Contact angle measurements enable studies of the interaction between a liquid and a solid. The method is among other things used for studies of adhesion, cleaning, absorption of liquid in a porous material, or for characterization of the wettability of a coating. Contact angle measurements also enable calculation of the surface energy of a solid.

Contact angle measurements is a fast and relatively simple method for studying the interaction between a liquid and solid, and it demands little sample preparation. The method is extremely surface sensitive and is well suited for evaluation of the cleanability of a surface. Other common application areas are studies of the hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity of a coating, or adhesion of a substance to a surface. The method can be used for determining the absorption velocity of a liquid in a porous material, which for instance can be of importance in printing.

Contact angle measurements are also commonly used for calculation of the surface energy of a solid, a property which otherwise is difficult to measure. This is done by determining the contact angle of a series of liquids with known properties, and the surface energy is calculated using a mathematical formula. The method can also give information about the polar and non-polar contribution of the surface energy. The surface energy of a material gives useful information for instance about the adhesion of a coating, paint or ink to the surface, or how well a surface withstands dirt.

The contour of a liquid droplet is analyzed optically at high resolution. The automated dispensing unit allows exact dosing of the liquid. Our instrument also enables tilting of the substrate, which allows determination of the roll-off or sliding angle, i.e. the tilt angle of the substrate when the droplet rolls or slides off a surface.

Our instrument can also create very small droplets (picoliter), which enables contact angle measurements on very small sample sizes, for instance single fibers. The instrument is also equipped with a high-speed camera which allows studies of dynamic wetting phenomena.

The results are delivered according to agreed terms.

Is decided in agreement with the customer.

By means of confocal Raman microscopy (CRM), RISE can characterize and map the distribution of different chemical compounds in a sample matrix without the need for extensive sample preparation. CRM can characterize samples from the surface tens of micrometers into the bulk, without the need of a physical cross section.

Do you want to know how your product looks like an a micrometer scale? How your different ingredients are distributed? Which compound is actually stabilizing the oil droplets in your formulation? Need to know if the active ingredient is evenly distributed in the tablet which is mainly composed of a filler? Or do you need to know how many layers the graphene you want to use has? Wondering about disulfide bridges in your protein?

CRM is a highly flexible spectroscopic method that enables the characterization of a wide range of materials, in most cases without any sample preparation at all. By means of CRM, you cannot only measure the distribution of components but also detect and follow changes in the chemical structure, wanted or unwanted. All this in a non-destructive way.

Are you experiencing batch-to-batch variations your standard analysis methods can’t explain? CRM is often the technique that gives answers where other, more common analysis techniques reach their limits.

RISE owns a Witec Alpha 300 RAS with two differet laser wavelengths for excitation. The sample interacts with the well defined wavelength of the laser and the induced change can be analyzed and connected to molecular groups – and build up a so-called raman spectrum. The equipment can measure these spectra for very small and well-defined volumes (350*350*500nm). Thanks to a well-controlled movement of the sample one can measure thousands of spectra at known locations – and thus build a chemical map of the sample.

 All this can be performed at standard atmosphere, no vacuum or inert gas required. Thus, samples can usually be analyzed close to or at their intended application environment.

In contrast to FT-IR, CRM is not sensitive to water but can, in strong contrast to FT-IR, measure submersed in water or map the distribution of water.

Delivery of raw data or processed data along with a technical report according to agreement with customer.

As agreed on with customer

None

We offer electrical cycling of battery cells and modules in different operating temperatures and charging / discharging processes. We have access to a large number of test channels, which means that we can perform the test processes on up to 180 battery cells and 32 battery modules at the same time. We can also perform testing on battery packs.

Our large test capacity and long experience of battery cycling gives the customer a valuable and high-quality test resource in the case of developing the battery solutions.

With our calibrated cycling equipment, the customer receives high-quality cycling tests and reliable measurement results that will be reported according to ISO 17025. As a customer you can also have your development samples carried out at RISE for your new concepts. This means that you can be sure that all measurement data is reliable and collected correctly.

Cycling of battery cells are performed in a controlled environment in our test lab in Borås. During cycling, we continuously register relevant aging parameters, and we deliver raw data that you as a customer can process and evaluate this data in a simple way.

We deliver data to our customers as desired, either as raw data or as result of a test report. In both cases, we can deliver data such as charging capacity, discharging  capacity, cell voltage, current, ambient temperature, cell temperature, internal resistance etc.

Description and data sheets of the test objects

Test specification

We offer complete mapping of energy, chemicals, water, time and other key parameters associated with cleaning and washing in industrial processes.

This is a service provided by the RISE test bed Cleaning Innovation.

Improved insight into your resource use for increased efficiency. Save money and the environment with effective interventions proposals and projects through mapping, measuring and visualization methods used by RISE.

We have several years of experience in mapping industrial processes and in-depth knowledge of process hygiene and microbiology. We can with great reliability measure all relevant parameters (flow,temperature, pressure, energy). Cleaning Innovations leads to an improvement in reducing costs, reduce environmental impact, and raises the quality of your product or service.

In Cleaning Innovation, we have expertise in all areas relating to washing and cleaning. Measures to reduce resource use in cleaning must never compromise the requirement of hygiene.

Results and conclusions are compiled in a report that is presented at a meeting.

Delivery time depends on the complexity of the project.

We offer the possibility to compare the effect of your current cleaning and disinfection with new alternatives.

This is a service provided by the RISE test bed Cleaning Innovation.

New technique intended for cleaning and disinfection is continiously developed. But how can a food manufacturer evaluate a new concept without disturbing the production? How can the company be assured that the new technique is as good as or better then their current technique?

In Cleaning Innovation we offer the possibility to perform a two-step independent evaluation and comparision. The result from the study will be a good decision basis for a safer and easier change of technique

Step 1- Gathering of facts and evaluation in model system

Micro organisms from the current production lines is collected as well as data from the companys cleaning control. The information is used to design the model system where the initial evalutation will take place. We identify the demands that have to be fulfilled for the alternative technique to be regarded as good enough. The following factors can be adapted: choice of technique, chemicals, time, temperature, material, soil and micro organsims (pathogens and spoilage flora).

Step 2 - Control and follow up

Given that the efficiency criteria for pass have been fulfilled using the model system in lab/pilotscale a control and follow up of the effect, in full scale at your site, is offered. Sampling of microorganisms on surfaces (swabs for total number, Enterobacteriaceae, yeast or specific pathogenes) and/or in air. Residues of soil on surfaces (ATP, protein) is also gathered and analysed. The samplig is done after the current cleaning/ disinfection procedure and is repeated after having used the alternative technique for a numberof weeks/months.

Results and conclusions are compiled in a report that is presented at a meeting.

Delivery time depends on the complexity of the project.

If a process equipment is easily cleaned it will be a big advantage when assuring a hygienic production and minimizing the total cost for use. Getting the equipment clean is as vital as making sure that the cleaning process is not too time consuming.

This is a service provided by the RISE test bed Cleaning Innovation.

Product contact surface - open cleaning or closed (CIP)

In the testbed Cleaning Innovation we can measure and evaluate how much product residues and/or micro organisms that are left after cleaning, disinfection and/or sterilization.

Non product contact surface - outside equipment

Contamination gathering on the outside of the equipment will soon be a quality problem. Cleaning Innovation provides possibilities to evaluate cleanability of the outside of theequipment in our pilot plant.

We offer among others the following services in laboratory or pilot/full scale:

• Analysis of microbiological cleanliness
• Test of how the material effects the cleaning result
• Evaluation of cleanability using model soil
• Detection and characterisation of residues of soil, allergens and chemicals

Validation of CIP and other cleaning routines.

RISE tests, certifies and performs 3rd party production inspection on glued laminated timber (gluelam), cross laminated timber (CLT), lightweight wood beams and other glued load-bearing wooden structures.

Glued laminated timber

RISE has extensive experience of working with glulam in different shapes, for example with different types of glue and different cross-sections (homogeneous, combined, splitt beams etc.).

Glulam must today be CE marked according to the standard EN 14080. We also perform tests for the Japanese market according to JAS standards.

Cross laminated timber

CLT is a product whose interest has grown rapidly in recent years. However, the EN standard for this product has not yet been approved for CE marking. RISE can and has, pending this, issued type approvals.

Lightweight wood beams

RISE can try lightweight wood beams in different rigs depending on the property to be determined. For full-scale testing, we have a special rig with stiffening at the top edge that prevents the beams from tilting out along the top edge (se picture above).

Other glued load-bearing wooden structures

RISE can also help with the approval of other glued load-bearing products, such as floor and ceiling cassettes.

Offers

For all of the above products we offer:

• Initial tests such as; bending, finger joint and shear tests and other material tests
• Full-scale tests
• Initial inspection and certification as well as continuous surveillance
• Development projects

Depending on what to be verified, a number of different types of tests and equipment may be relevant. It can be tests of small test specimens to verify shear strength in the adhesive joint, possibly it's desired to climatize the test specimens before, or "age" them through heat and moisture / water treatment, or you want to test strength and load-bearing capacity on a larger scale in our light beam rig or in other equipment.

Depending on what is requested, the customer can receive:

• Test results
• Technical report
• Certification (type approval, CE marking, etc.)

Delivery time is determined at the quotation stage

FTIR analysis is valuable for batch analysis to ensure consistent quality over time.
It can be used to verify materials that do not behave as expected, helping confirm that the correct material has been supplied.
Recycled material streams often require inspection to ensure proper sorting and that the plastic type is correct.

By FTIR spectroscopy an unknown sample may be determined by comparing the sample spectrum with a reference spectrum from a database. Sometimes it is difficult to interpret spectra from plastics since they often contain additives affecting the spectra. Therefore we often combine FTIR-analyses with DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) to measure the melting point, since polymers have specific melting points. 

FTIR-technique can also be used to follow chemical reactions, for example oxygen containing degradation products with a characteristic absorption band increasing with time. In polymerisation reactions the absorption band from the reactants disappear.  

The instruments we use are equipped with microscope where the IR beam may be focused on small regions in a sample. This allow analyzes of contaminants in a sample. Cross sections of 5 micrometers may be analysed.  

In IR spectroscopy we use the interactions between molecular vibrations and the IR light, which absorb or transmit the the light at specific so called resonance frequencies. The resonance frequencies are specific for different chemical bonds.  

The technique may be used for solid samples as well as liquids or gas samples. Usually we analyse solid samples. Plastic samples may be compression moulded to thin films wich are illuminated by the IR light. An ATR (Attenuated Total Reflection) device allow analysis on the sample surface and no sample preparation is needed. 

Results are reported in a report containing the interpreted spectra. 

Within two weeks from sample arrivaI, but usually earlier if no sample preparation is needed. 

The TGA instrument measures weight change of a sample as a function of temperature.

Composition of basically any material may be determined between 50°C and around 1000°C. Typically we analyse plastic- and rubber materials, but we are also pleased to analyse fibers, textiles, varnish, adhesives, biofuels or other materials. The most common analyses are composition of a material or a product. 

 TGA is used for: 

• Analysis of composition
• Determination of residue, ash content or inorganic filler
• Thermal stability or oxidation stability 

Information from TGA analyses are for example moist content in a material (water evaporate at 100°C), presence of low molecular oils and plasticizers in polymers or inorganic fillers, i.e. residual ash. 

A small sample is placed in the instrument chamber, an oven equipped with a scale and controlled temperature and atmosphere. Oxygen, air or nitrogen is chosen as purge gas and the temperature program may be either dynamic or isothermal, depending on the analysis. 

The test samples are small, only 5-15 mg is needed and the analysis takes a couple of hours depending on the chosen temperature program. In nitrogen atmosphere a plastic sample is pyrolyzed, i.e. thermally decomposed. If the purge gas is shifted to air or oxygen organic (carbon containing) substances are incinerated. 

We use standard test methods as well as tailor-made analyses. We have long experience in designing test methods. 

TGA instruments are found at different locations within RISE and we collaborate to give you as a client the best service and delivery time. In Mölndal we have long experience and expertise on recycled plastics and material development, in Borås we have expertise in anlayses of plastic construction materials, rubber  and durability, in Göteborg plastic pipe materials are analysed, and in Stockholm/Kista the expertise on plastic materials in chemical corrosive applications are found.

A report containg information about test method, used equipment, with enclosed thermograms and explanation of the results.

Delivery time is within two weeks from sample arrival at RISE laboratory. 

ISO 11358-1, SP method 1390

RISE tests, certifies and performs production control on strength graded structural timber

RISE has extensive experience of working with different types of grading machines and visual sorting.

We work with:

• initial tests of new types of grading machines
• installation verification of grading machines at sawmills and in other industries 
• visual grading of wood
• certification and production control
• development projects

 For CE-marked timber, we work according to the standard EN 14081, but EN 15497 is also relevant with regard to finger-jointed construction timber.

After the United Kingdom left the EU, the CE marking is no longer a valid marking for structural timber. The CE marking is instead replaced by their own UKCA marking. Together with partners, RISE also offers this certification. During a transition period that lasts until 2025-06-30, both labeling systems are valid. Thereafter only the UKCA label is valid.

Testing of timber takes place with help of load and position controlled hydraulic equipment.

Certificate

Technical report

EN 14081

EN 15497