Material Analysis: Materials Testing Services solutions

Westpak’s Material Analysis aligns with the needs of the customers and industries we serve. Testing provides the information needed to establish or confirm material properties, or evaluate differences between batches or suppliers, for example.

A few of the Material Tests Available from Westpak

Test Type
Description
  •  Tensile strength
  • The ability to resist being stretched apart
  • Compression strength
  • The ability to resist compressive loads
  • Puncture resistance
  • The ability to resist high rate penetration from a sharp object
  • Elongation
  • The ability to stretch, normally at constant strain level
  • Burst strength
  • The ability to resist hydrostatic pressure applied uniformly over a given area
  • Moisture absorption
  • The degree to which moisture is absorbed into material (Cobb)
  • Penetration resistance
  • The ability to resist a slow rate penetration by a spherical probe
  • Stress/strain
  • The relationship between deformation of an object and the force necessary
  • Creep properties
  • The measurement of slow rate deformation under constant stress
  • Cushion curves
  • Vibration or impact data for various thicknesses, drop heights, and static loadings of cushion systems
  • Pin adhesion
  • Measures the adhesive quality of the liners and fluted medium on corrugated paperboard

Cobb Test

Cobb Test

The ability of a hygroscopic material to resist the penetration of water is referred to as a Cobb test. Specifically, this test permits the determination of the quantity of water that can be absorbed by the surface of paper or board in a given time. Water absorption is a function of various paper and board characteristics such as sizing, porosity, etc. Read more about Cobb Testing

Tensile and Pull Test

Tensile and Pull Test

Tensile testing is a stretching force designed to determine the maximum tensile strength of the material. Pull testing measure the strength required to pull apart two bonded surfaces. It is often used in the medical device industry to measure and quantify the seal strength of sterile primary packaging. Read more Tensile / Pull Testing

Scuff & Abrasion

Scuff & Abrasion

The durability of printed, painted, or polished services to resist abrasion can be simulated by a scuff test procedure. These procedures can simulate the effects of contact by humans, items, or materials by the use of single or dual-surface abrasion methods and related equipment. Read more about Scuff & Abrasion

Mullen Burst

Mullen Burst

In a Mullen Burst test, a 1" diameter of material is pressurized from one side by means of a hydraulically driven membrane. The pressure necessary to force the membrane through the test material was referred to as its “burst strength”. Read more about Mullen Burst

Edge Crush Test

Edge Crush Test

The Edge Crush Test (ECT) determines the ability of corrugated fiberboard, a material consisting of a corrugated sheet and one or two flat linerboards, to withstand a crushing load in the edge down orientation. The test indicates the ability of a box constructed with the material to withstand static and dynamic top loading as would occur during warehousing or distribution. Read more about Edge Crush

Pin Adhesion

Pin Adhesion

The Pin Adhesion test measures the bond between the liners and the corrugated medium in a corrugated fiberboard structure. The test is conducted using a fixture in combination with a load frame, which determines the force required to separate the facings from the flutes. Read more about Pin Adhesion

Salt Fog / Salt Spray

Salt Fog / Salt Spray

Salt Fog testing enables one to determine the quality and reliability of a product under corrosive atmospheric conditions. Read more about Salt Fog / Salt Spray

Cushion Curve Analysis

Cushion Curve Analysis

Cushion Curve testing shows how material reacts to physical impacts which can be used to determine the static loading and required thickness for proper cushion design. Read more about Cushion Curve Analysis

Coefficient of Friction

Coefficient of Friction

To determine the starting and sliding coefficients of friction for plastic film and sheeting, Westpak conducts the Coefficient of Friction (CoF) test per the ASTM D1894 test standard. The protocol allows five basic ways in which the test apparatus may be assembled. Westpak’s test setup incorporates a precision test sled apparatus, a Shimadzu load frame, and a very accurate load cell to generate test data. Read more about Coefficient of Friction Test

UV Accelerated Weathering

UV Accelerated Weathering

Reliable and reproducible weathering data can be generated in just a few days with excellent correlation to outdoor weathering tests. Significant savings in time and expense are therefore achieved compared to outdoor testing. Read more about UV Accelerated Weathering

Creep Testing

Creep Testing

Creep, a mechanical property, is the tendency of a solid material to move slowly or deform permanently under the influence of a static load over time. For cushioning materials, creep may be defined as the change in thickness over a period of time as the result of a compressive load. Read more about Material Creep Test

Flat Crush Test

Flat Crush Test

The Flat Crush Test (FCT) measures the resistance of the flutes of corrugated fiberboard to a crushing force applied in a perpendicular direction tot eh flat surface. The test is satisfactory for single wall or double wall corrugated board. Read more about Flat Crush Test

Peel Adhesion Test

Peel Adhesion Test

There are a variety of test methods to conduct Peel Adhesion testing of pressure - sensitive tapes and adhesives. Westpak uses a load frame to perform the testing at either 180 or 90 degree angles.

Typical Procedures/Protocols
ASTM D3330
ASTM D3654
ASTM D3759

Slow-Rate Penetration

Slow-Rate Penetration

This test method permits flexible barrier films and laminates to be characterized for slow rate penetration resistance to a driven probe. The test is performed at room temperature by applying a biaxial stress at a single test velocity on the material until perforation occurs. The force, energy, and elongation to perforation are then determined.

Typical Procedures/Protocols
TAPPI T 811
TAPPI T 809
TAPPI T 821
TAPPI T 838