As an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited (CNAS) independent laboratory, we provide comprehensive mechanical testing services for materials characterization and quality assurance across plastics, metals, composites, elastomers, and finished components. Our mechanical testing lab supports R&D, production validation, failure analysis, and regulatory compliance for global clients. Methods conform to ISO, ASTM, DIN, JIS, GB/T, and major OEM standards (automotive, aerospace, medical device).
Product Samples We Regularly Test
Our mechanical testing lab accommodates a wide variety of sample geometries and materials:
- Injection molded plastic specimens (tensile bars, flexural bars, impact disks)
- Metal sheet, plate, wire, rod, and cast samples (steel, aluminum, copper, titanium, alloys)
- Fiber reinforced composites (carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid – prepreg, laminate, sandwich panels)
- Rubber and thermoplastic elastomers (O-rings, gaskets, seals, vulcanized sheets)
- Finished components (fasteners, brackets, housings, springs, shafts, gears)
- 3D printed parts (FDM, SLA, SLS, metal powder bed fusion)
- Medical device components (syringe barrels, catheter tubes, orthopedic implants)
- Packaging materials (films, corrugated board, bottle caps, blister packs)
- Adhesives and bonded joints (lap shear, peel, T-peel specimens)
- Wood and engineered wood products (plywood, MDF, OSB, glulam)
Mechanical Testing for Plastics & Polymers
- Tensile properties (ISO 527, ASTM D638) – Universal testing machine with 5 kN to 100 kN load cell, extensometer for strain measurement. Test speed: 1 mm/min to 500 mm/min (type dependent). Parameters: tensile strength (MPa), modulus (MPa), yield stress, elongation at break (%). For films: ASTM D882. Typical requirement for ABS: tensile strength ≥ 40 MPa, elongation ≥ 15%.
- Flexural properties (ISO 178, ASTM D790) – Three‑point bending fixture, support span 16× thickness. Test speed 2 mm/min (thermoplastics) or 10 mm/min (thermosets). Report flexural strength (MPa) and flexural modulus. PC typically: flexural strength 90 MPa, modulus 2300 MPa.
- Impact resistance (Izod & Charpy) – ISO 180 (Izod), ISO 179 (Charpy), ASTM D256 (Izod). Pendulum energies: 0.5 J to 50 J. Notch types: A (0.25 mm radius), B, C. Report impact strength (kJ/m²). For automotive interior: Izod notched ≥ 4 kJ/m² at 23°C.
- Hardness (Shore A, D; Rockwell R, L, M) – ISO 868 (Shore), ISO 2039‑2 (Rockwell). Shore A for soft elastomers (30–90 A), Shore D for semi‑rigid plastics (40–80 D). Rockwell R for ABS, PC, PP.
- Compression properties (ISO 604, ASTM D695) – For load‑bearing plastic parts (e.g., spacers, insulators). Specimen height/diameter ratio 2:1. Report compressive strength (MPa) and modulus. For Nylon 6: compressive strength 70–100 MPa.
- Creep and stress relaxation (ISO 899, ASTM D2990) – Constant load or constant strain at elevated temperature (23°C, 40°C, 80°C). Duration up to 1000 hours. Measure creep strain (%) over time – critical for gaskets and spring clips.
- Friction and wear (ASTM D1894, ISO 8295) – Coefficient of static and dynamic friction using sled on film or sheet. Wear rate using pin‑on‑disk (ASTM G99) for engineering plastics (POM, PA, PTFE).
Mechanical Testing for Metals & Alloys
- Tensile testing (ISO 6892‑1, ASTM E8/E8M) – Hydraulic UTM up to 600 kN, with axial extensometer and transverse strain gauge. Test speeds: 0.00025 s⁻¹ to 0.015 s⁻¹ (strain rate control). Parameters: yield strength (Rp0.2), tensile strength (Rm), elongation A (%), reduction of area (Z%). For steel S355: yield ≥ 355 MPa, tensile 470–630 MPa, elongation ≥ 22%.
- High temperature tensile (ISO 6892‑2, ASTM E21) – Furnace chamber up to 1200°C. For creep‑resistant alloys (e.g., Inconel, stainless steel 310). Report yield and tensile at 500°C, 700°C, 900°C.
- Hardness testing (Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers, Knoop) – Rockwell B/C (ISO 6508), Brinell HBW (ISO 6506), Vickers HV (ISO 6507). For hardened steel: HRC 40–60. For aluminum: HB 30–150.
- Impact (Charpy V‑notch, ISO 148‑1, ASTM E23) – Pendulum 300 J, test temperature from -60°C to +40°C (using cryobox or heating chamber). Report absorbed energy (J) and lateral expansion (mm). For structural steel at -20°C: Charpy ≥ 27 J.
- Bend and re‑bend test (ISO 7438, ASTM E290) – For rebar, sheet metal, welds. Bend angle 90° to 180° around mandrel of specified diameter (e.g., 3× thickness). Inspect for cracks on outer radius.
- Shear strength (ASTM B831, ISO 8749) – Double shear or single shear for bolts, rivets, pins. For aluminum rivet: shear load ≥ 3.5 kN.
- Fatigue testing (ISO 1099, ASTM E466) – Rotating bending or axial servo‑hydraulic up to 100 kN, 100 Hz. Determine S‑N curve (stress vs. cycles) at R‑ratio -1, 0.1, or 0.5. Endurance limit for carbon steel (10⁷ cycles) typically 0.4× tensile strength.
- Fracture toughness (K₁c, J₁c – ISO 12135, ASTM E399) – For high‑strength alloys and structural integrity assessment. Use compact tension (CT) or three‑point bend specimens with fatigue pre‑crack. Report K₁c (MPa·√m).
Mechanical Testing for Fiber Reinforced Composites
- Tensile (ISO 527‑4, ASTM D3039) – For multidirectional laminates, test speed 2 mm/min. Use tabbed specimens to prevent grip crushing. Report ultimate tensile strength (UTS), modulus, Poisson’s ratio. Carbon fiber/epoxy (0/90/±45): UTS 500–800 MPa, modulus 50–70 GPa.
- Compression (ISO 14126, ASTM D6641) – Combined loading compression (CLC) fixture or shear loading fixture. Report compressive strength and modulus. For unidirectional carbon: compressive strength often 70–80% of tensile.
- Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS – ISO 14130, ASTM D2344) – Short beam shear (SBS) with span/thickness ratio 5:1. Test speed 1 mm/min. Report ILSS (MPa). For aerospace grade prepreg: ILSS ≥ 80 MPa.
- In‑plane shear (ISO 14129, ASTM D3518) – ±45° tensile test method. Calculate shear modulus G₁₂ and shear strength. For glass/polyester: G₁₂ ≈ 3–5 GPa.
- Open hole tension/compression (ASTM D5766, D6484) – For bolted joint design. Specimen with 6 mm hole, measure notched strength retention. Acceptable: notched strength ≥ 70% of unnotched.
- Falling weight impact (ISO 6603, ASTM D5628) – Drop tower with instrumented tup, energy up to 150 J. Measure peak force, energy to failure, and failure mode (ductile/brittle). For composite sandwich panels: critical energy 20–50 J for dent detection.
- Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness (G₁c – ISO 15024, ASTM D5528) – Double cantilever beam (DCB) with piano hinges. Calculate G₁c from compliance calibration. Typical for carbon/epoxy: G₁c = 200–500 J/m².
Mechanical Testing for Rubber & Elastomers
- Tensile properties (ISO 37, ASTM D412) – Dumbbell specimens (Type 1, 2, 3) with 500 mm/min test speed. Report tensile strength (MPa), elongation at break (%), stress at 100%/200%/300% elongation (modulus). For EPDM: tensile ≥ 10 MPa, elongation ≥ 300%.
- Tear strength (ISO 34‑1, ASTM D624) – Trouser (nicked) or angle (crescent) specimen. Test speed 500 mm/min. Report tear strength (kN/m). For natural rubber: tear strength 30–80 kN/m.
- Compression set (ISO 815, ASTM D395) – Constant deflection in compression (25% or 50%) at 23°C, 70°C, or 100°C for 22h or 72h. Report compression set (%). For automotive seals at 100°C: set ≤ 25%.
- Hardness (Shore A, Shore D, IRHD) – ISO 7619‑1, ASTM D2240. Shore A 30–90 for rubber; IRHD (International Rubber Hardness Degrees) for thin sheets (≤ 6 mm).
- Resilience (rebound resilience – ISO 4662, ASTM D7121) – Pendulum or falling ball method. Report rebound percentage. For vibration isolators: resilience 40–60%.
- Tension set (ISO 2285, ASTM D412 set after break) – After elongation to 100% or 200%, relax for 10 min, measure permanent elongation (%). Acceptable ≤ 10% for dynamic seals.
- Abrasion resistance (ISO 4649, ASTM D5963) – Rotating drum with abrasive paper, measure volume loss (mm³). For tire tread rubber: volume loss ≤ 150 mm³.
Mechanical Testing for Fasteners, Springs & Finished Components
- Proof load and tensile strength for bolts (ISO 898‑1, ASTM F606) – Wedge loading for bolts, full‑size tensile. For grade 8.8 steel: proof load ≥ 580 MPa, tensile ≥ 800 MPa.
- Torsional testing (ISO 7800, ASTM E143) – For torsion springs, drive shafts, fasteners up to 500 N·m. Report torque vs. angle (deg). Yield torque and ultimate torque.
- Spring constant (ISO 21687, ASTM D855) – Compression or tension spring test. Measure stiffness (N/mm) at 20% to 80% of free length.
- Push‑out and pull‑out force for inserts (ASTM D4843) – For threaded inserts in plastic or composite panels. Report maximum pull‑out force (N).
- Micro‑hardness on welded joints and HAZ (ISO 9015, ASTM E384) – Vickers HV 0.1 to HV 10. Map hardness profile across weld centerline for heat treatment verification.
Report Accreditation & Compliance
All mechanical testing methods described above are performed under our ISO/IEC 17025:2017 scope (CNAS accreditation No. LXXXX). Our comprehensive mechanical testing services for materials characterization and quality assurance reports are accepted by global regulatory bodies and certification schemes including: FDA (medical device mechanical risk assessment), European Notified Bodies (CE – MDR/IVDR), China NMPA, UL, TÜV Rheinland, Intertek, automotive OEMs (Volkswagen, Ford, Tesla, Toyota), aerospace primes (Boeing, Airbus via Nadcap recognition), and construction authorities (ICC‑ES, BBA). Each report includes raw stress‑strain data, load‑extension curves, specimen dimensions, test speed, environmental conditions (temperature/humidity), calibration certificates of the UTM and extensometers, uncertainty budgets, and a clear statement of conformity against specified limits (e.g., ASTM, ISO, or customer drawing). Materials engineers, R&D teams, and procurement managers can directly use our data for material selection, supplier qualification, design validation, and failure investigation.
