Laboratory Testing Inc. Continues Expansion into Polymer Testing Market

Online, August 28, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Laboratory Testing Inc. (LTI) has added more polymer testing capabilities to the SEM/EDS and FTIR analyses previously available. LTI can now provide information about the mechanical properties of plastics and other polymers with the addition of tensile and hardness testing for these materials. Tensile testing is performed on a 10,000 lb. Tinius Olsen tensile machine capable of testing any polymeric material that can be formed or machined into a specimen. Tensile testing involves applying a constant rate of tensile load to a test sample up to the point of failure. The process creates a stress/strain curve showing how the material reacts throughout the test process. The data generated during the test is used to determine tensile strength, yield strength and ductility.

The hardness of polymers is measured by the Shore Durometer Test at LTI, in accordance with ASTM D2240. This method determines a material's hardness value or resistance to indentation by penetration of an indenter into the test sample. Because the flexibility of polymers varies, LTI is equipped with various indenters to use for testing different types of materials from elastomers to rigid plastics.

According to Mike McVaugh, president of Laboratory Testing Inc., "plastic and polymer testing was a natural expansion of services for our full-service metals testing laboratory. We have been working closely with many industries that require testing for both metals and polymers, and felt that this was a positive next step in our commitment to be a "one-stop" lab.

Additional information is available on the LTI website at http://www.labtesting.com.

About Laboratory Testing Inc. - Laboratory Testing Inc. of Hatfield, PA is an independent testing laboratory in business since 1984.