Zwick / Roell Pendulum Testers Determine Material’s Toughness, Ability to Absorb Energy
The role of impact testing in the characterization of high performance plastics continues to grow along with industry requirements, according to Zwick/Roell, an Ulm-based world leader in the development of materials and component testing solutions.
“Trends in the development and production of plastic materials call for increasing levels of measurement accuracy,” said Florian Liebert, plastics industry manager for Zwick.
Impact testing is the most reliable method of determining whether plastic materials can meet goals for toughness and durability. Materials must also meet specifications across a range of temperatures, Liebert said.
A variety of international standards are used to determine the characteristics of plastics. Izod impact tests, developed by ASTM, are commonly used in North America while Charpy impact tests are commonly used in other geographic regions. The Izod impact test differs from the Charpy impact test in that the sample is held in a cantilevered beam configuration as opposed to a three-point bending configuration.
The quantitative result of the impact is a measure of the energy required to fracture the specimen and may also be used to measure the toughness of the material and the yield strength. Additionally, the strain rate may be studied and analyzed for its effect on the fracture.
State of the art equipment used to evaluate the plastic materials features accuracy, dependability and ergonomic design. The ability to quickly switch between tests increases throughput and ease of use. Zwick’s state-of-the art line of HIT pendulum impact testing machines deliver exceptional levels of accuracy through design elements such as dual carbon rods within the pendulum that impart a high degree of stiffness in the direction of impact and a strong concentration of the mass at the impact point. HIT pendulum impact testers are engineered to automatically recognize the pendulum being used and evaluate the test values in the correct range corresponding to the relevant standard, delivering worry-free operation. Also contributing to elevated levels of test throughput are quick change units designed into each pendulum, enabling testing lab personnel to rapidly carry out pendulum changes without the need for special tools.
A video of a Zwick pendulum impact tester performing an Izod impact test in conjunction with a roboTest R automated specimen handling system, integrated notch milling machine, and temperature chamber may be found here:
Run time - 3:23mins
Zwick Pendulum impact tester 50.000 Joule
Additional information on Zwick’s line of HIT pendulum impact testers may be found here: http://www.zwickusa.com/en/products/pendulum-impact-testers.html