Plastic and composites are polymers with substances added to improve performance or reduce costs. Plastics may be cast, pressed, or extruded into film, sheet, fiber or fiber reinforced, glass fiber, plate, tubes, bottles, and boxes. Thermosetting or thermohardening plastic can be hard or brittle and temperature resistant. Thermosets include epoxy resins, polyester resins, phenolic resins and polyurethane and non-deformable and non-meltable. Plastics, polymers and composites can be tensile tested to measure product quality. Tensile tests measure the load required to break a plastic test sample and specimen stretch or elongation to that breaking load. The resulting test data helps specify materials, design parts to withstand forces, and key quality control checks for materials. Plastic composite tensile test equipment, testers and electromechanical universal test machines feature constant rate of crosshead extension or CRE because plastics tensile test behavior is time rate test speed dependent. Plastic tensile coupons (dogbone-shaped specimens with defined width and load stress psi) are made to ASTM, EN, DIN and ISO tensile test sample dimensions. Plastics composite tensile tester machine speed should always rely on standard specifications. Plastic tensile test standards ASTM D638 and ISO 527 both require axial extensometers to measure strain below 20 percent extension values. High travel or strain can be measured by the machine crosshead or digital encoder. Thin film sheet samples should follow ASTM D882. TestResources tensile test equipment is modular and configured by our applications engineer to match your specific material, sample type and test method. Our product line includes a wide variety of test machines, test software, grips, test fixtures, extensometers, sample preparation aids, and environmental chambers for all of your plastic testing needs. Call us today to discuss your test application at 800.430.6536.
Applicable Testing Standards
- ISO 527 - Tensile Test of Plastics Composites
- ASTM D638 Tension Testing for Plastics
- ASTM D882 Tensile Testing for Thin Plastic Sheeting
- ASTM D3039 Tensile Testing for Advanced Composite Materials
Recommended Test Machine
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
Rated to 0.6 kN (135 lbf)
Maximum specimen thicknesses from 8 mm to 50 mm (0.3 in. to 2.0 in.)
Clamp force up to 1.2 kN (270 lbf)
Quick and simple specimen setup for a wide variety of applications
Rated to 5 kN (1,125 lbf)
Works well with flat or round specimens
Maximum specimen thickness / diameter of 10 mm (0.4 in)
Designed for applications that deal with very elastic material, such as rubber
No inherent gage length, allowing it to be used for almost any sized specimen
Maximum travel ratings up to 1,100 mm (43 in)
Adjustable clips allow for gripping onto various specimen thicknesses and materials
Measures displacement for axial tensile, compression, and cyclic testing
Gage lengths from 10 mm to 50 mm (0.5 in to 2.0 in)
Measuring ranges from 5% to 100% strain
Lightweight and self-supporting
Standard temperature range of -155°C to 620°C (-247°F to 1150°F)
Accompanied by a broad set of accessories that are capable of withstanding the heat or cold
PID controlled internal temperature
Mounts directly to the test frame