The study of the behaviour of thermoplastic polyurethanes and elastomer blends involves the use of methods for the rheological characterisation of a material’s mechanical properties, as well as its surface properties.

Rheology is the study of polymer flow and deformation behaviour. The CHIORINO R&D laboratories use capillary rheometers to characterise polymer viscosity at various temperatures and over a wide range of velocity ramps.

Materials are also characterised through measurement of their visco-elastic properties. Undertaken on a wide range of frequencies, this type of analysis gives an understanding of the relationship between molecular structure and workability.
To complete material behavioural analysis, tension and compression measurements are taken to define the characteristic force-deformation curve, which gives valuable information on the linear-elastic behaviour of a product (Young modulus) and on its behaviour at breaking strain.