Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) compounds test

1) Tensile Strength and Elongation Testing

Test Standard: ASTM D 412

Aim:  evaluate the material's ability to withstand stretching forces without breaking and to measure how much it can elongate before failure. This helps determine the material's strength, flexibility, and suitability for applications where tensile forces are present, ensuring it meets performance and safety standards.

Test Device: universal testing machine (UTM)

2) Tear Strength Test

Test Standard: ASTM D 624

Aim: Measuring the tear resistance of thermoplastic elastomers.

Test Device:  universal testing machine (UTM)

3), Compression Set

Test Standard: ASTM D 395

Aim: Evaluate the material's ability to return to its original shape after prolonged compression. This helps determine the material's long-term elasticity, durability, and suitability for applications requiring resistance to permanent deformation.

Test Device: Compression set tester

4), Hardness Testing

Test Standard:  ASTM D 2240

Aim:  determine the material's hardness, which helps assess its suitability for different applications. This ensures the TPE meets the required levels of softness or firmness for optimal performance in specific products.

Test Device: Shore Durometer (A&D)

5), Density Measurement

Test Standard:  ASTM D 792

Aim:  determine the material's mass per unit volume, which helps ensure consistency in product quality, performance, and suitability for specific applications. This data is crucial for material selection, production control, and meeting industry standards.

Test Device: Analytical balance and density kit

6), Melt Flow Index (MFI)

Test Standard: ASTM D 1238

Aim: Measuring the melt flow index of molten thermoplastic elastomers.

Test Device:  Melt Flow Index tester

7), Color Measurement (L.a.b.)

Aim: Measuring the lightness (L value), red-green (a value), and yellow-blue (b value) of thermoplastic elastomers.

Test Device: Colorimeter

8), Kinematic Viscosity Test

Aim: Measuring the viscosity of liquids or dissolved solids.

Test Device:  Kinematic viscometer

9), Humidity Test

Aim: Measuring the humidity of thermoplastic elastomers by quantifying weight loss.

Test Device:  Hygrometer

10), Odor Test

Aim: Grading thermoplastic elastomers based on odor levels.

Test Device:  Odor vial

11), UV Aging Test

Test Standard: ASTM D 471

Aim: Observing the changes in thermoplastic elastomers under ultraviolet light.

Test Device:  UV aging test chamber

12), Physical Aging Test

Aim: environmental conditions such as heat, humidity, UV light, or mechanical stress.

Test Device:  Aging Oven

13), DIN Abrasion Test

Test Standard: DIN 53516

Aim: evaluate the material's resistance to wear and tear under abrasive conditions.

Test Device:  DIN Abrasion Tester

14), Scuff Test

Aim: Testing the abrasion resistance of EVA foam material

Test Device:  Scuff Tester

15), Rebound Test

Test Standard: Testing the elasticity index of EVA foam material

Test Device:  Pendulum Rebound Tester

16), TGA – thermogravimetric analysis

Test Standard: ISO 11358-1

Purpose: To perform thermogravimetric analysis to determine the temperature and rate of polymer decomposition 

and the amount of volatile, moderately volatile substances, additives, and/or fillers in the polymer structure.

Test Equipment: Thermogravimetric Analyzer

17), DSC – differential scanning calorimetry – determination of melting and crystallization temperatures

Test standard: ISO 11357-1, ISO 11357-3

Purpose: To determine the melting and crystallization temperature and enthalpy of crystalline or semi-crystalline polymers.

Test Equipment: Differential Scanning Calorimetry

18), DSC – differential scanning calorimetry – determination of glass transition temperature (TG)

Test standard: ISO 11357-1, ISO 11357-2

Purpose: To determine the glass transition temperature (Tg) of amorphous or semi-crystalline polymers.

Test Equipment: Differential Scanning Calorimetry

19) FTIR – Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy – qualitative analysis

Test Standard: ASTM E 1252

Purpose: To define the structure and functional groups of polymers.

Test equipment: FTIR-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer

20) Atomization test

Test Standards: ISO 6452, PV 3015 – Weight (mg), Refractive Index (%)

Purpose: The fog test is used to determine the number of volatile structures inside thermoplastic elastomers that can migrate into the environment during use.

Test equipment: fog tester

21), Izod and Charpy impact tests

Test standard: ASTM D 256

Purpose: To measure the impact resistance of materials. Calculate the kinetic energy required to crack and break the material.

Test device: Impact test device

22) Gloss measurement

Test standard: ASTM D 523

Purpose: To measure the glossiness of thermoplastic elastomer surface.

Test Equipment: Gloss Meter

23) Scratch and wear test

Test Criteria: None

Purpose: The edges of a thermoplastic elastomer determine its scratch and abrasion properties.

Test device: Abrasion test device

24) Smell test

Test standard: VDA 270
Purpose: Thermoplastic elastomers are classified according to their odor level.
Test equipment: oven, beaker

25) Weather instrument test

Test standards: ASTM D 2565, ASTM D 4459, ISO4582

Purpose: To simulate the long-term exposure of thermoplastic elastomers to environmental conditions such as temperature, light or humidity. Analyze color changes and/or other surface changes when cracked/scratched.

Test equipment: Weatherproof cabinet

26) Polymer gel content test

Test Standard: None

Purpose: To calculate the percent crosslinking of thermoplastic vulcanizates.

Test Device: Soxhlet Extraction Mechanism

27) Horizontal flammability test

Test standard: UL 94-HB

Purpose: The flammability of thermoplastic elastomers is determined horizontally.

Test device: Horizontal flame chamber

28) Mooney viscosity test

Test standard: ASTM D 1646

Purpose: To measure the Mooney viscosity value of rubber.

Test Equipment: Mooney Viscometer

29), Moisture Test

Test Standard: Quantitatively measuring the moisture content of thermoplastic elastomers by weight loss.

Test Device:  Moisture Analyzer