R&D and Laboratory
Politiv’s R&D and Laboratory Department is one of the largest and most developed in the Agricultural & Horticultural sectors. The laboratory is led by a senior manager, two highly experienced technologists and a large team of quality controllers that work around the clock to ensure customers receive products of the highest quality. The laboratory is equipped with innovative instrumentation used for quality control tests (according to local and global standards) and new product development for different application needs. Based on the markets and products tests are conducted according to the ASTM, Israeli, and/or European standards.
Digital micrometer: the digital micrometer is used for testing thickness. Tests are conducted across the film with approximately 5-7 cm between test points. The micrometer is installed on a special plate to maximize its precision. The instrument is connected to a printer and once the test is over, a ribbon is provided with the results of each individual point. A statistical analysis of tests is also provided.
Friction coefficient testing for films: used for testing the static and dynamic friction coefficient of the film, an especially important property in conveying the film using different machines.
FTIR instrument: used for testing the types of stabilizers in the film. It is also used for testing the thermal properties of the films according to the Israeli standard.
UV-VIS instrument: used for testing the passage of visible and ultraviolet light through the film. Used for testing the spread level and UV opacity of the film (anti-virus sheets).
Strength and elongation instrument: used to test the maximum strength required for tearing of the film and the film’s elongation until failure. The test conditions are as prescribed in the Israeli standard.
Impact tests: used for testing the film’s impact resistance. The films get a varying weight dropped on from a constant height (starting from low weights and gradually increasing) until the films fail and the findings are recorded.
Tear completion (Elmendorf) test: tear completion test for various type of films. The test simulates the behavior of the film in the case of a local incision.
QUV instrument: the instrument contains ultraviolet (UV) lamps and is used to test the wear of the films very quickly.
Oven: used for testing the lifetime of inorganic materials in the film. The films are fired at 500 degrees and the remains are then weighed.
Anti-fog\Anti-Condensate device: the device is effectively a miniaturized greenhouse with a basin containing hot water all the time. This forces the anti-fog device to work continuously. The purpose of this test is to examine the film’s Anti-Condensate properties and lifetime.
Contraction testing instrument: this instrument is used for testing the degree of contraction of the films in the machine direction and opposite direction. This allows one to learn the film’s contraction rate as a percentage.
