Plastics Testing Challenge 5: Testing in Non-Ambient Conditions

Most plastic products are expected to be used in various environments and conditions, some of which include cold and hot temperatures. Mechanical properties of plastics are influenced by temperature which makes it very important for designers to consider the plastic’s performance over the temperature range a given product is expected to perform in. While environmental chambers are available to simulate both cold and hot temperatures, it is challenging to identify the appropriate extensometers and fixtures to use at these extreme temperatures.

Solution: The majority of our basic standard clip-on style extensometers are designed to work within a temperature range of -100 to 200° C (-148 to 392° F), which covers a vast range of the testing needs. However, there are some applications that have higher temperature requirements, and for these applications, we recommend our high-temperature clip-on extensometers, which can be used in temperatures as high as 540° C (1004° F).

Tip: Video extensometers, such as the AVE, can also satisfy requirements for a variety of hot and cold applications. The AVE can mount to the outside door of most Instron® environmental chambers, allowing it to measure strain through the viewing window while not subjecting it to the various temperature extremes.