Materials Testing

Non-destructive and destructive material testing/material testing examines the mechanical strength of a material until it breaks or reaches a certain deformation. The tests can take place under different environmental conditions.

Through material characteristic values materials testing delivers a clear definition of the material properties, which in turn allows for the comparison between different materials.

Materials testing is not only performed at research institutes, it also helps companies obtain valuable knowledge for the development of new products, and the improvement of existing products.

Overview of test types Destructive materials testing Non-destructive materials testing
Testing machines for static tests Testing machines for dynamic tests

Standardized test methods (e.g. by ASTM and ISO) play a central role in mechanical materials testing and component testing and are recognized worldwide to ensure quality and safety in various industries. They provide precise specifications for test procedures, test conditions and test equipment:

Overview of standards

Tensile Testing

to Tensile Testing

Compression testing

and compression testing machines

to Compression testing

Flexure Testing

to Flexure Testing

Fatigue test

Definition and description

to Fatigue test

Fracture mechanics

Crack growth, crack propagation and crack arrestability

to Fracture mechanics

Hardness testing and hardness testing methods

to Hardness testing and hardness testing methods

Impact Testing

to Impact Testing

Drop weight test

to Drop weight test

Creep Test

to Creep Test

Biaxial Test

to Biaxial Test

High-Speed Tensile Test

to High-Speed Tensile Test

Test methods for sheet metal forming

to Test methods for sheet metal forming

Component Testing

to Component Testing

Test Methods for Materials Testing

There are a variety of test methods that can be applied in materials testing:

In (quasi-) static testing or static materials testing loading on the specimen is slow and constant. In static materials testing the strength and deformation behavior of specimens and components, predominantly subjected to tension, compression, and flexure, as well as shearing or torsion, is determined. Static materials testing, relative to dynamic materials testing is performed with lower test speeds.

For dynamic testing the specimen is subjected to an impact load or the load periodically influences the specimen over a longer period of time. Dynamic materials testing refers to the (destructive) test on materials or components, which is performed with quick movement (dynamic). Examples include pendulum impact testers, drop weight testers, high-speed tests (puncture or high-speed tensile tests).

Cyclic materials testing/fatigue testing: in cyclic materials testing, loading on the specimen takes place in continuously recurring load cycles. Depending on the machine, these load cycles can be in the form of tensile/compression, pulsating or alternating load in sinusoidal shape, triangle shape, etc.

Destructive Testing

In destructive testing, specimens are machined from a material and tested for mechanical or chemical loads. The specimen is destroyed or altered (on the surface). After the test, the tested component, or material specimen can no longer be used.

Destructive materials testing plays a particularly important role in the automotive and aerospace industries, since material fatigue presents a very high risk factor in these sectors. At the same time, materials and components testing has become indispensable in the medical industry.

In most test methods the specimen is destroyed:

Non-Destructive Testing

In non-destructive testing (NDT), the quality of a specimen is tested without damaging it. In this way it can be ensured that the material quality is high enough for further processing and that it can reliably withstand loads for the long-term.

Non-destructive test methods include:

Application Examples for Non-Destructive Materials Testing

Film

The static and dynamic friction test is part of non-destructive materials testing.

Indentation hardness of standard specimens ISO 2439

Foam material

Indentation hardness is measured on a foam specimen.

Spray bottle

Non-destructive function test on a spray bottle

Parts and Components of a Materials Testing Machine

Fundamentally all materials testing machines have comparable parts and components. Many different components are adapted to the load frame:

Electronics Specimen grips Extensometers Load cells Testing software

Standardized test methods in mechanical materials testing

Materials testing includes a variety of test methods with which the behavior and material characteristics of standard specimen materials or finished parts and components (components testing) under mechanical, thermal or chemical loads are determined. The requirements for the test procedures differ in the various industries and are mainly defined in ISO standards and ASTM standards, but also in industry-specific standards and manufacturers' factory standards.

Here you will find an overview of important standardized test methods in mechanical materials testing and component testing:

Short description	Standards
Hydrogen & metals \| KIH test	ASTM D1681
Composites & plastics \| Compression test (end loading)	ASTM D695, EN 2850 method B, BSS type III & IV
Medical \| Cleanrooms	ISO 14644-1, ISO 14644-14, VDI 2083 Page 9.1
Paper & cardboard \| Flexure test / quality of creasings	ISO 2493-1, ISO 5628, DIN 53121, DIN 55437-3, DIN 19304
Metals \| Thermomechanical fatigue (TMF)	ISO 12111, ASTM E2368
Construction materials \| Glass & roof tile \| Flexure test	EN 1288, EN 538, EN 491
Plastics \| Films \| Tensile test	ISO 527-3
Autoinjectors	ISO 11608-5
Plastics \| Pipes \| Ring stiffness / ring flexibility	ISO 9969, ISO 13967, ISO 13968, ASTM D2412, ASTM D5356, EN 1288, EN 538, EN 491
Medical \| Testing of face masks	ISO 16900, ASTM D5035
Textiles \| Thread, yarn, twine \| Tensile tests	ISO 2062, ISO 11566, DIN EN 12562, DIN 53835-2, DIN 53835-3
Medical \| Luer/Luer lock connection - replaced by ISO 80369	ISO 594-1, ISO 594-2
Metals \| Sheet metal \| Cupping test to Erichsen & Olsen	ISO 20482, ASTM E643-86
Plastics \| Tensile test	ISO 527-1, ISO 527-2
Metals \| Sheet metal \| Earing test	ISO 11531, DIN EN 1669
Metals \| Sheet metal \| Hole expansion test, edge crack sensitivity	ISO 16630
Metals \| Tensile test (ambient temperature)	ISO 6892-1
Paper \| Tissue \| Burst strength / puncture test	ISO 12625-9
Plastics \| Elastomers \| Tensile test	ASTM D412
Compression test with shear loading	ISO 14126 method 1, ASTM D3410, EN 2850 method A, AITM1-0008 type A
Metals \| Tubes \| Ring tensile test	ISO 8496, DIN 50138
Metals \| Tubes \| Tube-flattening test	ISO 8492, DIN 50136
Hydrogen & metals \| Material failure due to hydrogen embrittlement	ASTM F1624
Metals \| Tubes \| Drift-expanding test	ISO 8493, DIN 50135
Metals \| Specimens \| Tensile test	DIN 50125
Plastics \| Tensile test	ASTM D638
Hydrogen & metals \| Hydrogen embrittlement of steel in coating process	ASTM F519
Composites \| Compression test (combined loading)	ISO 14126 method 2, ASTM D6641, AITM1-0008
Metals \| Tubes \| Flanging test	ISO 8494, DIN 50139
Composites\| Notched compression test (OHC, FHC)	ASTM D6484, ASTM D6742, BSS 7260 type I, AITM1-0008
Metals \| Tubes \| Ring-expanding test	ISO 8495, DIN 50137
Metals \| Tensile test (elevated temperature)	ISO 6892-2
Composites \| Tensile test	ISO 527-4, ISO 527-5
Composites \| Tensile test	ASTM D3039
Metals \| Tensile test (elevated temperature)	ASTM E21
Paper & cardboard \| Short-span compressive strength test (S-test)	DIN 5014
Plastics \| Films \| Tensile test	ASTM D882
Plastics \| Flexible foam \| Collective standard for various tests	ASTM D3574
Metals \| Tensile test (ambient temperature)	ASTM E8
Plastics \| Tensile test at high strain rates (high-speed tensile test)	ISO 18872, ISO 18989 (draft), VDA 287, SAE J2749
Medical \| Hip implants \| Fatigue testing femoral shaft / finite life fatigue	ISO 7206-4, ISO 7206-6
Medical \| Hip implants \| Compression/tensile test modular femoral heads	ISO 7206-10
Medical \| Hip implants \| Deformation test method acetabular shell	ISO 7206-12
Medical \| Hip implants \| Forces for disassembly of acetabular shell / liner	ASTM F1820
Medical \| Hip implants \| Resistance to torque on femoral head - femoral shaft	ISO 7206-13
Medical \| Hip implants \| Force for disassembly taper connection	ASTM F2009
Medical \| Hip implants \| Fatigue strength of ceramic femoral heads	ASTM F2345
Medical \| Hip implants \| Fatigue test metallic femoral stems	ASTM F2580
Medical \| Knee implants \| Fatigue test tibial tray	ISO 14879-1, ASTM F1800
Metals \| Low cycle fatigue test (LCF)	ISO 12106, ASTM E606
Construction materials \| Wood \| Tensile and flexure test	ASTM D1037, EN 311, EN 320, EN 319, DIN 52186
Textiles \| Straps, belts, ropes, cordage \| Tensile tests / adhesion tests	ISO 2307, ISO 252, ISO 283, DIN EN 1492
Metals \| Sheet metal \| Cupping test, forming limit curve (FLC)	ISO 12004
Metals \| Sheet metal \| Earing test, Fukui	JIS Z2249
Cardboard \| Corrugated board \| Kink resistance	DIN 54608
Paper \| Tissue \| Tensile test dry	ISO 12625-4
Medical \| Spinal implants \| Static & dynamic test / vertebrectomy model	ISO 12189, ASTM F1717, ASTM F2706
Medical \| Dental implants \| Fatigue test	ISO 14801
Medical \| Packaging \| Residual seal force (RSF) vial	USP 1207
Medical \| Insulin pens and pen injectors \| Quality assurance test	ISO 11608-1, ISO 11608-2, ISO 11608-3, USP 1383, USP 382
Metals \| Hardness Rockwell	ISO 6508, ASTM E18
Metals \| Hardness Jominy end quench test (Jominy test)	ISO 642, ASTM A255
Plastics \| Flexible foam \| Compression stress value	ISO 3386, ISO 3386-1, ISO 3386-2
Plastics \| Flexible foam \| Indentation hardness	ISO 2439, DIN 53579
Paper & cardboard \| Flexure test (2-point)	ISO 2493-1, ISO 5628, DIN 53121, DIN 55437-3, DIN 19304
Plastics \| Pipes \| Creep test	ISO 9967
Plastics \| Impact strength Charpy	ISO 179-1, ISO 179-2, ASTM D6110
Metals \| Fatigue test (S-N curve test)	ISO 1099, ASTM E466-15, DIN 50100
Textiles \| Tests on textile fabrics, coated fabrics, geotextiles	ISO 13934-1, ISO 13937-2, ISO 9073-4, ISO 3303, ISO 12236, ISO 10319, ISO 4606
Metals \| Sheet metal \| Cupping test, bulge	ISO 16808
Paper & cardboard \| Flexure test (4-point)	ISO 5628, DIN 53121
Paper \| Tissue \| Tensile test wet	ISO 12625-5
Medical \| Dental industry \| Flexural strength ceramics	ISO 6872, EN 843-1
Medical \| Catheter \| Tensile test	ISO 10555
Composites \| Compression after impact (CAI)	ISO 18352, ASTM D7136, ASTM D7137, AITM1-0010, BSS 7260 type II
Medical \| Medical examination gloves \| Tensile test	ISO 11193-1, ISO 11193-2
Medical \| Syringes, prefilled \| Test method for assessing integrity and functionality	ISO 11040, ISO 11040-4, ISO 11040-6, ISO 11040-8, USP 1383, USP 382
Plastics \| Impact strength Izod	ASTM D256
Metals \| Hardness Vickers	ISO 6507, ASTM E384
Paper & cardboard \| Internal bond test / Z-direction tensile test	ISO 15754, TAPPI T 541
Plastics \| Films \| Puncture resistance	ASTM F1306, ASTM D5748, EN 14477
Textiles \| Finished products \| Tensile tests	EN 71, BS 4162, DIN EN 1492, BS 3084
Metals \| Sheet metal \| Cupping test, VW test	PV 1054
Plastics \| Impact strength Izod	ISO 180
Cardboard \| Corrugated board \| Box crush and stacking crush test	ISO 12048, TAPPI T 804
Plastics \| Components \| Dynstat test	DIN 53435
Plastics \| Flexible foam \| Tensile properties	ISO 1798
Plastics \| Flexible foam \| Tear strength	ISO 8067
Plastics \| Impact test, tensile	ISO 8256, ASTM D1822
Composites \| Flexure tests	ISO 14125, ASTM D7264, EN 2562, EN 2746
Plastics \| Pipes \| Tensile properties	ISO 6259-1, ISO 6259-2, ISO 6259-3, ISO 8521, ISO 8513, ASTM D2105, ASTM D2290, EN 1393, EN 1394
Plastics \| Puncture test on test plates	ISO 6603-2, ASTM D3763
Plastics \| 3-point flexure test	ISO 178
Plastics \| 3-point flexure test	ASTM D790
Metals \| Hardness Brinell	ISO 6506, ASTM E10
Metals \| Flexure test	ISO 7438, ISO 8491
Paper \| Coefficient of friction	TAPPI T 549
Medical \| Spinal implants \| Tests on intervertebral body fusion devices	ASTM F2077, ASTM F2267
Cardboard \| Corrugated board \| Edge crush test (ECT)	ISO 3037, TAPPI T 811
Plastics \| Films \| Coefficient of friction (COF)	ISO 8295
Medical \| Stents \| Radial compression test	ASTM F3067
Medical \| Syringes \| Plunger glide force	ISO 7886-1, USP 1383, USP 382
Metals \| Sheet metal \| r-value	ISO 10113
Plastics \| Flexible foam \| Constant-load pounding test	ISO 3385
Plastics \| Pipes \| Crack growth	ISO 18488, ISO 18489
Metals \| Sheet metal \| n-value	ISO 10275
Plastics \| Melt flow test (MFR, MVR)	ISO 1133, ISO 1133-1, ISO 1133-2
Plastics \| Melt flow test (MFR, MVR, FRR)	ASTM D1238, ASTM D3364
Metals \| Fracture mechanics crack growth da/dN	ASTM D647
Metals \| Fracture mechanics critical stress intensity factor K1C	ASTM E399
Metals \| Notched specimen impact test Charpy	ISO 148-1
Cardboard \| Corrugated board \| Flat crush test (FCT)	ISO 3035, TAPPI T 825
Metals \| Notched specimen impact test Charpy & Izod	ASTM E23
Metals \| Concrete-reinforcing steel \| Tensile, flexure and fatigue test	ISO 15630-1, ASTM E488, BS 4449
Metals \| Concrete-reinforcing steel \| Shear test	ISO 15630-2
Composites \| Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS)	ISO 14130, ASTM D2344, EN 2377, EN 2563
Metals \| Steel strands \| Tensile and fatigue test	ISO 15630-3, ASTM A416, ASTM A1061
Metals \| Threaded fasteners \| Tensile, test force, impact, hardness and torsion test	ISO 898-1, ISO 3506-1, ASTM F606-1
Metals \| Nuts \| Test force, hardness and widening test	ISO 898-2, ISO 3506-2, ASTM F606-2
Metals \| Threaded fasteners \| Fatigue test	ISO 3800, DIN 969, MIL-STD-1312
Metals \| Drop weight test	DIN EN 10274, API 5L
Metals \| Hardness Leeb	ISO 16859, ASTM A965
Medical \| Luer/Luer lock connection	ISO 80369-7, ISO 80369-20
Plastics \| Films \| Coefficient of friction (COF)	ASTM D1894
Metals \| Hardness surface hardness depth (SHD), effective hardening depth (DS)	EN 10328
Plastics \| Adhesive tape \| Peel adhesion / Peel test	ASTM D3330
Metals \| Hardness nitriding hardness depth (NHD)	DIN 50190-3
Paper \| Zero-span tensile test	TAPPI T 231
Metals \| Hardness case hardness depth (CHD)	ISO 2639
Metals \| Hardness Vickers & Knoop	ASTM E92
Cardboard \| Corrugated board \| Puncture test	DIN 53142-2
Plastics \| Rigid foam \| Compression test	ISO 844, ASTM D1621, EN 826
Composites \| Strength of adhesive bonds (lap shear test)	ASTM D5868, EN 6060, AITM1-0019
Medical \| Bone plates \| Flexural strength	ISO 9585, ASTM F382
Plastics \| Heat deflection temperature (HDT), Vicat softening temperature (VST)	ISO 75, ISO 306, ASTM D648, ASTM D1525
Paper & cardboard \| Compressive strength / short clamping test (SCT)	ISO 9895, TAPPI T 826, DIN 54518
Cardboard \| Heavy corrugated board burst test	ISO 2758, ISO 2759
Composites \| Shear test (in plane shear test)	ISO 14129, ASTM D3518, AITM1-0002
Medical \| Bone screws \| Mechanical properties	ISO 6475, ASTM F543
Medical \| Cannulas & needles \| Break resistance	ISO 9626
Plastics \| Pipes \| Vicat softening temperature	IISO 2507-1, EN ISO 2507-2, EN ISO 2507-3
Paper & cardboard \| Ring crush test (RCT)	ISO 12192, TAPPI T 822
Cardboard \| Folding carton board \| Test creasings	DIN 55437-1
Composites \| Shear test V-notch (Iosipescu & V-notch rail)	ASTM D5379, ASTM D7078
Paper \| Flat crush resistance / corrugated medium test (CMT)	ISO 7263, TAPPI T 809
Composites \| Energy release rate G	ISO 15024, ISO 15144, ASTM D5528, ASTM D7905, ASTM D6671, EN 6033, EN 6034,AITM1-0005, AITM1-0006, BSS 7273
Hardness tests plastics	ISO 2039-1, ISO 2039-2, ASTM D785
Plastics \| Pipes \| Impact tests	ISO 9854-1, ISO 9854-2, ISO 3127, ISO 7628-2, ASTM D2444
Shore hardness test plastics and elastomers	ISO 48-4, ASTM D2240
Paper & cardboard \| Burst test	ISO 2758, ISO 2759
Plastics \| Creep tests	ISO 899-1, ISO 899-2, ISO 16770, ASTM D2990
Paper & cardboard \| Tensile test dry	ISO 1924-2, TAPPI T 494
Paper & cardboard \| Wet tensile test	ISO 3781, TAPPI T 456

Products for Static Materials Testing

The ZwickRoell Group is the world's leading supplier/manufacturer of testing machines for static materials testing, specially designed for tensile tests, compression tests, flexure tests, shear tests and torsion tests.

Our static materials testing machines are suitable for testing applications in all areas, whether in quality control or research projects, delivering outstanding performance in challenging materials and components testing.

Products for Dynamic Materials Testing

For decades, the ZwickRoell Group has been successfully providing solutions for dynamic materials testing. Our experts work hand in hand with our customers, and therefore guarantee the perfect solution for every industry.