PMIC > Testing Services > Mechanical Properties

Mechanical Properties Testing

MECH Mechanical Load Frame Properties

Table showing showing the machine capabilities and limits of PMIC's mechanical testing load frame.
United DTM 100KN Table Top UTMCapabilities
Temperature Range20 K to 873 K
(-253 °C to 600 °C)
Force Measurement Accuracy± 0.5 % reading or 0.01 % capacity, whichever is greater
Force Measurement Repeatability± 0.25 % reading or 0.005 % capacity, whichever is greater
Strain Measurement Accuracy0.5 µm
Strain Measuerment Repeatability0.25 µm
Strain Measurement Resolution0.0004 % of range
Link to United Testing Systems brochureThe values above come from PMIC's in-house validation of the United DTM 100KN Table Top UTM and may not match values available from United Testing Systems.

PMIC has performed at temperature testing of mechanical properties for over nineteen years.

PMIC can perform many mechanical tests using extensometers to measure changes in the length of specimens as a part of stress-strain measurements.  Strain gauges, sensors that deform as specimens deform and change their electrical resistance as a measurable indication of stresses, may also be used.

Mechanical testing parameters may include stress and strain, Poisson’s Ratio, Young’s Modulus, break detection, yield point, elongation, etc.  The United Testing Systems’ mechanical load frame is a versatile tool and PMIC has experience using the manufacturer’s wide selection of grips as well as custom-design grips for non-standard mechanical testing.

PMIC offers high-resolution metrology to enhance mechanical properties test results, as shown in Video 1.  Please see our Additional Services page for details about our optical systems.

Video 1: Specimen under compression load.  ARAMIS software shows deflection of espX and espY with real-time digital image correlation.

ARAMIS Camera by Trilion
The optical capabilities of the Trilion ARAMIS offer an expansion of PMIC’s abilities to measure and characterize strain and displacement during testing. ARAMIS can provide accurate measurement resolution of coordinates, displacements, velocities, accelerations, surface strain in both standard and experimental testing. The image mapping and custom calculation features allow PMIC to enhance a number of test features. ARAMIS is a feature of PMIC’s mechanical test system for Poisson’s ratio, Young’s modulus, limit curve, shear modulus, and residual stress analysis. Please see the example above. PMIC is ready to use this tool to enhance visual analysis and understanding in other testing.

MECH ASTM Standards

A searchable list of the ASTM standards by which PMIC has performed mechanical properties testing to or based mechanical properties testing on.
ASTM StandardNamePropertyMaterial
D1621Standard Test method for Compressive Properties of Rigid Cellular PlasticsCompressionPlastics
D1623Standard Test method for Tensile and Tensile Adhesion Properties of Rigid Cellular PlasticsTensilePlastics
D638Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of PlasticsTensilePlastics
D695Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Rigid PlasticsCompressionPlastics
D790Standard Test methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating MaterialsFlexurePlastics
C1161Standard Test Method for Flatwise Tensile Strength of Sandwich ConstructionsTensileSandwich
C165Standard Test Method for Measuring Compressive Properties of Thermal InsulationsCompressionInsulation
B557Standard Test methods for Tension testing Wrought and Cast Aluminum- and Magnesium-Alloy ProductsTensionAlloys
D882Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic SheetingTensilePlastics
D1002Standard Test Method for Apparent Shear Strength of Single-Lap-Joint Adhesively Bonded metal Specimens by Tension Loading (Metal-to-Metal)ShearAlloys
D3039Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite MaterialsTensileComposites
D3163Standard Test Method for Determining Strength of Adhesively Bonded Rigid Plastic Lap-Shear Joints in Shear by Tension LoadingShearPlastics
D3846Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Strength of Reinforced PlasticsShearPlastics
D5035Standard Test Method for Breaking Force and Elongation of Textile Fabrics (Strip Method)BreakingTextiles