Polymer Mechanical Testing Services
MECHANICAL TESTING SERVICES FOR POLYMER, COMPOSITE, AND ELASTOMERIC MATERIALS
Mechanical testing quantifies how non-metallic materials behave under structural forces. Because polymers and composites exhibit complex, visco-elastic behaviors, precise mechanical characterization is essential to determine material performance under varying loads, speeds, and temperatures.
Whether evaluating raw material properties independent of geometry or analyzing finished parts under strict dimensional configurations, our testing achieves three universal goals:
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA): Generating accurate stress-strain data, moduli, and elongation parameters to fuel digital design models.
- Cure Cycle Quality Control: Utilizing rapid, destructive tests to verify the molecular cross-linking and structural integrity of a cured matrix.
- Batch-to-Batch Comparison: Benchmarking different material lots or incoming supplier shipments to ensure strict quality consistency.
Core Mechanical Testing Methodologies
Depending on the direction and type of stress your component will face in service, we deploy a suite of specialized mechanical evaluations:
IMR has load frame capabilities from 1lb up to 27,000 lbs for mechanical testing, using a wide variety of grips and extensometry.
IMR performs a variety of compression tests using ASTM based fixtures, as well as strain gaging, for the most accurate data.
IMR utilizes a variety of 3 pt. and 4 pt. bend fixtures, allowing for specimens of all sizes, to determine material characteristics.
The purpose of the test is to assess adhesive properties or bond quality when it is undesirable to exceed the yield point of the adherend in tension.
Contact our experienced team of engineers and lab technicians with your challenges and we'll collaborate with you to develop solutions.
The water jet cutting process is an effective form of precision cold-cutting for preparing materials for testing samples.
Advanced Testing Capabilities & Support Services
To ensure the absolute highest accuracy for your mechanical data, our laboratory features specialized testing equipment and preparation tools:
- High-Capacity Load Frames: Our facility operates precision universal testing machines with load capacities ranging from 1 lb. up to 27,000 lbs., allowing us to test everything from micro-medical polymers to massive industrial composite panels.
- Advanced Extensometry & Strain Gaging: We utilize a wide variety of contact extensometers, non-contact video extensometers, and high-precision strain gages to capture ultra-accurate deformation data.
- Custom Testing Programs: When standard ASTM paths don't fit, our engineering team collaborates directly with you to develop custom fixtures and multi-stage testing programs tailored to your exact operational challenges.
- Precision Waterjet Specimen Preparation: To guarantee that machining defects don't skew your mechanical test data, we utilize a high-precision, cold-cutting waterjet process to prepare perfectly dimensioned coupons without introducing a heat-affected zone (HAZ) or micro-cracks.
