Materials Testing
The Process Development Center offers many different testing services to support our clients’ research and development projects. Our researchers and scientists routinely analyze the properties of pulp and paper products using industry-standard test methods and environmental conditions. Custom test devices and wet lab facilities are available to serve the specific needs of our clients.
The PDC also performs a wide range of image analysis and microscopy, including characterizing fiber morphology and digital imaging at the nano-scale.
Select the tab below that best fits your testing needs or contact us to find out more about the PDC’s analytical capabilities. To begin scheduling your work, visit our Working with the PDC page.
The final quality of a paper product is heavily influenced by the properties of raw materials, fibers, and process conditions. The PDC can support your efforts to keep standards high by evaluating and testing the raw materials that make up the essential building blocks of your product. Our staff is available to serve our clients’ needs, with tests ranging from the standard to the customized.
Pulp & Fiber Analytical Equipment and Testing
Here at the Process Development Center, we have the staff and facilities to conduct comprehensive testing on paper made from any material. We can conduct routine testing on the fundamental properties of paper, but our researchers also evaluate paper and fiber quality to the nanometer scale using highly advanced imaging technologies.
We conduct our paper testing in a temperature and humidity-controlled laboratory that meets TAPPI Standard specifications. Our facility has test equipment for all classic paper test procedures, as well as equipment to evaluate other paper characteristics, including formation, stiffness and internal bond.
Paper Evaluation and Testing
MorFi Compact Fiber Analyzer
The MorFi Compact fiber analyzer, a bench top version of the globally acclaimed MorFi Lab, is a powerful tool that characterizes quickly and accurately the morphology
of the entire fibrous population– fibers, fines, vessel and shives.
The analysis is performed on an aqueous fibrous suspension flowing through a large cell, so that the measurement occurs in the fiber’s natural unrestrained environment. Reliable and in-depth test results are provided within minutes.
FS-5 Fiber Analyzer
The FS-5 is the 5th generation automated fiber image analyzer from Valmet. The measurements include both the basic and advanced options:
- Fines particles
- Coarseness
- HW/SW ratio
- Fibrillation
- Fiber deformations
- Vessel cells
- Minishives
- Fiber entanglements
- And more…
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
Microscopy provides images of the very small, down to the nanometer scale, and allows analysis of molecular and elemental composition. The EML (Electron Microscopy Laboratory) maintains and operates two SEMs:
AMRay 1820 Scanning Electron Microscope
This SEM has a resolution of 5 nm, a magnification range of 20 – 150,000X and an accelerating voltage range of 100 V to 30 kV. Its specimen stage is a eucentric goniometer, meaning that the specimen can be tilted and rotated about the viewing axis. Dynamic focusing accommodates imaging flat specimens. Image capture is fully digital using an iXRF digital-capture system. The microscope is fitted with a high-performance Robinson backscatter detector, and an iXRF EDS system for elemental identification and mapping, in addition to the standard secondary electron detector.
Zeiss NVision 40 FIB/Scanning Electron Microscope
The SEM has a resolution of 1.2 nm, a magnification range of 20X – 600,000X and an accelerating voltage range of 100V to 30KV. It has a six axis eucentric goniometer stage, and multiple detectors including secondary electron, backscatter electron and inlens secondary electron. The microscope is equipped with an EDAX EDS system for elemental identification and mapping.
The FIB has a SIINT zeta Ion Column with ion beam resolution of 4 nm at 30KV, an accelerating voltage range of 3KV to 30KV, and a four channel Gas Injection System.
The NVision 40 is also equipped with:
- Bal-Tec VCT 100 Vacuum-Cryo-Transfer System, with associated cryo-preparation/loading stage, and Bal-Tec SCD 500 sputter coater and QSG 100 Thickness Monitor
- Kleindiek Micromanipulator System
- Raith ELPHY E-beam Lithography System
Soil Testing
The Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station (MAFES) Analytical Laboratory and Maine Soil Testing Service analyzes soil, plant tissue, compost, manure, irrigation water, wood ash, fertilizers, organic residuals and other materials for nutrient content, organic matter, lead and other trace elements.
Equipment includes:
- Thermo-Fisher model iCAP 6300 radial view ICP-OES
- Spectro model Genesis radial view ICP-OES
- CEM MDS-2100 microwave system
- Lachat 8000 Ion Analyzer
- O.I. Alpkem A/E ion analyzer
- Dionex 2000i/SP ion chromatograph
- Leco Tru-Mac CN
- AIM600 Digestion System
- Eijkelkamp aggregate stability apparatus (wet sieving)
- Perkin Elmer FIMS 100 Mercury Analysis System
- Labfit Dual-Probe Automated pH System