Plastics compounders routinely perform mechanical tests as part of the product development cycle. Producers often turn to universal testing machines (UTMs) to pull, stretch, bend or compress test ...

Old trees are learning new tricks with the advent of composite materials. A "green composite" made from biodegradable ...

All manufactured plastics are exposed to mechanical loading conditions throughout their operating lifetime. Mechanical failure can be prevented by determining and routinely verifying the mechanical ...

Although plastics have only been used for around 100 years, they have become essential to everyday life. They are employed in almost every industry and application, including packaging, healthcare, ...

The Video Gauge noncontact extensometer from Imetrum (Bristol, UK) reportedly is the only device of its kind to achieve the exacting requirements of ISO 527-1: 2012 ASTM D638 equivalent. The system, ...

When we think of tensile specimen grips, our first mental image is probably that of the wedge grips that apply uniform clamping forces to the ends of flat test specimens. These were discussed in ...

Some degree of compromise is almost always necessary in designing plastic parts. Arriving at the best compromise usually requires satisfying the mechanical, thermal, and electrical requirements of the ...

One material property that is widely used and recognized is the strength of a material. But what does the word "strength" mean? "Strength" can have many meanings, so let us take a closer look at what ...