Polymer and Plastic Materials Testing
Polymer Materials and Plastics are finding more and more wide-spread applications in a variety of industries. Well beyond traditional fiberglass and plastics, advanced polymer formulations are now being used for both military and commercial applications.
The two main types of plastics are thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermoplastics soften on heating and harden on cooling while thermosets, on heating, flow and cross-link to form rigid material which does not soften on future heating. Thermoplastics account for the majority of commercial usage.
Among the most important and versatile of the hundreds of commercial plastics is polyethylene. Polyethylene is used in a wide variety of applications because, based on its structure, it can be produced in many different forms. The first type to be commercially exploited was called low density polyethylene (LDPE) or branched polyethylene. This polymer is characterized by a large degree of branching, forcing the molecules to be packed rather loosely forming a low density material. LDPE is soft and pliable and has applications ranging from plastic bags, containers, textiles, and electrical insulation, to coatings for packaging materials.
Another form of polyethylene differing from LDPE only in structure is high density polyethylene (HDPE) or linear polyethylene. This form demonstrates little or no branching, enabling the molecules to be tightly packed. HDPE is much more rigid than branched polyethylene and is used in applications where rigidity is important. Major uses of HDPE are plastic tubing, bottles, and bottle caps.
Advanced Polymer Materials have broad, proven applications, in the aircraft, aerospace, and sports equipment sectors. More specifically, APMs are very attractive for aircraft and aerospace structural parts. APMs have continued to develop due to NASA’s Advanced Space Transportation Program. Additionally, advanced polymer materials have decades of history in military and government aerospace industries. However, much of the technology is now being developed for secondary or commercial markets, as the technology of advanced plastics manufacture is continually evolving.
Microtek Laboratories has the capabilities to assess the mechanical strength and integrity of these materials and provide you with the data required to evaluate the performance of the product applications. Listed below are some of our ASTM, IEC and UL test methods for composites, polymer, plastics, resin compounds and advanced materials.
| ASTM D149 |
Dielectric Breakdown Voltage & Strength |
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| ASTM D229 |
Bonding Strength |
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| ASTM D229 |
Dielectric Constant and Dissipation Factor |
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| ASTM D256 |
Izod Impact Test |
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| ASTM D257 |
DC Resistance Insulating Materials |
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| ASTM D412 |
Tensile – Elastomer Properties |
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| ASTM D495 |
High-Voltage, Low Current Dry Arc Resistance |
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| ASTM D570 |
Water Absorption of Plastic Materials |
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| ASTM D638 |
Tensile Properties of Thermoplastic Materials |
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| ASTM D648 |
Deflection Temperature of Polymeric Materials Under Load |
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| ASTM D695 |
Compressive Strength |
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| ASTM D790 |
Flexural Properties of Plastics |
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| ASTM D792 |
Specific Gravity of Polymers |
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| ASTM D882 |
Tensile Strength – Thin Polymeric Sheeting |
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| ASTM D903 |
Bond Strength Properties of Adhesives – Peel Strength |
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| ASTM D1002 |
Bond Strength Properties of Adhesives – Lap Shear |
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| ASTM D1042 |
Changes in Linear Dimensions of Polymeric Materials |
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| ASTM D1525 |
Vicat Softening Point of Polymeric Materials |
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| ASTM D1622 |
Density Determination of Foamed Polymer Material |
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| ASTM D1781 |
Climbing Drum Peel Test |
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| ASTM D1822 |
Tensile Impact Test |
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| ASTM D1876 |
Bond Strength Properties of Adhesives T-Peel |
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| ASTM D2095 |
Bond Strength Properties of Adhesives – Butt Joint |
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| ASTM D2583 |
Barcol Hardness |
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| ASTM D2584 |
Ignition Loss of Cured Reinforced Resins |
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| ASTM D3039 |
Tensile Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials |
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| ASTM D3045 |
Heat Aging of Plastics Without Load |
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| ASTM D3165 |
Strength Properties of Adhesives in Shear by Tension |
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| ASTM D3418 |
Differential Scanning Caloritmetry (DSC) |
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| ASTM D3638 |
Comparative Tracking Index (CTI) |
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| ASTM D3874 |
Hot Wire Ignition (HWI) |
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| ASTM D5045 |
Fracture Toughness |
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| ASTM E1640 |
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) |
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| IEC 6095-10-2 |
Ball Pressure Test |
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| IEC 60695-2-11 |
Glow-Wire Flammability (Ignitability) for End Products |
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| IEC 60695-2-12 |
Glow-Wire Flammability for Materials |
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| IEC 60695-2-13 |
Glow-Wire Flammability (Ignitability) for End Products |
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| UL 94 |
Flammability |
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Polymer and Plastic Materials Testing Resources
