Beyond the Surface: Exploring Tensile Strength of Composites

To know exactly how durable and reliable your composites are, it’s essential that you undertake all important tensile testing. By tensile strength testing composites, you’ll gain invaluable insights into their structural integrity and therefore their suitability for their intended use.  

What is tensile testing for composites?

Tensile testing is a method of determining the strength and capacity for elongation in a composite sample. Tensile strength testing can be carried out on individual filaments, filament strands or laminates.  

When is tensile strength testing of composites important?

There are many circumstances when it is essential to know the tensile qualities of a composite. For example, tensile testing of tires offers crucial data for any quality control process for the safe development of road worthy vehicles. The tensile strength testing of polymer composites used for dealing with food packages is also key, as those films are relied on for keeping food safe and fresh. 

Tensile strength testing is useful during the research and design process, when manufacturers are creating new composites. It is also important for ensuring that pre-existing composites are suitable for new applications.  

How is the tensile strength of composites measured?

To discover the tensile strength of a composite, a sample is gripped at both ends by an apparatus. The sample is then slowly pulled lengthwise until it is fractured. The load (the force at which the sample is pulled) is then plotted against the material length change (or displacement), with the former being converted to a stress value and the latter a strain value.  

Tensile strength testing solutions

When you’re looking for reliable tensile strength testing solutions, we’ve got you covered. For example, we make a wide range of UTM machines through our specialist brand United Testing Machines and our DSTM 20 kN Table Top UTM is an excellent choice when you’re looking for a compact machine capable of testing the tensile strength of composites and a whole lot more.  

The Universal Testing Machine from TMI Büchel is a reliable solution that can be programmed with up to 100 different test methods, including tensile testing for composites. It’s perfect for research and development labs or busy flexible packaging markets and can be customized to suit your needs. Find out more about TMI’s UTM. 

Tensile strength test standards for composites

The widely accepted standard testing method for determining the tensile properties of polymer matrix composite material is ASTM D3039. This method is used to measure the extent to which a sample can stretch as well as the force required to break a polymer composite specimen. 

Tensile strength testing from the experts

At Industrial Physics, we have almost 100 years of tensile testing experience – making us the perfect partner when you’re looking for a test and measurement solution for measuring the tensile strength of your composites.  

Browse our full range of tensile testing machines or find out more about the various options we have for composite testing of all kinds.