Mechanical Testing Services

Abrasion testing is performed to determine how materials will perform under sustained friction. Solid materials like metals, composites, ceramics and thick coatings are ranked based on their resistance to scratching under a specific set of conditions. Abrasion testing is generally performed to assist in material selection, ensure that materials are fit for purpose, or qualify parts to specific standards.

Some of the abrasion testing methods we offer include:

• Taber abrasion
• RCA abrasion
• Solder abrasion (pencil method)
• Rubber wheel abrasion
• Wyzenbeek abrasion
• Martindale abrasion
• Falling sand abrasion

Wear testing is performed when real-life conditions, such as temperature, fluids and direction of wear, must be replicated as closely as possible. Element can assist in setting up custom wear projects that can provide accurate predictions about how materials will react in use. In addition to testing metals, plastics and ceramics, Element also performs wear testing on medical devices and small components. 

Some of our wear testing methods include:

• Pin-on-disc wear testing
• Block-on-ring wear testing
• Blade-on-block wear testing

Bend testing is used to determine the ductility or strength of a material by flexing it over a given radius. It is particularly useful for components and materials that will are subject to folding or flexing, such as fasteners and welds. Element uses bend testing to ensure that metals, plastics, ceramics and more are fit for purpose in their intended applications. 

Some of the bend testing methods we frequently offer include:

• API 1104
• ASME Section IX
• ASTM A370
• ASTM E190
• ASTM E290
• AWS D1.1
• BS 4449
• ISO 5173
• ISO 7438

Compression testing determines a material’s resistance to crushing loads. Sometimes thought of as the opposite of tensile testing, compression testing is performed by subjecting a material or product to a compressive force, and measuring how much it deflects.

Element can perform compression testing both statically and dynamically, depending on the test requirements. In addition to testing materials like metals, ceramics, plastics, foams and rubbers, we also perform testing on components and packaging. 

Some of our most common compression testing methods include:

• ASTM D3039
• ASTM D395
• ASTM D6641
• ASTM D695
• ASTM E9
• ISO 815
• ISO 903

Because of their crucial role in virtually every component type, fasteners are an integral part of any product, system or assembly. Our labs provide a variety of mechanical tests to ensure that these critical parts are fit for purpose, and can withstand the loads they encounter in service.

Some of the methods that we use for fastener testing include:

• Compression testing
• Fatigue testing
• Hardness testing
• Interlocking testing
• Proof Load testing
• Push-out strength
• Rotational capacity
• Shear testing
• Tensile testing
• Torque testing
  
   

Fracture toughness is a value that measures a material’s resistance to cracking or fracturing. One of the most important properties of any material for virtually all design applications, fracture toughness, or K1c, is particularly important for environments and materials where brittle fracture is common. We frequently provide fracture toughness testing for clients in aerospace, oil and gas, medical device, and more.

Some of the methods Element most frequently tests include:

• API 1104
• ASTM B645
• ASTM D5528
• ASTM E1290
• ASTM E399
• BS 7448
• BS EN ISO 12737

Fatigue testing evaluates the effects of cyclic loading on materials over time. This method can be used to find the failure point of materials, investigate failures in the field, or simulate real-world conditions. We perform fatigue testing on metals, ceramics, plastics, and more, as well as medical devices and some components.

Fatigue testing is generally split into two main groups: high cycle fatigue (HCF) and low cycle fatigue (LCF). Element provides testing for both types, and can assist in choosing the most appropriate method for your material.

Some of our more popular fatigue testing standards include:

• BS 4449
• ASTM D3479
• ASTM D4482
• ASTM E466
• ASTM E606
• ASTM F1160
• ASTM F1800
• ISO 1143
  
   

Due to its versatility and fast turn-around times, hardness testing is one of the most popular mechanical test methods we perform. Used in materials selection, lot verification testing, material processing, and more, hardness testing can be performed on multiple material types.

Element performs hardness testing to a wide range of scales, and is one of the only commercial labs in the world to offer hot hardness testing. Our hardness methods include:

• Barcol hardness
• Brinell hardness
• Durometer (shore) hardness
• Film hardness (pencil method)
• Hot hardness 
• Knoop hardness
• Leeb hardness
• Mohs hardness
• Rockwell hardness
• Vickers hardness
• Ultrasonic contact impedance hardness

Charpy and Izod impact testing are high-strain methods that determine the amount of energy absorbed during fracture. During testing, a pendulum strikes a pre-machined sample, and data about impact is collected.

Charpy is usually performed on metals, and Izod is generally a plastics test. Element can perform testing with both standard and sub-sized samples. 

Some of the impact testing methods we use include:

• ASTM A370
• ASTM A923
• ASTM D256
• ASTM D4812
• ASTM E23
• ISO 148
• ISO 9016

Pressure testing uses water or air to pressurize components and vessels and check for leaks or defects. It can also be performed to provide pressure ratings for products, and predict how components will react in high-pressure environments.

The two main types of pressure testing we provide are hydrostatic testing (water/liquid pressure) and pneumatic testing (air pressure). Our labs can help you determine which method works best for your project. 

Element can assist with custom test designs and set-ups for projects that require specialized procedures. For more information about the pressure testing methods we use, contact an expert today.

Shear testing measures a material's response to shear loading, a sliding failure along a plane parallel to the direction of force. Element performs testing on metals, plastics, composites and laminates, and more. Additionally, we provide shear testing programs for products that experience sliding stress, including bolts, rivets, pins, and other products. 

Element offers a variety of shear testing methods to accommodate a variety of material and component types. Some of the tests we commonly perform include:

• Single shear testing
• Double shear testing
• Impact shear testing
• Lap shear testig
• Drop weight shear testing
• Flatwise shear testing
• In-plane shear testing
• Long beam shear testig

One of the most popular methods for almost every material testing program, tensile testing is a method that applies tension on a material until failure. A single tensile test can provide a variety of material properties, including yield, elongation, ultimate tensile strength (UTS), Poisson’s ratio, and more.

Element can perform tensile testing at ambient, elevated and sub-ambient temperatures on metals, plastics, rubbers and more. Some of the many methods we offer include:

• ASTM A370
• ASTM A615
• ASTM C297
• ASTM D3039
• ASTM E21
• ASTM E345
• ASTM E517
• ASTM E646
• ASTM E8
• ASTM F606
• ISO 6892
• ISO 898
• NASM 1312
• SAE J1216
• SAE J429
  
   

Torque refers to an object’s natural tendency to rotate about an axis, and is performed to simulate a twisting motion on materials and components. Torque is generally performed on samples that will encounter rotational stress and failure, such as screws, nuts, and bolts.

Our testing capabilities can characterize a product’s torque properties under a variety of conditions. Some of the methods that we commonly test include:

• ASME B18
• ASTM F606
• IFI 101
• MIL-DTL-18240
• MIL-F-18240
• NASM 1312
• NASM 25027