Testing Services

Summary of Testing Services

Adhesion Testing (stylus, single point technique)

  • sample tested "as is", no pre-test handling and manipulation that affect the results
  • provide failure load for chipping, cracking, delamination, etc
  • better reproducibility and better comparative test than conventional shear strength testing
  • technique can distinguish samples with difference in properties smaller than 1%

Adhesion Testing (tensile mode)

  • Peel test
  • Pull test
  • Seal strength

Coefficient of Friction

  • Static and dynamic (kinetic)
  • Moving sled on stationary plane technique
  • ASTM D1894, G99, G133, G143, G171 and custom setups

Creep, Elastic Modulus & Stiffness

  • creep is measured using either instrumented indentation, tensile testing or compression testing
  • elastic modulus is measured using either instrumented indentation or tensile testing
  • stiffness is measured using instrumented indentation
  • instrumented indentation technique can distinguish samples with difference in properties smaller than 0.5%

Fracture Toughness & Cracking

  • fracture toughness is measured using instrumented indentation
  • scratch testing can also be used to study cracking (crack initiation and propagation)

Hardness - Instrumented Indentation Testing (IIT) - Nanoindentation and Micro Indentation

  • bulk materials and coatings
  • glass, ceramic, metal, polymer, plastic, composite
  • hard, soft, elastic materials
  • technique can distinguish samples with difference in properties smaller than 0.5%

Hardness - Micro, Vickers

  • bulk materials
  • coating thicker than 100microns (0.004inch)
  • thinner coatings possible on a polished cross-section

Hardness - Rockwell

  • regular and superficial scales
  • 1/100th point resolution
  • estimation of tensile strength by indentation testing (metals)

Hardness - Shore durometer

  • rubbers, elastomers, plastics/polymers

Instrumented Indentation Testing (IIT) - Nanoindentation and Micro Indentation

  • bulk materials and coatings
  • glass, ceramic, metal, polymer, plastic, composite
  • hard, soft, elastic materials
  • hardness, elastic modulus, stiffness, creep and fracture toughness
  • properties in function of depth
  • uniformity of material in function of depth
  • results do not depend on residual imprint and operator
  • technique can distinguish samples with difference in properties smaller than 0.5%

Mechanical Testing (tensile, compression, flexural/bending, shear)

  • Standards and custom setups
  • Adhesion
  • Creep & relaxation
  • Elongation
  • Puncture resistance
  • Pull-out force
  • Push-out force
  • Seal strength
  • Tensile strength
  • Break and rupture testing
  • Cyclic testing
  • Height measurement
  • Single and multi-stage custom designed testing

Nanoindentation and Micro Indentation

  • bulk materials and coatings
  • glass, ceramic, metal, polymer, plastic, composite
  • hard, soft, elastic materials
  • hardness, elastic modulus, stiffness, creep and fracture toughness
  • properties in function of depth
  • uniformity of material in function of depth
  • results do not depend on residual imprint and operator
  • technique can distinguish samples with difference in properties smaller than 0.5%

Scratch Resistance Testing, comparative test for:

  • cracking
  • marring
  • relative hardness
  • scratch hardness
  • permanent deformation/plastic deformation
  • resistance to puncture

Wear & Abrasion Testing

  • Standards and custom setups
  • test path: circular or linear reciprocated
  • kinetic coefficient of friction, with or without wear
  • wear rate