OBJECTIVE:

To determine the mechanical behavior of common thermoplastics in

terms of their modulus, strength and elongation through tensile testing.

ABSTRACT:
In this experiment, we took different specimens of polymers and cut them to the shape
according to ASTM and then placed it between the jaws of testing machine and turned on the
system applied tensile load on the specimen and noted tensile strength by force and elongation
curve obtained. Each polymer of different grades has different tensile strength values. The slope
of the graph gave young’s modulus.

INTRODUCTION:
Tensile tests of polymers are generally carried out to measure the force required to break a
specimen and the extent to which the specimen elongates before that breaking point. All tensile
tests produce a force displacement diagram, which can be used to produce a stress-strain curve
from which various properties such as Young’s modulus, yield
strength, ultimate tensile strength can be calculated for design and research. These data points
are often used to specify a material, to design parts to withstand application force and as a
quality control check of materials.

Ultimate tensile strength (UTS), often shortened to tensile strength (TS), ultimate strength,
or Ftu within equations, is the capacity of a material or structure to withstand loads tending to
elongate, as opposed to compressive strength, which withstands loads tending to reduce size. In
other words, tensile strength resists tension (being pulled apart), whereas compressive strength
resists compression (being pushed together).

Ultimate tensile strength is measured by the maximum stress that a material can withstand
while being stretched or pulled before breaking. In the study of strength of materials, tensile
strength, compressive strength, and shear strength can be analyzed independently.

SAMPLE PREPARATION:
Cut the testing sample according to the supplied cutting mold of dumbbell shape.

ASTM:
D638-08-Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics.

PROCEDURE:
1. Check safety parameters for the load cell on the vertical sported column.
2. Check safety button.
3. Switch on the computer and machine power supply.
4. Start the software from the desktop’s icon TIRA.
5. Get the sizes of the testing sample (Dumbbell Shape) manually with vernier calliper &
thickness measuring gauge.
6. Thickness = a (in mm)
7. Width = b (in mm)
8. Gauge length = l (in mm)
9. Press the setting button on the main tool bar. A “Test Setting” dialog box with different
tabs.
10. Insert sample data by selecting “TEST DATA” tab. i.e. Material, Batch Number., Order
Number etc.
11. Insert sample dimensions by selecting “DIMENSIONS” tab. i.e. Thickness, Width, and
gauge length in given boxes “a”, “b” and “l” respectively.
12. Insert rate of the test sample by selecting “TEST RATE” tab.
13. Similarly check the other tabs to insert the specific data concerning machine operation.
14. Load the sample in jaws as follows:-
15. Press down the jaw clamping leaver and insert the sample from clamping area.
16. Move down the upper jaw to clamp the other side of the sample into the lower jaw by
using manual controls from panel.
.
17. On software window screen, ZERO the Cross head Position, Force, and length by
pressing the button on main tool bar.
18. Select the Axis Parameters by pressing the button of “DIAGRAM AXIS” on the main tool
bar. Also change the diagram name from Manu Bar i.e. Diagram-Setting.
19. Start the test by pressing “START” button on main tool bar.
20. After completion of test, save the test result by pressing “SAVE” Button on the main tool
bar, with the desired file name or path.
21. Get off the test sample pieces from the clamping jaws. Exit from the software properly
and shut down the computer as well.
22. Power off the whole system from electric supply properly in the end.

QUESTIONARE
1) Tabulate the ultimate tensile strength, elongation at break, yield strength and
modulus of specimens along with the respective standard deviation values.
Yield Elongatio Ultimate tensile
Parameter Modulu
strength n strength
s 2 s
(N/mm ) (mm) (N/mm2)
HDPE 24 433.81 24.63 11.66
LDPE 3 1.82 4.82 5.75
PET 163 20.19 163.7 82.25

2) Draw the stress vs elongation curve for each of the specimens.

3) Explain the difference between the mechanical behavior of ductile, brittle and elastomeric
polymer materials.
When stress is applied on a ductile polymer it will show more elongation or strain but for a
brittle material it could not withstand more load and will break out and in case of an
elastomeric polymer, the elasticity will show the elongation but more load applied to resist
elastic behavior of polymer and after a certain limit polymer will break out.
4) Explain the effect of temperature change on the mechanical behavior of polymers.
Modulus vs. temperature plot for unreinforced nylon 6 (semi-crystalline) and PC (amorphous).
At room temperature the elastic modulus for both materials agrees with the tensile modulus on
the data sheet to within 2-3%. But while most data sheet provide little or no information on the
effect of temperature on properties, the plots give a complete map of the temperature
dependent behavior for the two materials