ASTM D5023: Plastic Dynamic Mechanical Testing Services
Accredited ASTM D5023 plastic dynamic mechanical testing from Infinita Lab, performed to the exact standard requirements - accurate, reproducible results with full documentation for compliance, R&D, and quality control programs.
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- Overview
- Scope, Applications, and Benefits
- Test Process
- Specifications
- Instrumentation
- Results and Deliverables
What Is ASTM D5023 Plastic Dynamic Mechanical?
ASTM D5023 is the standard test method for determining the dynamic mechanical properties of plastics in flexure using a three-point bending configuration. The method applies a small, nonresonant, forced sinusoidal displacement to a rectangular bar specimen supported near its two ends while a centre loading nose applies the oscillating load, allowing engineers to characterise how a rigid or semi-rigid plastic responds to cyclic mechanical stress across a range of temperatures and frequencies. As the specimen deforms under this oscillating load, a dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA) captures the resulting stress and strain waveforms and resolves them into the storage modulus (E’), the loss modulus (E”), the complex modulus (E*), and the damping factor, tan delta. The storage modulus reflects the elastic, energy-storing component of the material’s response, the loss modulus reflects the viscous, energy-dissipating component, and tan delta, the ratio of the two, indicates how effectively the material damps mechanical energy. Plotting these values against temperature or frequency reveals transitions in thermomechanical behaviour, most notably the glass transition temperature, along with the effects of curing, processing history, fillers, and additives on stiffness and damping. Because three-point bending is a simple, well-defined loading geometry, D5023 is widely used for thermoplastic resins, thermosetting resins, and composite systems that are rigid enough to be tested as a supported beam. Results from D5023 support material selection, quality control, formulation comparisons, and failure analysis by giving engineers standardised, reproducible data on how a plastic’s mechanical performance shifts with service temperature and loading frequency. Because the method is sensitive to specimen geometry and fixture compliance, results are generally treated as relative rather than absolute values, making consistent specimen preparation and calibrated instrumentation essential to generating comparable, trustworthy data across labs and material batches.
Applications and Benefits of ASTM D5023 Plastic Dynamic Mechanical Testing
Scope
- Determines the dynamic mechanical properties of plastics in flexure using a three-point bending, nonresonant, forced-vibration technique.
- Applies to thermoplastic resins, thermosetting resins, and composite systems that are rigid or semi-rigid enough to be tested as a supported beam.
- Covers materials molded directly to test-bar dimensions or specimens machined from sheets, plates, or molded parts.
- Uses rectangular bar specimens supported on two lower fixture points with an oscillating load applied at the centre span.
- Measures storage modulus (E’), loss modulus (E”), complex modulus (E*), and tan delta as functions of temperature, frequency, or time.
- Identifies the glass transition temperature and other thermomechanical transitions from modulus and tan delta curves.
- Evaluates the effects of cure state, processing history, fillers, reinforcements, and additives on stiffness and damping.
- Operates over a typical frequency range of 0.01 Hz to 100 Hz under programmed temperature control.
- Notes that results reflect relative rather than absolute property values due to instrument and fixture compliance effects.
- Requires careful specimen preparation, conditioning, and fixture alignment to obtain reproducible data.
Applications
- Screening candidate thermoplastics and thermosets during material selection for structural or load-bearing components.
- Verifying the degree of cure and cross-link density of thermosetting resins and composite laminates.
- Determining the glass transition temperature of rigid and semi-rigid plastics for service-temperature qualification.
- Assessing the effect of fillers, fibres, plasticisers, and other additives on stiffness and damping behaviour.
- Supporting quality control comparisons between production lots, suppliers, or manufacturing process changes.
- Investigating vibration damping performance for components exposed to cyclic mechanical loading.
- Generating comparative data for research and development of new polymer formulations and composite systems.
Benefits
- Provides standardised, repeatable data that can be compared across suppliers, batches, and testing laboratories.
- Reveals temperature- and frequency-dependent stiffness and damping behaviour that static tests cannot capture.
- Supports informed material selection by quantifying trade-offs between rigidity and energy dissipation.
- Helps identify processing or curing defects before components reach production or field service.
- Enables design engineers to predict how a plastic component will behave under realistic thermal and dynamic conditions.
- Reduces risk of in-service failure by flagging materials with unexpected transitions near operating temperatures.
Our ASTM D5023 Testing Procedure
Specimen Preparation & Conditioning
Rectangular specimens are prepared and conditioned before testing.
1Fixture Setup
Specimens are placed on a three-point bend fixture with an adjustable support span.
2Dynamic Loading & Temperature Control
Sinusoidal displacement is applied while temperature is controlled.
3Data Acquisition
Storage modulus, loss modulus, and tan δ are recorded.
4ASTM D5023 Test Parameters and Requirements
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Applicable Materials | Thermoplastics, thermosets, polymer composites |
| Frequency Range | 0.01 Hz to 100 Hz |
| Specimen Shape | Rectangular bar |
| Support Span Ratio | Span-to-depth ratio = 16 (+4 / −2) |
| Typical Dimensions | 64 mm × 13 mm × 3 mm |
| Overhang Requirement | ≥10% of support span (min 6.4 mm) |
- Dynamic Mechanical Analyser (DMA) – Applies the controlled sinusoidal displacement and measures the resulting force and phase response.
- Three-Point Bending Fixture – Supports the specimen at two fixed points and applies the oscillating load through a centre loading nose.
- Environmental Chamber – Provides controlled heating, cooling, and temperature ramping around the specimen during testing.
- Force and Displacement Transducers – Capture the precise load and deflection signals needed to compute modulus and phase angle.
- Temperature Sensors and Controllers – Monitor and regulate specimen temperature throughout the sweep for accurate transition detection.
- Data Acquisition and Analysis Software – Converts raw signals into storage modulus, loss modulus, and tan delta curves and identifies transition temperatures.
- Specimen Preparation Equipment – Precision saws, mills, or molds used to produce dimensionally consistent test bars.
Equipment and Instrumentation Used for ASTM D5023 Testing
What You Receive: Test Report, Data, and Certification
- Storage modulus (E’) curves plotted against temperature, frequency, or time to show elastic stiffness trends.
- Loss modulus (E”) curves illustrating the viscous, energy-dissipating response of the material.
- Tan delta curves highlighting damping behaviour and pinpointing the glass transition temperature and other transitions.
- A comprehensive test report summarising specimen details, test conditions, and calculated results in accordance with D5023.
- Comparative data tables or overlays for evaluating multiple formulations, lots, or suppliers side by side.
- Raw data files available on request to support further in-house analysis or modelling.
ASTM D5023 Plastic Dynamic Mechanical FAQs
DMA identifies transition regions in plastics, such as the glass transition, and may be used for quality control or product development. DMA can recognize small transition regions beyond DSC's resolution (Differential Scanning Calorimetry).
Dynamic mechanical analysis (abbreviated DMA) is a technique for studying and characterizing materials. It is most helpful in analyzing the viscoelastic behavior of polymers. A sinusoidal stress is applied, and the strain in the material is measured, allowing one to determine the complex modulus.
What's the difference between DMA and TMA analysis? The main difference between DMA and TMA (thermo-mechanical analysis) is that the former measures mechanical properties, while the latter measures thermal expansion.
Why Choose Infinita Lab for Plastic Dynamic Mechanical Testing
When your Plastic Dynamic Mechanical results have to hold up - for compliance, a customer audit, or an engineering decision - ASTM D5023 accuracy and an unbiased third-party report matter more than price. Infinita Lab routes your ASTM D5023 plastic dynamic mechanical testing to ISO/IEC 17025-accredited U.S. partner labs with hands-on method experience, so you get defensible data, transparent reporting, and turnaround times built around your project deadline - not ours.
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