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In healthcare, there is an increased risk of spreading infection. Infection can be transmitted through touch surfaces such shared between patients. This imposes special requirements when cleaning and disinfecting. RISE has the competence to evaluate the suitability of the choice of materials and chemicals intended for the healthcare environment.

Requirements for materials:

In the healthcare sector, all materials that are present must be easy to clean and durable. This places great demands on the nature of the materials as cleaning, with both mechanical and chemical action, is carried out regularly in these environments.  It can be difficult to determine whether a material such as in a bathtub, chair covering or mattress can withstand to be cleaned and disinfected repeatedly over a long period of time  while the removal of dirt and microorganisms is still sufficient.

Disinfectant requirements:

Surfaces with patient contact where infection could be transmitted must be cleaned and sometimes disinfected. Special requirements are imposed on the disinfectant in terms of killing microorganisms while the chemicals must not damage the material. RISE can evaluate the microbiological effect and assess what the material can withstand.

With a broad expertise in materials and surfaces, chemistry and analytical methods, microbiological requirements and methodology, RISE offers the following expertise and services related to hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of surfaces in healthcare environments:

• Effectiveness of disinfectants against bacteria, yeast, mold and viruses
• Biofilm, detection, identification, build-up, reduction
• Bioburden, detection on surfaces
• Cleanability test, worst case scenario with relevant dirt
• Material compatibility with chemical disinfectants
• Surface resistance to abrasive wear
• Accelerated aging and simulated exposure to environmental factors

Tests are, as far as possible, equal to or based on relevant ISO and EN standards.

An assignment at RISE regarding material selection can, for example, constitute support in product development work, procurement or purchasing in order to be able to choose between different solutions to obtain a suitable, i.e. durable and easy-to-clean material. It can also involve evaluating the microbiological or dirt-removing effect of a disinfectant or cleaning agent.

It is important that the plastics used in batteries, including the components separator, binder, electrolyte, and electrodes are able to withstand metal salts, harsh acids and bases that can be used as electrolytes under cycled or high temperatures, over a range of pressures. This enables optimization of the battery performance with time.

The results are usually observed by visual observation or microscopy where surface stress fractures, etching or color changes are signs of incompatibility. Additionally, weight changes in the material after immersion studies provide information about the compatibility. If there is a loss of weight, part of the plastic is likely leaching out or degrading and disappearing into the surrounding solution. If there is a weight gain, the solution is absorbed by the polymer with a resulting material that has modified physical and mechanical properties.

To test compatibility, polymer battery components are immersed in corrosive environments, including metal salt solutions and/or extreme acidic or basic solutions. Additional conditions could include:

- Cycled temperatures

- Elevated temperatures

- Pressure

This accelerated aging predicts the performance of various polymer parts in a range of battery systems over time and allows for optimization of the polymer choice for a specific battery application.

Results are usually delivered to the customer in the form of a report.

In mechanical testing of battery components and battery cases, we test the effect of mechanical impact to ensure that the design is suitable for its application.

Mechanical testing of battery components and cases includes static and dynamic testing. The tests consist of tensile tests, pressure tests, fatigue tests, impact tests, creep tests, and internal pressurization of batteries.

Examples of mechanical impact on battery components

The mechanical impact is investigated during (or after) battery components and battery cases have been exposed to various impacts. These include internal damage, short circuits, electrolyte leakage, and structural damage, all of which can have serious consequences.

Why is mechanical testing of battery components carried out?

Mechanical testing is essential from a safety aspect. If the battery, battery case, or its components are not suitable for their intended use it may lead to reduced capacity, reduced efficiency, reduced performance, or overheating of the battery. There is also a risk of fire and explosion – in other words, a risk of serious injury.

Increased electrification requires more testing

Investigating mechanical risks is becoming increasingly important as society electrifies, not least with an increased number of electric vehicles. Mechanical testing is necessary to ensure product safety and is, therefore, important for producers, importers, and retailers.

You receive guidance on mechanical testing

We help you mechanically test battery components in our laboratories. We keep track of the latest regulatory changes and guidance within requirements and standards. By using RISE, you also get access to our entire institute's collective expertise, competence, and experience. We operate in materials, chemistry, energy, analysis, and certification in the battery area.

Our experience in mechanical testing, accompanied by an extensive machine park and modern lab resources, enables great flexibility and unique testing possibilities. Thinking outside the box is our everyday life! In addition to mechanical testing for force, deformation, pressure, and elongation, we offer advanced measurement methods, such as Digital Image Correlation (DIC), Digital Volume Correlation (DVC), and acoustic emission (AE).

Combination of different types of testing

With our possibilities for safety-critical testing, we can also combine mechanical testing with, for example, cycling batteries. If a battery ends up in thermal runaway or propagation, we can measure heat generation, gas emissions, and more. At RISE, you get help with the right combination of tests.

As a client, you will receive a digitally signed technical report with your test results. You will receive the report in Swedish or English, whichever you prefer.

Are you interested in safety critical testing of batteries, there is further reading on our page for safety-critical battery testing. 

The quality and durability of the materials and parts making up the battery dictate the battery performance. RISE offers a broad assessment of batteries with water-based electrolyte.

RISE can perform different methods to investigate and help improve the quality of materials within batteries with water-based electrolyte. These batteries include but are not limited to nickel metalhydrid (NiMH), lead-acid, nickel-cadmium and zinc-based chemistries.

We specialise in studying the impact the harsh battery electrolyte environments has on the battery components such as the electrode material, casing of active material, current collectors, external casing, binders, and separators.

We provide detailed electrochemical, chemical, and structural analysis to highlight how the properties and mechanisms, such as corrosion, of a material limit battery performance and cause ageing.

Material characterisation is either made on fresh materials intended to be used in the batteries or post-mortem analysis, i.e., on materials harvested from cycled cells and packs. Our facilities also enable controlled metallic and polymer material exposure in water-based electrolytes.

To assess the corrosion resistance of the metallic components, electrochemical techniques, EIS, PDP, and SVET, are available. Localised chemical analysis with FTIR and nano-IR are offered either separately or combined with these techniques to characterize surface chemistry such as type of precipitated corrosion products. Microscopy techniques, AFM (available with nano-IR) and SEM, are available for detailed exploration of the morphology of for instance active materials, coatings or corrosion attacks.

Aside from experimental techniques, we also offer physics-based modelling to investigate further how material quality and degradation is connected to battery cell behaviour in terms of voltage and current output, and available capacity over time.

We deliver the results to you as desired, analysed and written in a report.

Hydrogen, composition, impurities, ISO 14687, EN 17124

Some impurities and particulates, if present in hydrogen may damage, the fuel cell system in a hydrogen vehicle as it is highly sensitive to the presence of even very low levels of impurities. Therefore, standards ISO14687 and EN17124 set stringent limits for numerous gaseous.

We offer flexible analyses to respond to every client´s need. We can analyse most of the impurities mentioned in these two standards, incl. water, total hydrocarbons, methane, oxygen, helium, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur compounds, formaldehyde, formic acid, ammonia and halogenated compounds.

Our analyses are performed in our gas laboratory which is equipped with many different analytical instruments incl. GC/TCD, GC/FID, GC/MS, Proceas (IR).

The work include both accredited and non-accredited testing methods. The scope of accreditation is available upon request – please feel free to contact us for more information.

The results are first delivered per mail as a preliminary report. After an agreement, the final report is sent per mail.

Within two weeks

If requested, RISE can assist with the sampling at (for example) a station

ISO 14687:2019

EN17124:2022

Rise performs sound insulation measurements as well as measurements and analysis of the sound transmission paths. The measurements are performed in a building or mock-up. The analysis provides information on where and which transmission part of the design needs to be improved to achieve better sound insulation.

In a standard measurement of sound insulation, measurement results and a classification of different sound classes are provided, but not the information about which transmission path that is the weakest link. That is, if it is a direct sound (straight through the wall or floor) or flanking transmission (the sound passes through junctions and then radiates out from wall or ceiling surfaces). Being able to determine which part of the design where the transmission path dominates or limits the sound insulation is valuable information on how to work to get a better sound insulation and sound rating in a building system. The purpose of the measurement service is to provide this information. The method is primarily developed for impact sound insulation in multi-storey buildings in wood, and for the lower frequencies. Achieving impact sound insulation that meet requirements and to get satisfied customers is a matter that has proven particularly challenging for multi-storey construction in wood with apartment-separating joists, when available knowledge and tools in the area have been limited.

The method is a further developed version of the research project AkuLite's measurement protocol and is not standardized at present. The principle is based on the fact that the surfaces with the greatest vibration levels also emit the most sound. The measurement is made with accelerometers on ceilings and walls, together with sound insulation measurements according to standards.

Test report with analysis.

RISE need to plan the measurements together with clients. Measuring objects / buildings need an availability of 2 days for rigging and measurement, with limited interference with respect to sound and vibration during measurements.

ISO 16283-1 Acoustics - Field measurement of air borne sound insulation

ISO 16283-2 Acoustics - Field measurement of impact sound insulation

ISO 717-2 Acoustics - Rating of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements — Part 1: Airborne sound insulation

ISO 717-2 Acoustics - Rating of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements - Part 2: Impact sound insulation

SS 25267 Acoustics - Sound classification of spaces in buildings - Dwellings

SS 25268 Acoustics - Sound classification of spaces in buildings - Institutional premises, rooms for education, preschools and leisure-time centres, rooms for office work and hotels