. It can be used to prepare precisely controlled fixed-width specimens of thin gage for the SER Universal Testing Platform or for conventional DMA testing.