For Bending & Fracture Testing Advanced Ceramics, Ceramic Composites and other brittle materials

Designed in conjunction with the Department of Advanced Ceramics Group at the University of Hamburg/Harburg, Germany, the new EXAKT 6000 E Materials Testing System offers new levels of analysis capability for Fracture Strength and K_IC Fracture Toughness testing of Advanced Ceramics.

This compact desktop machine provides the same standards of test performance found in larger "universal" machines. But the new sample positioning system together with the programmable features of the software controls dramatically reduce setup time.

EXAKT Pro Software

The EXAKTPro software combines the operating control package with the database and analysis functions.

Key features: Test machine and software are specifically designed for brittle materials Unique characterization of the sample by statistical evaluation, e.g. Weibull Parameter

The software package includes:

All operating functions including: Fracture Strength, K_IC Fracture Toughness (SEVNB, SEPB).

Measurement and recording of temperature and relative humidity of test environment.

Programmable test software for operating parameters, data recording and evaluation calculations.

Detection of completion of sample fracture and automatic repositioning for subsequent testing.

Individual values, mean value, standard deviation and Weibull parameter calculations.

Pre-programmed test standards for the evaluation of Fracture Strength: DIN EN 843-1, ASTM C 1161-02c, JIS R 1601.

Pre-programmed test standards for the evaluation of Fracture Toughness according to ISO/DIS 18756, SCF, ISO/DIS 15732, SEPB, SEVNB, ASTM C1421- 01b, JIS R 1607.

The EXAKT 6000 EA is a uniquely enhanced version of the EXAKT 6000 E and an indispensable tool in the advanced ceramics development lab.

The addition of an integrated camera and expanded software for detection of crack propagation, data collection and calculation of R-curves makes the EXAKT 6000 EA a unique testing tool.

Incorporating all the features of the base 6000 E unit, the 6000 EA has the ability to digitally record multiple, distinct moments in the visual progress of a stress fracture while simultaneously recording the load parameters. The software can then measure the length of the fracture between distinct steps and calculate the corresponding R-Curve. This unique capability coupled with small sample size makes the EXAKT 6000 EA an indispensable tool in the advanced ceramics development lab.

Integrated optics

• The CCD camera is equipped with a 400x magnification lens system
• Automated illumination
• Scale of visual display: approx.160 x 220 µm
• Autofocus + adjustable contrast + brightness
• Electronic zoom
• Sobel and Robert filters to facilitate crack recognition
• Cracks can be propagated in increments as small as 10 µm depending on material and load
• Visual resolution of steps under minimal load is ± 1 µm
• Visual evaluation of notch depth, notch radius and crack length (on monitor)

Automated Measurements (software)

• Measurement of crack progress on the monitor (semi-automatic)
• Calculation of R-Curves
• Sub-critical crack growth (direct measurement of crack growth as a function of time, v(K1) curves)
• Load increase (auto or manual) with recognition of crack progress
• Detection of the R-Curve plateau value
• Evaluation of multiple series of measurements (tables or graphs)
• Display of current crack position in

Additional Key Features

• Crack shown via optical display on the monitor
• Quick determination of the crack length
• Documentation of the crack path with specific crack characterizations, e.g. crack bridging
• Semi-automatic measurement and evaluation of single values of the R-Curve
• One-person operation

Technical Data: