Laboratory Services

Established for over forty years, the AP Braking laboratory has evolved to keep ahead of the ever developing needs of the organization and of the automobile industry in general. It can boast considerable experience in the fields of :-

For more information on our Laboratory Services, please send an email to Mike Jones, or telephone us on 01926 473697.

The laboratory boasts a wide array of both destructive and non-destructive testing equipment.

• Elemental analysis can be performed using a HILGER Analytical E982C MkII computerized optical emission spectrometer, giving direct reading chemical analysis for a wide range of steels, cast irons, aluminium alloys, brasses and bronzes.
  Materials unsuitable for optical emission spectrometry can be analysed using a fully computerised VARIAN 220 Fast Sequential Atomic Absorption Spectrometer with SIPS control, for which a comprehensive range of hollow cathode lamps are available. This technique lends itself to trace metal analysis in fields as diverse as plating shop effluents to contamination in environmental samples.
  Classical wet methods are available for single element determinations.


• Tensile and compressive testing can be performed using a computerised INSTRON 4206 Series IX, programmable to a wide range of requirements and for which 5kN, 30kN and 150kN load cells are available. For non-metallic materials an extensive range of strength, shear, tear, flexural and compression methods are routinely employed.


• Corrosion testing capability includes
  • Neutral salt spray to ASTM B117, BSAU148 Part2 and DIN50021.
  • Humidity running primarily to BS3900 F2 or programmable to suit customer requirement.
  • Cyclic corrosion testing fully programmable combining salt spray, humidity (constant or cycling), dry heat and air drying. The test cabinet may be programmed to include the current specifications of any major manufacturers, e.g. Ford, Nissan, Rover, Honda etc.


• Infra Red analysis of rubber, plastic, oil, grease, and brake fluid is carried out using a PERKIN ELMER 16PC FTIR with library and search facility.


• Simultaneous Thermal analysis using a STANTON REDCROFT STA-780 running ASTRA software allows differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis from ambient to 1000ºC. This can quantify such parameters as
  • Process oil, polymer, carbon black and filler content of rubber.
  • Polymer and filler content and melting point of plastics.
  • Oil and filler content of greases.


• Hardness testing equipment includes

  Metal	Vickers, Brinell, Rockwell, Superficial Rockwell and Micro Vickers
  Rubber	IRHD, micro and macro, Shore A and D
  Plastic	Shore A and D, Rockwell

As would be expected of a leading hydraulic brake manufacturer, our understanding of hydraulic brake fluid is exceptional. The laboratory can offer investigative analysis testing to ISO, BS and DOT requirements employing a variety of procedures including:-

• Kinematic Viscosity with temperature ranges from –40ºC to +100ºC
• Boiling Point to BSAU174 Part2
• Water Determination using a microprocessor controlled METTLER TOLEDO DL38 Karl Fischer titrator
• Corrosion Testing to ISO 4925, SAE J1703 etc
• Polymer Compatibility
• Contaminant Investigation

Other available techniques include:-

Some pre-programmed grades: Steels BS3111, 637M17, 431S29, 655M13, 635M15, 665M17, 655M13, 70KD, SAE8620, SAE4037, SAE302, FR10, 815M17, 080M50, 080A42, 045M10, 605A37, 302S31, 817M40, 708M40, 070M55, 080M30, 080M15, 080M40, 040A10, 220M07, 230M07 etc. Aluminium DTD424, 2618-HF16, 6082-HE30,2014A-HE15,1050A, LM4, LM6, LM24, LM25, AA6262 etc. Brass CZ106-7030, CZ122, CZ121-3PB,CZ121-4PB, CZ114-HT, CZ109-6040

Hollow cathode lamps Aluminium, Boron, Barium, Beryllium, Calcium, Cobalt, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Potassium, Molybdenum, Magnesium, Lead, Tin, Lithium, Vanadium, Zinc, Nickel etc.

Metal Tensile, compression, push-out load, etc. Rubber Tensile, tear (crescent, angle, trouser), etc. Plastic Tensile, flexural, etc.

Rubber Polymer type, quality control, etc Plastic Polymer type, modifier content, etc Techniques Diffusion, ATR, Specular Reflectance, MIR

Rubber Process oil, polymer, carbon black, and filler content, etc Plastic Polymer and filler content, melting point, etc. Grease Oil and filler content, drop point Friction Material Characterisation, polymer binder and filler content, etc

Charpy, Izod and Impact Tensile tests on Plastics Materials

Water content of brake fluids, anti-freeze and other automotive fluids Water content between 0.01% and 100% is possible.

WILD M3Z stereoscopic zoom microscope with digital imaging facility.

Viscometers allowing kinematic viscosity measurements from 1.5cSt to 15000cSt are available.

For more information on our Laboratory Services, please send an email to Mike Jones, or telephone us on 01926 473697.

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Thursday 28th October 2004 14:00 PM