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Material Testing for Plastics and
Composite Materials

Lightweight construction and material testing are the insignia of the IMA Dresden – and our company
has been involved with plastics and composite materials since 1961.

Beneficial material properties, versatile areas of use and flexible dimensions gave the plastic and composite market a renewed boost. Today, wind energy, automotive and aerospace industries, along with the rail vehicle industry, are the continuous driving forces for advancing innovation with their demands.

IMA Dresden is an international testing and development centre for inspecting materials and will accompany and support you from the basic material onto production technology and up to, and including, the approval of the finished product. This service comprises not only static, cyclic and dynamic tests but also static long-term tests. The standardised and compliant material samples will be manufactured in-house with wide range of various manufacturing technologies. Furthermore, IMA Dresden has comprehensive experience in the fields of adhesive technology, laminate calculation as well as approval for materials.

We work according to German and international standards and guidelines (DIN, ASTM, ISO, etc.), or in accordance with factory settings. All relevant test laboratories are accredited according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 and moreover are accredited for the business fields of “Material Testing of Metallic Materials” and “Material Testing of non-metallic materials according to SAE Aerospace Standard AS7003 by NADCAP” (National Aerospace and Defence Contractors Accreditation Programme).

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Our portfolio

Starting Point for Non-metallic Materials and Connections

We assume the comprehensive determination for mechanical, thermal and chemical characteristics for you as well as determining the loading capacity of plastics, fibre-reinforced plastics, adhesive connections and/or joints hybrid material combinations.

Depending on the requirement, these tests can be executed at low and high temperatures as well as under media influence. We have extensive standard testing technology resources and experience in the design, construction and operation of special test benches for material and component testing processes.

We have also specialized in the comprehensive test topic of thermoplastic composite pipes. The qualification of the “thermoplastic composite pipes” ensures performance, reliability and safety during their service life using the DNVGL-ST-F119 (DNVGL-RP-F119).

Please feel free to contact us when you require a special solution for your testing requirements.

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Physical Tests

Our test laboratories enable us to not only determine and assess the specific physical characteristics but also the thermal properties of test materials. The wide-ranging scope of our audits has a high coverage: commencing with the fibre content provision to the determination of the glass transition temperature and up to conditioning of samples.

Test spectrum

Physical tests

  • Tightness
  • Fibre content (GFK, CFK and Hybrid)
  • Grinding analysis
  • Fibre Distribution

Thermal analysis

  • DSC (Dynamic
  • Differential Thermal Analysis)
  • DMA (Dynamic Mechanical Analysis)
  • Dilatometry (determination of coefficient of thermal expansion)

Environmental audits

  • Conditioning material and samples
  • Water absorption
  • Storage in aggressive fluids

Test procedures

StandardTitle
DIN EN ISO 1183-1Mass determination – Plastics – Methods for determining the density of non-cellular plastics – Part 1: Immersion method, liquid pyknometer method and titration method
DIN EN ISO 845Mass determination – Cellular plastics and rubbers – Determination of apparent density
ISO 10119Carbon fibre – Determination of density
DIN EN ISO 1172Mass determination – Textile-glass-reinforced plastics – Prepregs, moulding compounds and laminates – Determination of the textile-glass and mineral-filler content; calcination methods
DIN EN 2564Mass determination – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre laminates – Determination of the fibre, resin and void contents
DIN EN ISO 868Plastics and ebonite – Determination of indentation hardness by means of a durometer (Shore hardness)
DIN EN 59Glass Reinforced Plastics; Measurement of Hardness by Means of a Barcol Impressor
DIN EN 2330Mass determination – Aerospace series; textile glass fibre preimpregnates; test method for the determination of the content of volatile matter
DIN EN 2332Mass determination – Aerospace series; textile glass fibre preimpregnates; test method for the determination of the resin flow
DIN EN 2557Mass determination – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre preimpregnates – Determination of mass per unit area
DIN EN 2558Mass determination – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre preimpregnates – Determination of the volatile content
DIN EN 2559Mass determination – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre preimpregnates – Determination of the resin and fibre content and the mass of fibre per unit area
DIN EN 2560Mass determination – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre preimpregnates – Determmination of the resin flow
DIN EN ISO 1889Mass determination – Reinforcement yarns – Determination of linear density
DIN EN 1602Mass determination – Thermal insulating products for building applications – Determination of the apparent density
ASTM D2584Mass determination – Standard Test Method for Ignition Loss of Cured Reinforced Resins
ASTM D792Mass determination – Standard Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement
DIN EN ISO 1675Mass determination – Plastics – Liquid resins – Determination of density by the pyknometer method
ASTM D3529Mass determination – Standard Test Method for Matrix Solids Content and Matrix Content of Composite Prepreg
ASTM C271Mass determination – Standard Test Method for Density of Sandwich Core Materials
ISO 3374Mass determination – Reinforcement products – Mats and fabrics – Determination of mass per unit area
ASTM D2734Mass determination – Standard Test Methods for Void Content of Reinforced Plastics
DIN EN ISO 1110Conditioning – Plastics – Polyamides – Accelerated conditioning of test specimens
DIN EN ISO 62Conditioning – Plastics – Determination of water absorption
DIN EN ISO 175Conditioning – Plastics – Methods of test for the determination of the effects of immersion in liquid chemicals
ASTM D 5229Conditioning – Standard Test Method for Moisture Absorption Properties and Equilibrium Conditioning of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials
ASD-STAN prEN 3615Conditioning – Fibre reinforced plastics – Determination of the conditions of exposure to humid atmosphere and of moisture absorption
ASTM D570Conditioning – Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Plastics
DIN EN 2378Conditioning – Aerospace series – Fibre reinforced plastics – Determination of water absorption by immersion
DIN EN 2578Conditioning – Plastics – Determination of time-temperature limits after prolonged exposure to heat
DIN EN 2743Conditioning – Aerospace series – Fibre reinforced plastics – Standard procedures for conditioning prior to testing unaged materials
DIN EN ISO 291Conditioning – Plastics – Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
ASTM D618Conditioning – Standard Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
DIN EN 2823Conditioning – Aerospace series – Fibre reinforced plastics – Determination of the effect of exposure to humid atmosphere on physical and mechanical characteristics
ASTM D2583Physikal testing – Standard Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Rigid Plastics by Means of a Barcol Impressor
ASTM D3171Physikal testing – Standard Test Methods for Constituent Content of Composite Materials
DIN 16495 6.3Physikal testing – Testing of resins, hardeners and accelerators, and catalyzed resins
DIN 16495 6.5Physikal testing – Testing of resins, hardeners and accelerators, and catalyzed resins
ASTM D2240Physikal testing – Standard Test Method for Rubber Property-Durometer Hardness
DIN EN 2555Physikal testing – Plastics – Resins in the liquid state or as emulsions or dispersions – Determination of apparent viscosity using a single cylinder type rotational viscometer method
DIN EN ISO 3521Physikal testing – Plastics – Unsaturated polyester and epoxy resins – Determination of overall volume shrinkage
ASTM D4359Physikal testing – Standard Test Method for Determining Whether a Material Is a Liquid or a Solid
DIN EN 60068-2-14Physikal testing – Environmental testing – Part 2-14: Tests – Test N: Change of temperatur
DIN EN ISO 11357-6Physikal testing – Plastics – Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) – Part 6: Determination of oxidation induction time (isothermal OIT) and oxidation induction temperature (dynamic OIT)
DIN 53019-1Viscometry – Measurement of viscosities and flow curves by means of rotational viscometers – Part 1: Principles and measuring geometry
DIN 53019-2Viscosimetry – Measurement of viscosities and flow curves by means of rotation viscosimeters – Part 2: Viscosimeter calibration and determination of the uncertainty of measurement
DIN 53019-3Viscometry – Measurement of viscosities and flow curves by means of rotational viscometers – Part 3: Errors of measurement and corrections
DIN EN ISO 11357-1Thermal analysis – Plastics – Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) – Part 1: General principles
DIN EN ISO 11357-2Thermal analysis – Plastics – Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) – Part 2: Determination of glass transition temperature and glass transition step height
DIN EN ISO 11357-3Thermal analysis – Plastics – Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) – Part 3: Determination of temperature and enthalpy of melting and crystallization
DIN EN ISO 11357-5Thermal analysis – Plastics – Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) – Part 5: Determination of characteristic reaction-curve temperatures and times, enthalpy of reaction and degree of conversion
DIN EN 6064Thermal analysis – Aerospace series – Analysis of non-metallic materials (cured) for the determination of the extent of cure by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
AITM 3-0002Thermal analysis – AITM Airbus Test Method – Analysis of non metallic materials (uncured) by Differential scanning calorimetry
AITM 3-0008Thermal analysis – AITM Airbus Test Method – Determination of the extent of cure by Differential scanning calorimetry
ISO 6721-5Thermal analysis – Plastics – Determination of dynamic mechanical properties – Part 5: Flexural vibration – Non-resonance method
DIN EN 6032Thermal analysis – Aerospace series – Fibre reinforced plastics – Test method – Determination of the glass transition temperatures
ASTM D 5026Thermal analysis – Standard Test Method for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: In Tension
DIN 53752Thermal analysis – Testing of plastics; determination of the coefficient of linear thermal expansion
ASTM E831Thermal analysis – Standard Test Method for Linear Thermal Expansion of Solid Materials by Thermomechanical Analysis
AITM 1-0003Thermal analysis – Determination of the glass transition temperatures
AITM 1-0003Thermal analysis – Determination of the glass transition temperatures
ASTM E1640Thermal analysis – Standard Test Method for Assignment of the Glass Transition Temperature By Dynamic Mechanical Analysis
ISO 11359-1Thermal analysis – Plastics – Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) – Part 1: General principles
ISO 11359-2Thermal analysis – Plastics – Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) – Part 2: Determination of coefficient of linear thermal expansion and glass transition temperature
ASTM E1356Thermal analysis – Standard Test Method for Assignment of the Glass Transition Temperatures by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
ASTM D7028Thermal analysis – Standard Test Method for Glass Transition Temperature (DMA Tg) of Polymer Matrix Composites by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)
SACMA 18R-94Thermal analysis – Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) Dtermination of oriented fiber-resin Composites
DIN EN 6041Thermal analysis – Aerospace series – Non-metallic materials – Test method – Analysis of non-metallic materials (uncured) by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
  • Viscosity Determination
    Viscosity Determination
  • Fibre Content Determination
    Fibre Content Determination
  • DCS Analysis
    DCS Analysis
  • Density Determination
    Density Determination
  • Specimen Conditioning
    Specimen Conditioning
  • Scanning electron microscopy of a sandblasted CFRP adhesive surface
    Scanning electron microscopy of a sandblasted CFRP adhesive surface

StatiC-Mechanical Material Test

We implement a wide variety of standard tests for the static characterisation of fibre composite materials. We will be pleased to advise you about which test standards apply for determining your material and the characteristic values. In principle, the tests can be accredited in accordance with all national and international standards, either with standard climatic conditions or under increased and lower temperatures. In addition, we can provide additional tests within the framework of flexible accreditation Category 2 in addition to standard procedures.

Test spectrum

  • Tension, compression, bending, shear, connections
  • Load range: 0.5 N – 4 MN
  • Standard climatic conditions:
  • 23 °C ± 2 °C, 50 % ± 5 % relative humidity
  • Test under temperature influence:
  • Temperature range: -55 °C up to 200 °C
  • Screw connections
  • Various devices for elongation measurement
  • Specialised clamping / devices (IMA pressure testing device, IMA rail shear testing device)

Determining the energy release rate

  • G1c Testing
  • G2c Testing (3ENF, 4ENF)
  • Mixed-Mode Testing

Impact testing

  • CAI (Compression After Impact)
  • Measuring the impact depth
  • Impact on components
  • Continuous stress impact on damaged
  • components
  • Determining the damage area

Test procedures

StandardTitle
DIN EN ISO 14126Compression testing – Fibre-reinforced plastic composites – Determination of compressive properties in the in-plane direction
AITM 1-0008Compression testing – AITM Airbus Test Method – Fibre Reinforced Plastics
DIN EN 2850Compression testing – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre thermosetting resin – Unidirectional laminates – Compression test parallel to fibre direction
DIN 65375Compression testing – Aerospace – Fiber reinforced plastics – Testing of unidirectional laminates – Compression test transverse to fiber direction
DIN EN  ISO 844Compression testing – Rigid cellular plastics – Determination of compression properties
DIN EN ISO 604Compression testing – Plastics – Determination of compressive properties
DIN EN 826Compression testing – Thermal insulating products for building applications – Determination of compression behaviour
ASTM D695Compression testing – Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Rigid Plastics
ASTM D3410Compression testing – Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials with Unsupported Gage Section by Shear Loading
DIN EN 6036Compression testing – Aerospace series – Fibre reinforced plastics – Test method – Determination of notched, unnotched and filled hole compression strength
ASTM C364Compression testing – Standard Test Method for Edgewise Compressive Strength of Sandwich Constructions
ASTM D6641Compression testing – Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials Using a Combined Loading Compression (CLC) Test Fixture
ASTM C364Compression testing – Standard Test Method for Edgewise Compressive Strength of Sandwich Constructions
ASTM D6641Compression testing – Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials Using a Combined Loading Compression (CLC) Test Fixture
ASTM C365Compression testing – Standard Test Method for Flatwise Compressive Properties of Sandwich Cores
ASTM D6484Compression testing – Standard Test Method for Open-Hole Compressive Strength of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates
ASTM D1621Compression testing – Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Rigid Cellular Plastics
SACMA 1R-94Compression testing – Compressive Properties of Oriented Fiber-Resin Composites
ASTM D 7078Shear testing – Standard Test Method for Shear Properties of Composite Materials by V-Notched Rail Shear Method
DIN EN ISO 14129Shear testing – Fibre-reinforced plastic composites – Determination of the in-plane shear stress/shear strain reponse, including the in-plane schear modulus and strength, by ± 45° tension test method
ASTM D 3846Shear testing – Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Strength of Reinforced Plastics
AITM 1-0002Shear testing – AITM Airbus Test Method – Fibre Reinforced Plastics Determination of in-plain shear properties (±45 ° tensile test)
ASTM C273Shear testing – Standard Test Method for Shear Properties of Sandwich Core Materials
DIN 53294Shear testing – Testing of sandwiches; Shear test
ISO 1922Shear testing – Rigid cellular plastics – Determination of shear properties
ASTM D3528Shear testing – Standard Test Method for Strength Properties of Double Lap Shear Adhesive Joints by Tension Loading
DIN EN 1465Shear testing – Adhesives – Determination of tensile lap-shear strength of bonded assemblies
ISO 4587Shear testing – Adhesives – Determination of tensile lap-shear strength of rigid-to-rigid bonded assemblies
DIN EN 6031Shear testing – Fibre reinforced plastics – Test method – Determination of in-plane shear properties (± 45° tensile test)
AITM 1-0065Shear testing – Fiber reinforced plastics Determination of joint strength of mechanically fastened joints
DIN 65466Shear testing – Aerospace – Fibre reinforced plastics – Testing of unidirectional laminates; Determination of shear strength and shear modulus in tension
DIN EN ISO 527-1Tension testing – Plastics – Determination of tensile properties – Part 1: General principles
DIN EN ISO 527-2Tension testing – Plastics – Determination of tensile properties – Part 2: Test conditions for moulding and extrusion plastics
DIN EN ISO 527-3Tension testing – Plastics – Determination of tensile properties – Part 3: Test conditions for films and sheets
DIN EN ISO 527-4Tension testing – Plastics – Determination of tensile properties – Part 4: Test conditions for isotropic and anisotropic fibre-reinforced plastic composites
DIN EN ISO 527-5Tension testing – Plastics – Determination of tensile properties – Part 5: Test conditions for unidirectional fibre-reinforced plastic composites
DIN EN 2561Tension testing – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre reinforced plastics – Unidirectional laminates – Tensile test parallel to the fibre direction
T/B314/15/03Tension testing – Determination of tensile properties of materials with high laminate thickness
DIN EN 2597Tension testing – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre reinforced plastics; unidirectional laminates – Tensile test perpendicular to the fibre direction
AITM 1-0007Tension testing – AITM Airbus Test Method – Fibre Reinforced Plastics – Determination of Plain, Open Hole and Filled Hole Tensile Strength
ASTM D3039Tension testing – Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials
  DIN EN 1607Tension testing – Thermal insulating products for building applications – Determination of tensile strength perpendicular to faces
ASTM C 297Tension testing – Standard Test Method for Flatwise Tensile Strength of Sandwich Constructions
ASTM D 1623Tension testing – Standard Test Method for Tensile and Tensile Adhesion Properties of Rigid Cellular Plastics
ISO 1926Tension testing – Rigid cellular plastics – Determination of tensile properties
DIN 65382Tension testing – Aerospace; reinforcement fibres for plastics; tensile test of impregnated yarn test specimens
DIN EN ISO 9163Tension testing – Textile glass – Rovings – Manufacture of test specimens and determination of tensile strength of impregnated rovings
DIN EN ISO 10618Tension testing – Carbon fibre – Determination of tensile properties of resin-impregnated yarn
ASTM D 2343Tension testing – Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Glass Fiber Strands, Yarns, and Rovings Used in Reinforced Plastics
DIN EN 2243-4Tension testing – Aerospace series – Non-metallic materials – Structural adhesives – Test method – Part 4: Metal-honeycomb core flatwise tensile test
AITM 1-0025Tension testing – AITM Airbus Test Method – Fibre Reinforced Plastics Flatwise tensile test of composite sandwich panel
ASTM D638Tension testing – Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
ASD-STAN prEN 6066 P1Tension testing – Fibre reinforced plastics – Test method – Determination of tensile strength of a tapered and stepped joints
ASTM D5766Tension testing – Standard Test Method for Open-Hole Tensile Strength of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates
DIN DIN 53292Tension testing – Testing of sandwiches; Tensile test perpendicular to the faces
DIN EN 6035Tension testing – Aerospace series – Fibre reinforced plastics – Test method – Determination of notched and unnotched tensile strength
DIN EN ISO 14125Flexural testing – bre-reinforced plastic composites – Determination of flexural properties
DIN EN 2562Flexural testing – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre reinforced plastics – Unidirectional laminates; flexural test parallel to the fibre direction
DIN EN ISO 178Flexural testing – Plastics – Determination of flexural properties
ASTM C393Flexural testing – Standard Test Method for Core Shear Properties of Sandwich Constructions by Beam Flexure
DIN 53293Flexural testing – Testing of sandwiches; Bending test
ASTM D 6272Flexural testing – Standard Test Method for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials by Four-Point Bending
AITM 1-0018Flexural testing – AITM Airbus Test Method – Fibre Reinforced Plastics Sandwich flexural test 4-point bending
ASTM D790Flexural testing – Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials
ASTM D7264Flexural testing – Standard Test Method for Flexural Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials
DIN EN 310Flexural testing – Wood-based panels; determination of modulus of elasticity in bending and of bending strength
DIN EN 13706-2 DFlexural testing – Reinforced plastic composites – Specifications for pultruded profiles – Part 2: Methods of test and general requirements
AITM 1-0069Flexural testing – Fibre Reinforced Plastics – Determination of curved-beam failure load
DIN EN ISO 14130Shear testing – Fibre reinforced plastic composites – Determination of apparent interlaminar shear strength by short beam-method
DIN EN 2563Shear testing – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre reinforced plastics – Unidirectional laminates; determination of apparent interlaminar shear strength
ASD-STAN prEN 6060Shear testing – Fibre reinforced plastics – Test method – Determination of the tensile single lap shear strength
AITM 1-0019Shear testing – AITM Airbus Test Method Determination of tensile lap shear strength of Composite Joints
DIN EN 2243-1Shear testing – Aerospace series – Non-metallic materials – Structural adhesives – Test method – Part 1: Single lap shear
DIN 65148Shear testing – Aerospace; testing of fibre-reinforced plastics; determination of interlaminar shear strength by tenside test
DIN 53255Shear testing – Testing of wood adhesives and glued wood joints; shear and delamination tests for determining the failing strength of plywood bonds (plywood and coreboard)
DIN EN 2377Shear testing – Aerospace series; glass fibre reinforced plastics; test method; determination of apparent interlaminar shear strength
AITM 1-0065Shear testing – Fiber reinforced plastics Determination of joint strength
of mechanically fastened joints
ASTM D2344Shear testing – Standard Test Method for Short-Beam Strength of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials and Their Laminates
DIN EN ISO 11339Peel testing – Adhesives – T-peel test for flexible-to-flexible bonded assemblies
DIN EN 2243-2Peel testing – Aerospace series – Non-metallic materials – Structural adhesives – Test method – Part 2: Peel metal-metal
DIN EN 2243-3Peel testing – Aerospace series – Non-metallic materials – Structural adhesives – Test method – Part 3: Peeling test metal-honeycomb core
ASTM E 2004Peel testing – Standard Test Method for Facing Cleavage of Sandwich Panels
ASTM D3167Peel testing – Standard Test Method for Floating Roller Peel Resistance of Adhesives
DIN 53295Schälprüfung – Testing of sandwiches; Peel test by means of a drum
ISO 4578Peel testing – Adhesives – Determination of peel resistance of high-strength adhesive bonds – Floating-roller method
ASTM D1781Peel testing – Standard Test Method for Climbing Drum Peel for Adhesives
ISO 15024Determination of fracture toughness energy – Fibre-reinforced plastic composites – Determination of Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness, GIC, for unidirectionally reinforced materials
ISO 25217Determination of fracture toughness energy – Adhesives – Determination of the mode 1 adhesive fracture energy of structural adhesive joints using double cantilever beam and tapered double cantilever beam specimens
ASTM D 5528Determination of fracture toughness energy – Standard Test Method for Mode I Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of Unidirectional Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites
DIN EN 6033Determination of fracture toughness energy – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre reinforced plastics – Test method – Determination of interlaminar fracture toughness energy – Mode I – GIC
DIN EN 6034Determination of fracture toughness energy – Aerospace series – Carbon fibre reinforced plastics – Test method – Determination of interlaminar fracture toughness energy – Mode II – G[IIC]
AITM 1-0005Determination of fracture toughness energy – Determination of mode I fracture toughness energy
AITM 1-0053Determination of fracture toughness energy – Determination of mode I fracture toughness Energy of bonded Joints (G1C Test)
ASTM D 7905Determination of fracture toughness energy – Standard Test Method for Determination of the Mode II Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of Unidirectional Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites
T/B1/03Determination of fracture toughness energy – Technical Note – Validation of the use of crack measurement strips to determine the energy release rate
AITM 1-0009Bolts load capacity – AITM Airbus Test Method – Fibre Reinforced Plastics Determination of Bearing Strength by either  Pin or Bolt Bearing Configuration
DIN EN 13706-2 EBolts load capacity – Reinforced plastic composites – Specifications for pultruded profiles – Part 2: Test methods and general requirements
DIN 65562Bolts load capacity – Aerospace; fibre reinforced plastics; testing of multidirectional laminates; determination of bearing strength
DIN EN 6037Bolts load capacity – Aerospace series – Fibre reinforced plastics – Test method – Determination of bearing strength
DIN 6038Impact testing – Aerospace series – Fibre reinforced plastics – Test method – Determination of the compression strength after impact
AITM 1-0010Impact testing – Determination of Compression Strength
After Impact
ASTM D7136Impact testing – Standard Test Method for Measuring the Damage Resistance of a Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite to a Drop-Weight Impact Event
ASTM D7137Impact testing – Standard Test Method for Compressive Residual Strength Properties of Damaged Polymer Matrix Composite Plates
DIN 65561Impact testing – Aerospace; fibre reinforced plastics; testing of multidirectional laminates; determination of compressive strength after impact test
ISO 18352Impact testing – Carbon-fibre-reinforced plastics – Determination of compression-after-impact properties at a specified impact-energy level
DIN EN 14509Product specific test method – Self-supporting double skin metal faced insulating panels – Factory made products – Specifications
DIN EN 13706-1Product specific test method – Reinforced plastic composites – Specification for pultruded profiles – Part 1: Designation
DIN EN 13706-2Product specific test method – Reinforced plastic composites – Specifications for pultruded profiles – Part 2: Methods of test and general requirements
DIN EN 13706-3Product specific test method – Reinforced plastic composites – Specifications for pultruded profiles – Part 3: Specific requirements
DIN 18807-9Product specific test method – Trapezoidal profiles in building construction – Part 9: Aluminum trapezoidal profiles and their connections; Application and construction
DIN EN 1090-4Product specific test method – Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures – Part 4: Technical requirements for cold-formed structural steel elements and cold-formed structures for roof, ceiling, floor and wall applications
DIN EN 1090-5Product specific test method – Execution of steel structures and aluminium structures – Part 5: Technical requirements for cold-formed structural aluminium elements and cold-formed structures for roof, ceiling, floor and wall applications
  • Tensile Test
    Tensile Test
  • Bending Test
    Bending Test
  • ILSS Test
    ILSS Test
  • Tensile Test
    Tensile Test
  • Material Tests on Core Material
    Material Tests on Core Material
  • Fracture Toughness Test
    Fracture Toughness Test

 

Material Fatigue tests

The cyclic testing methods require a high degree of expertise, as the versatile characteristics of this material group must be considered during the test. There is still a lack of recognised standards in this testing field. Our experts will be pleased to implement various tests for you.

Test spectrum

  • Load range: 0.5 N – 2 MN
  • Force, path or elongation controlled stresses
  • Elongation and temperature measurements
  • In-situ crack documentation (visual)
  • Evaluation of Wöhler curves
  • Fatigue testing under climatic influence:
    • High temperature: +180 °C
    • Climatic conditions: maximum 85 °C and 85% relative humidity
    • Low temperature: -60 °C

Geometries and methods for fatigue tests

  • Special double-sided waisted geometry for UD testing (IMA UDFA, IMA-up-UDFA)
  • G1c, G2c Testing
  • Buckling restraints for pressure load
  • Geometries accepted by DNV GL
  • Components and structures (e.g. rotor blade root element Connections)

Test procedures

StandardTitle
RHV-testingCyclic testing – Cyclic tension-compression alternating test on laminates reinforced with ± 45 ° – Guidelines for proving the recognition of resin-matrix composite systems in the field of manufacture and maintenance of gliders and motor gliders (RHV), Luftfahrt-Bundesamt
T/B369/09/02Cyclic testing – Technical Information – Vibration test according to the IMA-UDFA test method on unidirectional fiber-reinforced plastics
ISO 13003Cyclic testing – Fibre-reinforced plastics – Determination of fatigue properties under cyclic loading conditions
T/B1/02Cyclic testing – Technical Note – Validation IMA-up UDFA test procedures
ASTM D3479Cyclic testing – Standard Test Method for Tension-Tension Fatigue of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials
  • Laboratory Material Fatigue
    Laboratory Material Fatigue
  • Fatigue Bending Test
    Fatigue Bending Test
  • Fatigue Compression Test with Strain Measurement
    Fatigue Compression Test with Strain Measurement
  • Fatigue Test
    Fatigue Test
  • Fatigue Test under Elevated Temperature
    Fatigue Test under Elevated Temperature

 

 

Material creep tests

Components made of fibre-reinforced plastic should be designed to ensure long-term exposure. Material information regarding the behaviour of the component under long-term effects during static loading is therefore required. We implement these long-term tests under different loads as dependent on the temperature and media exposure.

Test spectrum

  • Time-status creep testing
  • Time-status breakage testing
  • Type of load: Tension, pressure, thrust
  • Load range: 0.1 N – 20 kN
  • Extrapolation
  • Creep testing under temperature and media influences:
    • Time-status testing with media load (aggressive liquids)
    • Combined creep loading (temperature and media)
    • Time-status testing with exposure to high temperatures (-30 °C to 150 °C)

Test procedures

StandardTitle
DIN EN ISO 899-1Longtime testing – Plastics – Determination of creep behaviour – Part 1: Tensile creep (ISO 899-1:2003 + Amd.1:2015)
DIN EN ISO 899-2Longtime testing – Plastics – Determination of creep behaviour – Part 2: Flexural creep by three-point loading
IMA-PV B/1Longtime testing – IMA test specification – Creep bending test with four point load
IMA-PV B/2Longtime testing – IMA test specification – planning, execution and evaluation of creep tests on plastics in tension, compression and bending
ASTM D 2990 – 09Longtime testing – Standard Test Methods for Tensile, Compressive, and Flexural Creep and Creep-Rupture of Plastics

 

 

Preparing Laminates and specimen

 

Our laboratory can provide a wide range of various possibilities for the production of test laminates: from rovings, textile semi-finished products and resin systems. Benefit from our vast experience in the field of laminate production with vacuum infusion, RTM, thermoplastic processing and in the winding process. We will manufacture high-quality test bodies from the test laminates in accordance with national and international testing standards.

Manufacturing laminate:

  • Vacuum infusion process
  • Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM)
  • Pre-impregnated processing
  • Thermoplastic processing
  • Winding process
  • Thread impregnation

Manufacturing specimen:

  • Sawing
  • Drilling
  • CNC milling
  • Application of force transmission elements (cap strips)
  • Water jet cutting

Test procedures

StandardTitle
DIN EN 13473-1Reinforcement – Specifications for multi-axial multi-ply fabrics – Part 1: Designation
DIN EN ISO 2818Plastics – Preparation of test specimens by machining
ASTM D5687Standard Guide for Preparation of Flat Composite Panels with Processing Guidelines for Specimen Preparation
  • Laminate and Sample Production
    Laminate and Sample Production
  • Hydraulic Press for Thermoplastic Tapes
    Hydraulic Press for Thermoplastic Tapes
  • Laminate and Sample Production
    Laminate and Sample Production
  • Specimen Machining
    Specimen Machining
  • Water Jet Cutting
    Water Jet Cutting
  • Laminate and Sample Production
    Laminate and Sample Production

 

Monitoring and Certification for Construction Products

Fibre-reinforced plastics have been utilised successfully in the construction industry for many years. Special requirements hereby apply for this field of application with regard to the monitoring and certification of the materials.

IMA Dresden is an approved testing, monitoring and certification body (PÜZ) at the German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt) and can be also assume the monitoring and approval procedures within the framework of an approval in individual cases in addition to the necessary testing for the material.

This includes:

  • Manufacturer monitoring (initial monitoring, control monitoring)
  • Assembly monitoring
  • Creating a certificate of compliance (CC)

Further information can be found on our site “Construction products“.

Component development

Are you looking for lightweight construction solutions with the highest efficiency? Take advantage of the almost limitless possibilities of fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP), such as e.g. high weight-specific strength, wide design freedom and freely adaptable material characteristics.

We can provide individual, tailor-made advice for implementing your ideas.

  • Problem analysis
  • Feasibility studies
  • Material and technology consulting
  • Project management

Concept Development

An idea develops into the concept. Commencing with basis of the specific requirements for a respective application case, we then develop fibre composite applicable solution proposals which are adapted to your demands.

  • Compilation of technical specifications
  • Developing design solutions
  • Considering finished approaches
  • Concept evaluation
  • Optimising existing structures

Designing

The various, different concepts then result in detailed designs. We work with the following CAD systems during the designing process: Catia V5, Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD.

Simulation

Which stresses are the components subjected to? During the calculation and simulation of FRP structures, with their complex material characteristics, we rely on the utilisation of state-of-the-art simulation software, such as Ansys, Patran/Nastran, Abaqus and SimulationX.

We can draw on our many years of experience and our extensive knowledge in dealing with FRP materials for the detailed assessment of the simulation results.

Manufacturing prototypes

Our technical centre can implement the manufacturing process for prototypes and small serial production products according to your wishes.

  • Manual lamination process
  • Vacuum infusion procedure (RIM, VARIM, VAP)
  • Injection procedure (RTM, VARTM)
  • Pre-impregnation procedure
  • Press procedure
  • 5-Axis winding machine

In addition, we also work closely with various industry partners from FRP processing together to enable a seamless transition to serial production

Test

In order to inspect the the fail-safe functionality of the developed components under real time conditions, we create and implement customised component tests under operating conditions. Our range of services hereby includes, among others, the following:

  • Material characterisation
  • Static, cyclic and dynamic component trials
  • Climatic and temperature tests
  • Testing under the media influences

In addition, we also accompany and support you with our extensive testing experience during the approval and certification of your products.

Quality assurance

We can provide a wide range of test procedures for the detection of possible production errors and faults or for detailed investigation of the damage behaviour for FRP components.

  • Ultrasound testing
  • Eddy current test
  • Magnaflux test
  • Endoscopy
  • Modal analysis
  • Optical measuring systems (Aramis, pontos)
  • Monitoring/consulting for quality assurance
  • Prototyping
    Prototyping
  • Test
    Test
  • Test
    Test
  • Quality Assurance
    Quality Assurance
  • Quality Assurance
    Quality Assurance