Summary: Description of tensile testing plastics and plastic composites, along with machines and equipment that meet the requirements of ASTM D638. Tensile properties of plastics are important for engineering quality control and design. Results of plastic tensile testing can be influenced by testing speed, environmental conditions, and sample preparation. For these reasons, it is important to control these parameters to obtain testing results that can be used for material compassion purposes, and ultimately design purposes. There are four major steps to tensile test plastics; specimen preparation, setup, actual tension testing, and calculations/analysis. Specimen preparation for plastic tensile testing involves molding and cutting the plastic specimen into the dogbone coupons. Setup for plastic tensile testing requires proper grips and alignment to ensure accurate repeatable results.
Actual tensile testing of plastic is as simple as hitting the start button on one of TestResources plastic tension tester machines. Finally, analysis is the interpretation of the plastic tensile stress-strain data. Plastics and plastic composites have a number of tensile properties that can be determined through tensile testing. Tensile Strength of Plastic at Yield and Tensile Strength at Break Percent Elongation of plastic Percent Elongation at Yield of Plastic Percent Elongation at Break of Plastic Nominal Strain of Plastic Nominal Strain at Break of Plastic Modulus of Elasticity of Plastic Secant Modulus of Plastic Poisson Standard Test Method for Tension Testing Plastics and Composites ASTM D638 is the standard test method for tension testing plastics and composites. ASTM D638 covers tensile testing of plastics in a dogbone shaped (dumbbell shapped) form. Plastics with a thickness between 1.0 mm and 14 mm can be used with the testing practices of ASTM D638. Specimen preparation, setup, testing, calculations/analysis, and machine requirements for tensile testing plastics is covered extensively in ASTM D638. Recommended Plastic Tensile Testing Equipment Plastic tensile testing, specifically following the practices of ASTM D638, requires the use of a CRE (constant rate of extension) test machine, with a fixed grip and movable grip attached to the CRE loading unit. Plastic tensile tester machines need to be equipped with an extensometer to measure the strain of the plastic with in tension. TestResources testing machines are modular systems that can be built to accomplish any tensile test of plastic. The plastic tensile testing machines we make have advanced feedback controllers for performing a wide variety of motion controlled tests, CRE being one of the most basic. Along with plastic tension testers, we sell grips specifically designed to be self-aligning easy to load for tensile testing plastics.
Applicable Testing Standards
Recommended Test Machine
Forces up to 10 kN (2,250 lbf)
Low force tabletop systems
Modular series of five frame options with adjustable test space
Affordable testing option for tension, compression, bend, peel and much more
Forces up to 5 kN (1,125 lbf)
Low force tabletop systems
Tests at speeds up to 2,500 mm/min (100 in/min)
Best for high travel or high elongation test requirements
Force range of 5 kN to 600 kN (1,125 lbf to 135,000 lbf)
Adjustable test space
The most popular choice for static tension and compression tests
These dual column testers are available in both tabletop and floor standing models
Recommended Testing Accessories
Rated to 1 kN (225 lbf)
Maximum specimen thicknesses from 10 mm to 50 mm (0.39 in. to 2.0 in.)
Simple design can be used for a multitude of tensile applications
Inexpensive and reliable