Texture Analysis in the Nailcare Industry: 5: Tensile properties of nail wraps

Self-adhesive nail wraps can be tricky to fit to the nail. To avoid ripples in the surface, the film must be flexible enough to be smoothed into small corners but also taut across the surface of the nail. 

The wrap must also be tough enough to avoid tearing during application and have a reasonable strength. All these properties can be assessed using a tensile test. 

There is usually limited sample preparation that can be carried out with nail wraps as they come in specific lengths, shapes and widths, unless the film is tested in the factory before strips are cut. Specimen geometry greatly effects the forces reached in tensile testing and so must be carefully recorded.

Figure 10: Tensile grips fitted to
the TA.XTplusTexture Analyser

Rubber faced tensile grips attached to the TA.XTplus Texture Analyser provide a surface with a good grip to prevent slippage during a test. Using this test, manufacturers can identify weaknesses and adjust formulations accordingly.

A wrap is cut to a 10mm width and loaded into the grips (Figure 10) with a 5mm spacing. The grips pull apart, initially stretching the wrap and then breaking it. The force-time graph of a wrap being stretched and broken is shown in Figure 11.

This test can also be used to measure relaxation properties. The film is stretched a small amount and released. 

Figure 11: Tensile test of a nail wrap sample

By comparing the work of tension and relaxation a measure of spring recovery can be calculated. 

Conclusion

The nail product market is vast, competitive and constantly changing. As a manufacturer, in order to beat off your competition when a new trend becomes popular, or simply to maintain the high standards of product quality your brand stands for, texture analysis is paramount. 

Stable Micro Systems has developed a wide range of tests that can be applied to a large bracket of nail care products to ensure your quality never falters and you will remain the customer favourite.

---

We can design and manufacture probes or fixtures for the TA.XTplus texture analyser that are bespoke to your sample and its specific measurement.

Once your measurement is performed, our expertise in its graphical interpretation is unparalleled. Not only can we develop the most suitable and accurate method for the testing of your sample, but we can also prepare analysis procedures that obtain the desired parameters from your curve and drop them into a spreadsheet or report designed around your requirements.
For more information on how to measure texture, please visit the Texture Analysis Properties section on our website.

The TA.XTplus texture analyser is part of a family of texture analysis instruments and equipment from Stable Micro Systems. An extensive portfolio of specialist attachments is available to measure and analyse the textural properties of a huge range of food products. Our technical experts can also custom design instrument fixtures according to individual specifications.

No-one understands texture analysis like we do!

To discuss your specific test requirements click here...