Testing of rubber and plastic materials under extreme conditions

Contact
  1. Danish Technological Institute
  2. Services
  3. Materials and surface technology
  4. Testing and examination of  materials
  5. Testing of rubber and plastic materials under extreme conditions
Frederik R Steenstrup

Your Contact

Contact me

Indtast venligst et validt navn
Or your phone number
?
Thank you for your message
Vi beklager

På grund af en teknisk fejl kan din henvendelse desværre ikke modtages i øjeblikket. Du er velkommen til at skrive en mail til Send e-mail eller ringe til +45 72 20 23 57.

Testsetup

Testing of rubber and plastic materials under extreme conditions

Document the mechanical properties of your plastic components under realistic temperature and environmental loads - and prevent failures in the real world.

Testing plastic materials under extreme conditions evaluates how a rubber or plastic component behaves mechanically when exposed to high or low temperatures, humidity, or chemical exposure. The test determines whether the material retains its properties under the stresses it will encounter in service.

The Danish Technological Institute's plastics laboratory tests mechanical properties at both high and low temperatures and can condition test specimens under controlled humidity prior to testing. We carry out testing according to international standards such as ISO 75 and also offer customized tests that reflect your product's actual operating conditions.

How can Danish Technological Institute assist you?

Danish Technological Institute’s specialists can:

  • Document heat resistance - e.g., in connection with CE marking of plastic products
  • Test brittleness before, during, and after exposure - thereby determining how chemicals, cleaning agents, or other influences alter material behavior (e.g., ISO 1817)
  • Measure coefficient of friction at high and low temperatures - relevant for components with sliding contact surfaces (e.g., ISO 15113)
  • Test creep properties - document how the material deforms over time under constant load (e.g., ISO 899)
  • Perform accelerated testing of mechanical properties - accelerated tests simulating long-term exposure/effects (ASTM D7791)
  • Detect batch variations - compare mechanical data from "good" and "bad" batches to identify the root cause of quality issues
  • Advise on material selection in extreme environments - expert sparring on which plastic materials are suitable for your operating conditions

Why test plastic materials under extreme conditions?

The mechanical properties of rubber and plastic materials change significantly with temperature. A material that is strong and tough at room temperature can become brittle at low temperatures or soften and deform at high temperatures. If a plastic component is designed to operate in a demanding environment - such as in an engine, a refrigeration system, a food processing plant, or an outdoor structure — it is crucial to document that the material will hold up under actual operating conditions.

Testing under extreme conditions provides you with:

  • Certainty that the material performs in practice - not just under laboratory conditions at standard atmospheres (ISO 291)
  • Documentation for CE marking and customer-specific requirements - with test results that reflect realistic loads
  • Early problem identification - before the product reaches the market or is installed in a critical system
  • A solid basis for material selection and design - data to make informed decisions regarding materials, tolerances, and safety factors

Testing according to standards and customized tests

When no suitable standard exists, or when your product has unique requirements, we can design customized tests. These may include: · Testing of mechanical properties before and after exposure to specific chemicals or cleaning agents · Simulation of long-term thermal loads · Testing under temperature cycles that reflect the product’s actual operating profile

Conditioning of test specimens in controlled humidity can be included as part of the test procedure, ensuring that results reflect the condition of the material under realistic storage or operating conditions.

Batch comparison and quality control

A particular strength of testing under extreme conditions is the ability to detect differences between production batches. If a component fails in the field, the Danish Technological Institute can test and compare mechanical data from "good" and "bad" batches - thereby clarifying whether the issue is caused by material variation, process changes, or a change of supplier.

This provides you with a concrete, documented basis for taking action - whether dealing with suppliers, adjusting internal production, or conducting failure analyses.

Contact us regarding testing under extreme conditions

Do you need to document how your plastic materials perform under extreme temperatures or environmental influences? Contact the Danish Technological Institute’s plastics laboratory to discuss which test suits your specific needs.