Shimadzu Journal Vol. 02 - Material Science

Importance of Topic

Material science research underpins the development of innovative materials and structures across industries such as aerospace, transportation, electronics and life sciences. Understanding microstructure–property relationships, fatigue performance and environmental interactions is critical for designing safe, lightweight components, extending service life, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Collaborative efforts between instrument manufacturers and research institutions accelerate the creation of cutting-edge analytical and testing methods.

Objectives and Study Overview

This collection of articles presents several collaborative projects and application highlights from Shimadzu’s Analytical & Measurement Instruments Division. Key studies include:

• Insights from TU Dortmund’s Department of Materials Test Engineering on microstructural fatigue characterization and the patented RAPID fatigue performance identification method.
• Evaluation of vulcanized fiber behavior under varying deformation rates and humidity conditions for improved design data.
• Implementation of a 10 MN servopulser fatigue testing machine at JAXA for large-scale aerospace component testing.
• Analytical advances such as SEC-AccuSpot-AXIMA systems for detecting trace homopolymers in copolymer samples, and a nano-surface oriented proteolysis (nSMOL) approach for monoclonal antibody mass spectrometry.
• Selected application notes demonstrating X-ray CT of battery electrodes, SPM analysis of binders, TG-FTIR for polyimide composites, allergen quantitation by GC-MS, and more.
• Expansion of Shimadzu’s global network of application and support laboratories and a new ecoanalytics facility partnership with NUS/NERI in Singapore.

Methodology and Instrumentation

These projects employ state-of-the-art instrumentation and customized protocols:

• Mechanical testing systems: Autograph AGS-X/AG-X, Servopulser EHF, micro-magnetic MMT, ultrasonic fatigue USF, ultra-micro hardness DUH, and the new 10 MN EHF-UV8MN-830 for large fixtures.
• Analytical separations: SEC with AccuSpot automated spotter coupled to AXIMA MALDI-TOFMS for high-resolution polymer fraction analysis.
• Spectroscopy: TG-FTIR for thermal decomposition studies, SPM for in-solution binder morphology, and TOC, GCMS-TQ8040 and plasma-based Tracera GC systems for trace gas and impurity detection.
• Non-destructive evaluation: X-ray CT for battery electrodes, high-speed thermography and video extensometry for crack initiation and propagation in fibers.
• Mass spectrometry innovations: nSMOL nano-surface and oriented limited proteolysis for targeted antibody variable region analysis by LC/MS.

Main Results and Discussion

Key findings include:

• Rapid Fatigue Performance Identification (RAPID) enables Wöhler curve estimation from single multi-step tests, reducing sample and time requirements in fatigue assessment.
• Vulcanized fiber exhibits increased stiffness and strength at higher deformation rates, while elevated humidity lowers modulus and strength but increases ductility.
• Shimadzu’s 10 MN fatigue tester successfully performed large rocket shell and composite stringer fatigue and compression tests, addressing space and load capacity limitations of previous machines.
• SEC-AccuSpot-AXIMA separation revealed minor homopolymer contaminants (PMMA, PnBMA) in a block copolymer sample that standard MALDI-TOF would miss.
• nSMOL proteolysis selectively generates peptides from antibody CDR regions by limiting protease access, enabling robust therapeutic antibody quantitation across diverse mAbs.
• Application notes demonstrated innovative uses of Shimadzu instruments in battery analysis, polymer characterization, allergen detection, surface analysis, and environmental monitoring.

Benefits and Practical Applications

These developments deliver concrete advantages to R&D and QA/QC laboratories:

• Accelerated testing workflows and higher throughput via automation (AccuSpot, Smart MRM) and multi-parameter data acquisition (Scan/MRM).
• Improved accuracy and reproducibility in fatigue, tensile, thermal and surface analyses under realistic environmental conditions.
• Ability to handle large-scale structures and high-force testing in aerospace, bridging the gap between coupon-level data and full-scale component validation.
• Enhanced detection of trace components enables deeper polymer quality control and impurity profiling.
• Specialized proteolysis and mass spectrometry protocols facilitate antibody drug monitoring and biosimilar characterization.
• Global support and application centers provide method development, training and maintenance to ensure optimal instrument uptime and data quality.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging directions include:

• Integration of real-time non-destructive techniques (thermography, high-speed imaging) with fatigue testing to map damage evolution.
• Expansion of ecoanalytics research to address water, air and soil contaminants using automated sample-to-result platforms.
• Advanced data analytics and AI-driven predictive modeling of material performance based on multi-modal test data.
• Further miniaturization and solvent-reduction in LC-MS sample preparation for green chemistry and field deployable analysis.
• Development of higher-force and higher-throughput mechanical testing systems for automotive, rail and renewable energy materials.
• Wider adoption of oriented proteolysis workflows for biotherapeutics and vaccine antigen characterization.

Conclusion

Shimadzu’s collaborative research initiatives and innovative instrument platforms provide comprehensive solutions for modern material and analytical challenges. By combining advanced hardware (fatigue testers, SEC-MALDI, GC-MS/MS, SPM, TG-FTIR) with specialized methodologies (RAPID fatigue, nSMOL proteolysis), these projects have delivered deeper insights into material behavior, accelerated product development, and enhanced quality assurance across aerospace, polymer, battery, pharmaceutical and environmental sectors.

Reference

• Penning B., Walther F., Dumke D., Künne B.: Influence of deformation speed and humidity on vulcanized fiber. MP Materials Testing 55(4), 276-284 (2013).
• Walther F.: Microstructure-oriented fatigue assessment using short-time load increase procedures. MP Materials Testing 56(7-8), 519-527 (2014).
• Iwamoto N. et al.: Nano-surface and molecular-orientation limited proteolysis (nSMOL) for targeted monoclonal antibody MS analysis. Analyst 139, 576–580 (2014).