Tested materials and products

Key industries

• Plastics Industry: Testing the quality of polymer raw materials and finished plastic products.
• Automotive Industry: Inspection of plastic automotive components (covers, dashboards, connectors).
• Packaging Industry: Testing of films, bottles, and packaging materials.
• Electronics Industry: Examination of plastic components used in electrical and electronic devices.
• Construction Industry: Testing of plastic insulation materials and construction-related plastic products.
• Textile Industry: Evaluation of properties of plastic fibres and fabrics.
• Medical Technology Industry: Testing of medical plastic devices and packaging materials.
• Agriculture: Quality testing of agricultural films, greenhouse films, sacks, shrink films, flexible hoses, and connectors.
• Household Products Manufacturing: Quality control of plastic household items.

Raw Materials: Objective: To verify material quality and processability.

Polymers may include general-purpose plastics (e.g. PE, PP) or engineering plastics (e.g. PA, PBT, POM, PMMA, PC, ABS, PPS, PEEK).

Plastics are commonly classified as follows, many of which are routinely tested in our laboratory:

1. Thermoplastics

Examples: PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PS (polystyrene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PA (polyamide/nylon), PC (polycarbonate), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)

Applications: electrical insulation, adhesives, composites, laminates.

2. Thermosets

Examples: epoxy resin, phenolic resin (Bakelite), polyester resin, melamine resin, urea-formaldehyde resin

Applications: electrical insulation, adhesives, composites, laminates.

3. Elastomers

Examples: natural rubber, silicone rubber, polyurethane elastomers, SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber)

Applications: seals, tyres, insulation components.

Additives: Identification and quantification of additives in plastics, as well as verification of material quality and compliance with standards.

Key plastic additives include:

-Stabilizers

-Plasticizers

-Colorants

-Fillers and reinforcing agents

-Flame retardants

-Processing aids

-Foaming agents

-Antistatic agents

-Surfactants

Plastic Products

Common semi-finished plastic products:

• Injection-moulded components
• Films
• Sheets
• Pipes
• Fibres and filaments
• Profiles
• Plastic fabrics and meshes

• Plastic coatings on metal substrates and metallic layers on plastic materials: testing of adhesion, coating thickness, wear resistance, and corrosion protection properties.
• Metal–plastic components: mechanical properties, bonding quality, durability
• Cable insulation materials: electrical insulation performance, heat resistance
• Surface protection systems: resistance to chemicals, moisture, and heat
• Sealants and adhesives: strength and adhesion performance

Tests of Plastic Coatings on Metals

• Adhesion testing: evaluates the bonding strength between plastic coating and metal substrate
• Coating thickness measurement: determines layer thickness on metal surfaces
• Abrasion resistance testing: assesses resistance to friction and wear
• Heat resistance testing: evaluates behaviour under elevated temperatures
• Chemical resistance testing: assesses resistance to chemicals and corrosion
• Electrical insulation testing: evaluates insulating performance of plastic layers
• Flammability testing: checks compliance of cable insulation and coatings with fire safety requirements
• Cleanliness testing: verifies surface cleanliness according to application requirements