MCATSS provides options for a range of physical materials testing. Mechanical and physical testing of materials is often the first port of call, even before any form of microscopy, to understand the behaviour and performance of materials, components or systems alike. We offer a range of techniques from macro-scale techniques down to nano-scale.

Tensile/Compression Test - one of the most common test methods used to mechanically test the strength of samples. Material properties such as stress/strain, elastic modulus, tensile or compressive strength yield strength can all be derived using this method.

Bend Testing - 3 and 4-point bend testing is a routine method for the evaluation of a material or component’s flexural properties.

Fatigue Test - this method is used to monitor change in materials behaviour by subjecting the specimen varying cyclic loading. Testing will produce data for changing stress and strain and is usually continued until the sample produces cracks or total fracture of the sample occurs.

Hardness - hardness testing can be done in a number of ways in macro, micro and nano scales.

• Macro and micro hardness are some of the most common methods useful for determining material hardness in large bulk materials.

• Nano-hardness testing is fast becoming the go-to choice for hardness testing. Using relatively fine indenter tips, properties for samples such as thin-film coatings, individual grains in a microstructure, fine surface layers, particulates and microscale features can be analysed.

Tribology - understanding the behaviour of two surfaces sliding against one another is critical when determining the behaviour of materials. Testing can include:

• Wear testing under a range of conditions, including different loads, sliding speeds, sliding motion, temperature.

• Scratch testing generates localised high contact stresses over a given distance and produces useful information on a coatings ductile/brittle behaviour, adhesion and toughness.

• Abrasion testing, such as traditional Taber Abrasion can be applied to a range of materials. Using weighted abrasive wheels, a material’s resistance to abrasion over a given time or distance can be determined as a factor of mass-loss, thickness-change or total loss of the surface layer under test.

Impact - a number of methods for different applications are available.

• Charpy impact tests determine the amount of energy that is absorbed by the materials during fracture. A V-shaped notch is produced in the sample prior to testing to facilitate the test and the amount of energy produced is given as factor of notch toughness.

• Drop-weight impact tests are traditionally used for coatings, laminates and composites. Testing is performed under a falling weight, increased in increments until failure of the sample is observed.

Adhesion - a material or coating’s adhesion to a substrate is important to understand when determining the performance of a component. Failure can occur under a number of conditions including environmental factors, mechanical damage, ageing or poor formulation. Testing this adhesion can be done by employing various methods: tape adhesion and cross-hatch testing, stud pull-off test, peel strength testing, scratch test or environmental testing (e.g. humidity exposure).

Environmental Testing - MCATSS can offer customised solutions for a range of environmental tests including cycling temperatures, humidity, corrosive environments more, based on individual requirements of the customer.

Please contact us if you have specific requirements that are not listed here.