Plastics Industry Guide for Materials Testing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials Testing Systems are used in many different industries. A system used for plastics testing might differ greatly compared to a metals testing system. Universal Grip has compiled an index of curated and relevant industry specific knowledge.

 

Plastics

 

Overview:

Over 20,000 facilities make up the plastics industry in the United States. Plastics is the third largest manufacturing industry in the US and supports roughly 1 million jobs. Universal Grip estimates that there are between 5,000 to 10,000 installed universal testing machines that are used to test plastic. Benchtop tensile testers used in this industry are generally below 10kN (dual column) and in many cases can be single column (2.5kN). 

 

Universal Testing Machines for Plastics Testing

There are four main components to a UTM:

      1.  Frame

      2.  Software/controls

      3.  Load Cell

      4.  Grips

      5. Accessories - extensometers for tensile testing and deflectometers for bend and compression testing.

 

Impact Testers for Plastics Testing

There are two types of impacts tests, Izod and Charpy. Impact Testing for plastics is usually performed at lower forces around 1-25 joules. 

 

      Plastics Notched Charpy Testing - ASTM D6110

      Plastics Notched Izod Testing - ASTM D256

      Plastics Unnotched Impact Resistance - ASTM D4812

 

 

 

Testing Procedures for Plastics

Please use the links below to explore each test:

 

       Tensile Testing - ASTM D638

       3 pt. Bend Testing - ASTM D790

       4 pt. Bend Testing - ASTM D6272

       Compression Testing -  ASTM D695

 

Downloads

Galdabini Plastics Industry Catalogue