Indentation Plastometer – Plastometrex PLX Benchtop
The PLX-Benchtop is powered by PIP Testing (Profilometry-based Indentation Plastometry), a method developed by Plastometrex and internationally recognized by ASTM standard E3499-25. PIP Testing is non-destructive, measuring stress-strain response via a small indentation and finite element analysis. More information of the instrument can be found on the website below:
https://www.plastometrex.com/products/plx-benchtop
Instrument Specifications
Sample Requirements:
- Sample Size: The allowable sample dimensions depend on the selected indenter tip radius (0.25 mm, 0.5 mm, or 1 mm):
- Minimum Thickness requirement: 3x the indenter tip radius
- Lateral dimensions (X and Y): From 6x the indenter tip radius up to 160mm (For samples smaller than 8 mm in both the X and Y directions, mounting on a fixture of matching thickness is required to ensure accurate measurements)
- Surface Roughness: Rz < 4µm and Ra < 0.5µm
- Surface Tilt: Up to 2°
- Porosity: Less than 1%
- Material: Metallic sample ONLY
Key advantages vs. traditional tensile testing
- Non-destructive (no need to machine coupons)
- Minimal sample size (even millimeter-scale)
- Fast results (minutes instead of hours/days)
- Spatial mapping of properties across a sample
Main Difference vs. Nanoindentation techniques
- Type of data obtained
Both techniques generate load-displacement curves for further analysis.
- Plastometrex (PIP): Full stress–strain curve (yield strength, UTS, work hardening, Brinell hardness)
- Nanoindentation: Hardness and modulus only
- Indentation depth
- Plastometrex (PIP): Hundreds of microns indentation scale, reflecting bulk material behavior
- Nanoindentation: Nanometer to micron scale, capturing localized material properties
- Sensitivity to microstructure
- Plastometrex (PIP): Averages over multiple grains/phases
- Nanoindentation: Can probe individual grains, phases, or thin films
- Surface preparation requirements
- Plastometrex (PIP): Tolerates less ideal / rougher surfaces
- Nanoindentation: Requires highly polished, very smooth surfaces
Add-on Modules:
HotStage: Can be used to study temperature-dependent properties
- Enables testing of metals up to 800 °C
- Maintains same indentation-based methodology