Materials & Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break

strain to failurepercent elongation%EL

Elongation at break is how much a material stretches before it fractures in a tensile test, expressed as a percentage of the specimen's original gauge length.

What Is Glass-Filled Nylon? Properties & Uses

glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP)PA66 GF30PA6 GFglass-reinforced nylon

Glass-filled nylon is a nylon (polyamide) reinforced with short glass fibers, typically PA6 or PA66 with around 20–30% glass by weight.

What Is a Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT)?

Heat distortion temperatureDeflection temperature under load (DTUL)

Heat deflection temperature (HDT) is the temperature at which a standard plastic test bar, loaded in bending, deflects by a set amount as it is steadily heated.

What Is Melt Flow Index (MFI)? Definition

MFR (melt flow rate)MVR (melt volume rate)Flow rate ratio (FRR)

Melt flow index (MFI) is a measure of how easily a molten thermoplastic flows: the mass of polymer, in grams, pushed through a standard die in 10 minutes at a set temperature and load.

What Is Tensile Strength? Definition & Testing

ultimate tensile strength (UTS)

Tensile strength is the maximum pulling (tensile) stress a material can withstand before it breaks, measured in a tensile test and reported in MPa or psi; it is also called ultimate tensile strength (UTS).

What Is a Thermoplastic? Definition & Examples

A thermoplastic is a plastic that softens and melts when heated and hardens again when cooled, a cycle that is reversible and repeatable.

What Is UL 94? Flammability Ratings Explained

Standard for Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances

UL 94 is the UL standard for testing the flammability of plastic materials used in parts for devices and appliances.

What Is Yield Strength?

yield stress

Yield strength is the stress at which a material stops deforming elastically and begins to deform permanently.