Scope:
Tensile tests measure the
force required to break a specimen and the extent to which the specimen
stretches or elongates to that breaking point. The data is often used to specify
material, to design parts to withstand application forces and as a quality
control check of materials.
Test Procedure:
Place specimens in the grips
of the Instron at a specified gage length and pull until failure. The testing speed is determined by the
material specification. An
extensometer can also be attached to test specimen to determine elongation and
tensile modulus.
Specimen
Size:
Dumbbell or ring specimen is
required. It can be either
injection molded or cut from a flat sheet.
Data:
The
following calculations are the most common results given:
1.
tensile strength (at yield
and at break)
2.
tensile modulus (for
elastomers, this is stress at a given % strain)
3.
strain
4.
elongation and percent
elongation at yield
5.
elongation and percent
elongation at break
There are additional
calculations and a variety of units (lbs, psi, MPa, kN,
etc.)
Equipment used at Plastics
Technology Laboratories, Inc.:
Instron Universal
Tester
Pneumatic
Grips
1000%
Extensometer
**Please
note that this test description is intentionally generic in nature and aimed at
providing a descriptive summary to enhance test understanding. For more
information please contact a
PTLI Technical Representative at ptli@ptli.com
. Due to copyright restrictions, we are not able to provide copies of
standards. Standards can be obtained from www.astm.org,
www.iso.ch/iso/en, www.sae.org
or other appropriate standards authorities.
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