Victorian Testing and Inspection Services is a leader in the field of polyethylene (PE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) testing. VTS is accredited with the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) for butt weld, bend and tensile tests, shear tests on electro fusion sockets and failure mode determination.
While HDPE is used extensively throughout the world and is used for the packaging of many everyday items, our range of PE / HDPE testing services is particularly useful for confirming the viability and quality of plastic pipes, including joins and welds, used in water and gas pipelines and in major construction projects.
Using a variety of methods, Victorian Testing and Inspection Services can determine how brittle or ductile (flexible) a plastic is, its strength and at what point it will fail when under stress. We also assist companies to set up the parameters for best-practice welds, a key determinant of pipeline quality and consistency.
What is PE / HDPE
High density polyethylene – HDPE – is the most commonly used plastic polymer in the world. It can withstand temperatures of -40 degrees Celcius and exceeding 80 degrees Celcius. It is tough because it has the capacity to stretch before breaking, lightweight and has good chemical resistance – hence its popularity.
It is used extensively in industry for pipelines for water and gas service. It was first used in Australia in the 1950s, and its use and application has grown considerably since.
Common tests
Tensile testing, also known as tension testing, is a basic test in which a metal is loaded until it fails. Relatively simple and inexpensive, the results of these tests can tell you plenty about how the material might react when used in real life. For example, what kind of loads a structure might withstand or how ductile a material is.
Bend tests involve bending the plastic to a specified radius and are used to evaluate the ductility and soundness of welded joints.