Areas of Expertise
The Materials Technology Section conducts applied and basic research in Materials Science, providing technical support to the industry and organizations through customized services and contract research projects. Industries such as ceramics, minerals, coatings, wood & cellulose natural fibers (e.g. coconut & banana), rubber, and plastic sectors are commonly served. A multi-disciplinary team develops new products and transfers them to industry, troubleshoots industrial processes, and provides training programs to meet various industrial needs.
Services offered
- XRD analysis
- Particle Size Analysis (0.08 μm – 2100 μm)
- FTIR Analysis (Material Identification)
- Transparency test (UV-Visible Spectrometer)
- Thermal Expansion Co-efficient test (Dilatometer test)
- MOR test (ceramic ISO 10545-4)
- Accelerated Weathering test (Sun simulator)
- Sieve Residue Analysis(sieves:25μm, 35 μm, 53μm, 75μm, 125μm, 150μm, 180μm, 300μm, 500 μm, 800 μm, 1 mm, 1.25 mm)
- Ash Content (D2584, D5630, ISO 3451)
- Carbon black content (ASTM D1603)
- Density of materials (ASTMD7481, ISO 1183-1)
- Water absorption test (ceramic, plastic, rubber, gel, fiber, etc.)
- Plasticizer content of PVC (ASTM D2124)
- Moisture content of materials
- Viscosity of fluids (LV and RV)
- Testing of ceramic tiles (ISO 10545)
- Determination of dimensions and surface quality
- Determination of water absorption, apparent porosity, apparent relative density and bulk density
- Determination of modulus of rupture and breaking strength
- Determination of linear thermal expansion
- Determination of resistance to thermal shock
- Determination of crazing resistance for glazed tiles
- Determination of chemical resistance
- Determination of resistance to stains
- Determination of lead and cadmium given off by glazed tiles
- Gauze testing
- SLS 395–For MSD; Absorbent Cotton Gauze; SLS 395 : 1985 (Full Test)
- Absorbent woven Gauze; BP. 1988 : Type 3 Light
- Non-woven cotton gauze Compresses; BP. 1980/8
- Absorbent Cotton Gauze – BP 1988 : Type 13 Light Gauze swabs
- Overall Migration test –Food contact plastic (Commission Regulation EU No 10/2011 and BS EN 1186)
- Aqueous food
- Acidic food
- Alcoholic food
- Fatty food
- Testing of Lunch sheet (SLS 1718: 2021)
- Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC) (SLS 1336: 2017)
- Thermal conductivity test (ASTM D 5334)
- Identification of compostable polymer in plastic products
- Melting point of waxes and selected polymers
- Drinking water packaging testing (SLS 1336:2017 standard – Specification for Containers Made of Polymer Materials for Packaging of Drinking Water)
- Brimful Capacity
- Wall Thickness
- Transparency
- Drop test
- Air pressure Leakage
- Stack load
- Type of polymer
- Leakage Test
- Overall migration and color migration
- Water Portability Test
Related Projects
Purification of quartz and silica sand in Sri Lanka
Modification of MTS clay water filter to suppress harmful bacteria activity and other contaminants including fluoride and heavy metals in drinking water.
Synthesis of Graphene and Graphite oxide from Sri Lankan vein graphite
Green synthesis of graphene for bio-medical applications
Purification of graphite up to 99.99% carbon.
Upgrading low-grade graphite using the floatation technique
Development of thermal conducting Rubber using Graphene and Graphite
Further development of red clay based superior quality cookware.
A low-cost electrode modified by controlled synthesis of nano-fiber network of homo/copolymer of aniline and pyrrole on graphite-clay composite substrate for supercapacitor applications.
Demand driven automotive rechargeable cost efficient battery Manufacturing Technology for SME startups.
Preparation of composite membrane for Reverse Osmosis plant.
Waste to energy-fabrication and development of cost-effective briquettes from leftover food waste using organic garden waste as additives.
Designing and fabrication of a Water Ionizer.
Extraction and formation of Titanium alloys from Rutile with cost effective methods than conventional methods.
A stable composite based on titanium dioxide and clay as an effective photocatalyst for wastewater treatment.
Development of Lubricant products from local graphite.
Development of a polybutyrate (PBAT) based low cost biodegradable plastic material as a replacement for polythene shopping bag and “Lunch sheet”.
Design of production process equipment and wastewater treatment plant for Graphene production process.
Conversion of readily available Sri Lankan natural quartz to solar grade silicon for applications in electronic industries.