Technical Report: Impact Tests on Deer Fencing

The TENAX SpA Laboratory recently conducted a series of tests analyzing impact on bi-oriented nets for deer fencing.

The test included an analysis of the TENAX net material and the production process, a description of the TENAX Testing Laboratory, the testing apparatus, and a summary of the results. These main points are summarized below.

 

Characteristics of TENAX nets: the raw material and production process:
Raw material
TENAX nets are produced by the processing of polyolefins. These materials have an exceptionally
high level of resistance to other chemical substances, mold, bacteria and spores. Although derived
from the same family, various classes of polymers exist which differentiate themselves from each
other in a variety of ways. The choice of one polymer against another, combined with the production
process employed, will result in a particular net suitable for a specific purpose. It is possible to improve the basic performance characteristics of the polymer during the manufacturing process. Molecular orientation carried out following extrusion, for example, makes the finished product considerably more resistant to stretching. All net products from the TENAX Group are characterized by a high level of dimensional stability.

Production process
TENAX meshes and nets are produced through the process of polymer extrusion. The two principal
components of polymer extruders are the extrusion "head" and the "die". The head has the function of
directing the liquid polymers towards the die. The die - according to its shape and configuration -
determines the principal characteristics of the net or the perforated membrane during extrusion. The
result of the extrusion process can be the finished net or a semi-finished product ready for further
stages of manufacturing.

The molecular orientation of the polymers provides a noticeable increase in the tensile strength of the
net. For this reason some types of net undergo a process of longitudinal stretching during which
orientation of the molecules takes place. The nets manufactured in this way (known as 'monooriented') have the benefit of improved mechanical characteristics in the direction of the stretching.

The transversal orientation is a successive process similar to the above, but which takes place in a
transverse direction. In this way the net which has already been stretched in a longitudinal direction is
now stretched in the transverse direction - resulting in a product which is both lightweight and
extremely resistant in both directions. Nets produced in this way are known as 'bi-oriented' or
"stretched nets".

Introduction: TENAX Testing Laboratory
The modern testing instrumentation and the highly specialized personnel which together form the
TENAX Laboratory, make it one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the world. TENAX Lab is renowned not only for its excellence in product development, but also in design support testing, the development of new testing methods, and in basic and applied research. Laboratory tests are performed with the most advanced equipment, some of which having been specifically developed by TENAX. The TENAX laboratory is capable of performing tests to measure mechanical and hydraulic properties as well as the durability of geosynthetic products in accordance with standard international methods.

 

Testing apparatus
The impact trial tests have been conducted with wood empty box of dimension 0.95 x 1.10 meter.
The test specimens have been blocked on the border with screws and wood elements; the
tests have been carried out with the trial load  of weight 150 lbs dropped down from the
following height: 0.20, 0.40 and 1.00 meter.

 

The product utilized for these impact tests have been:

- Tenax C-FLEX: 80 g/m² Aperture MD x TD: 44 x 49 mm

- Tenax C-FLEX P: 110 g/m² Aperture MD x TD: 44 x 49 mm

- Tenax RANCH: 140 g/m² Aperture MD x TD: 27 x 42 mm

- Tenax MILLENIUM: 200 g/m² Aperture MD x TD: 33 x 50 mm

- Greek Supplier: FENCE 1: 127 g/m² Aperture MD x TD: 35 x 35 mm

- Greek Supplier: FENCE 2: 60 gr/m² Aperture MD x TD: 45 x 45 mm

Summary results

 

These results demonstrate that even though plastic fence product weights might be similar, the type of raw materials used and the production process play a key role in the factor that best represents quality fence and nets; breaking strength. The TENAX products proved to be stronger with higher breaking strengths, when compared to competitive nets with similar (if not, higher) weights.