UL Materials Testing and Certification (English)
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The UL Solutions' plastics testing laboratories can carry out the following mechanical tests for you. The reference standards used for each test method are listed in the right-hand table column.
The mechanical properties are determined not only by the material properties but also by the product design, which is why only finished parts can be tested for certification purposes. Mechanical tests are also performed on test specimens in conjunction with hot-air aging tests (RTI) and other conditioning methods, e.g. weathering (f1 or f2).
Tensile Strength
This test method is used to assess the behaviour of plastics when subjected to uniaxial tensile stress.
The advantage of the tensile test is that even ductile materials can be tested to complete break point. The elasticity modulus (E modulus) serves as a parameter for comparing different materials and is a measure of stiffness. The test is possible within a temperature range from –40°C to +230°C.
Standards for Tensile test
UL746A, ASTM D638, ISO 527-2, ASTM D412, ISO 1798, ASTM D882, ISO 527-3, or equivalent standards
Bending Test
This test method enables the strength and dimensional change properties of plastics to be determined when subjected to three-point loading.
Three-point loading produces tensile, compressive and shear stresses in the test specimen. The elasticity modulus (E modulus) serves as a parameter for comparing different materials and is a measure of stiffness. The test is possible within a temperature range from –40°C to +230°C.
Standards for bending test
UL 746A, ASTM D790, ISO 178, or equivalent standards
Tensile Impact Test
The tensile impact test is a tensile test with a very high deformation speed.
However, the only value determined is the impact energy consumed. The tensile impact test frequently has a large spread of measured values. It should consequently only be used if no break occurs in impact or notched impact tests or if it is expressly required, for example in case of thermal ageing according to UL 746 B in order to determine the TI.
Standards for tensile impact test
UL 746A, ASTM D1822, ISO 8256, or equivalent standards
Izod Impact Test
The Izod impact test is a quick and simple test to facilitate a comparative material assessments. Amongst other things, it is used to investigate the effects of changed formulation, compounding or injection molding conditions on the test specimen. Different effects can be simulated by varying the temperature and the notch shape.
Notched test specimens must be used in order to produce a break in ductile materials. The test is possible within a temperature range from -60°C to +80°C.
Charpy Impact Test
The Charpy impact test is a quick and simple test to facilitate a comparative material assessment. Amongst other things, it is used to investigate the effects of changed formulation, compounding or injection molding conditions on the test specimen.
In the Charpy test, the test specimens are subjected to stress in a set-up similar to the three-point loading test and broken as soon as they are sufficiently brittle. Notched test specimens must be used in order to produce a break in ductile materials. The test is possible within a temperature range from –60°C to +80°C.
Standards for Charpy impact test
UL 746A, ASTM D6110, ISO 179-1, ISO 179-2, or equivalent standards
- Results of the Tensile test method
Values for stress and strain such as:
- Tensile modulus Et [MPa]
- Tensile stress at yield σY [MPa]
- Tensile strain at yield εY [%]
- Tensile stress at break σB [MPa]
- Tensile strain at break εB [%]
- Nominal tensile strain at break εtB [%]
- Stress-strain curve
- Results of the Bending test method
Values for stress and strain such as:
- Tensile modulus εf [MPa]
- Flexural stress on conventional deflection (at 3.5% outer fibre strain) σfc [MPa] (3.5% flexural stress)
- Flexural strength σfM [%]
- Flexural strain at εfM [MPa]
- Flexural stress at break σfB [%]
- Flexural strain at break εfB [%]
- Stress-strain curve
- Results of the Tensile Impact test method
Values for stress and strain such as:
- Tensile impact strength of an unnotched specimen, atU [KJ/m²]
- Tensile impact strength of a notched specimen, atN [KJ/m²]
- Results of the Izod Impact test method
- Izod impact strength of an unnotched specimen aiU [KJ/m²]
- Izod impact strength of a notched specimen aiN [KJ/m²]
- Incl. break assessment at the corresponding temperature and, where applicable, a rubber-glass transition
Key to method
Example: ISO 180/4 A R
Type of test specimen
Flat test specimen with dimensions l x b x hType Length l Width b Thickness h 1 80 10 4 2 63,5 12,7 12,7 3 63,5 12,7 6,4 4 63,5 12,7 3,2 All dimensions in mm.
Type of notch
U unnotched
A notch with 0.25 mm radius
B notch with 1.00 mm radiusDirection of impact
R notch on side facing away from hammer- Results of the Charpy Impact test method
- Charpy impact strength of an unnotched specimen aiU [KJ/m²]
- Charpy impact strength of a notched specimen aiN [KJ/m²]
- Incl. break assessment at the corresponding temperature and, where applicable, a rubber-glass transition
Key to method
Example: ISO 179/1 e A
Type of test specimen Direction of impact Notch depth 1 flat test specimen with dimensions l x b x h e = edgewise
f = flatwiseU unnotched
A notch with 0.25 mm radius
B notch with 1.00 mm radius
C notch with 0.10 mm radiusType of test specimen Length l Width b Thickness h 1 80 10 4 2 25 x h 10 or 15 3 3 11 x h or 13 x h 10 or 15 3 All dimensions in mm.
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