Biomechanics Core Facility Biomechanics Equipment

RHEOMETER - DISCOVERY HYBRID 20 - TA INSTRUMENTS

For characterizing bulk viscoelastic properties, e.g. of hydrogels and tissues

Equipped with UV unit for photoswitching of samples

Interfacial Rheology: Double Wall Ring

Rheometer images

TENSILE TEST DEVICE - 2.5kN ZWICKI – ZWICK&ROELL

Tensile testing of materials

Special setup for compression test

Equipped with 3 load cells for soft materials (5N, 100N, 500N)

Tensile test device

NANOINDENTER - PAVONE - OPTICS11LIFE

Spatially and mechanically highly precise indentor system based on precalibrated cantilevers: cell stiffness, viscoelasticity, adhesion, contraction, mechanosensing in near-physiological conditions

Equipped with a fluorescence imaging module to improve usage of the system with biological systems

To come: environmental module

Pavone

Further Instruments

Bareiss DigiTest II

Hardness tester for soft tissue and polymers according to shore, IRHD and VLRH. Used for characterizing connective tissue, such as cartilage, soft, and synthetic materials. The setup includes a test stand, a receiving arm with the measuring device for forces up to 20 N, and the electronic measurement and recording unit. The samples are placed on a metal sample holder with a milled edge.

Home-built Indentation System

Calibrated indentation system with a mm-sized indenter sphere, suitable for the mechanical characterization of bulk materials.