Implementation of Relative Humidity Control in DMA Measurements

A novel apparatus to perform Dynamic Mechanical Analysis tests under controlled conditions of Relative Humidity and Temperature is presented. It is possible to assess material properties which are dependent on RH (such as the Coefficient of Hygroscopic Expansion) or classical DMA parameters under more real-life conditions (Storage and Loss Moduli in a wet environment). Three case studies are presented reporting about mechanical properties of Nylon 6, the Coefficient of Hygroscopic Expansion of Nylon 6 and the Stress Relaxation behavior of Nation 112, a material which is used in applications such as fuel cells.