Laboratory Testing

Assessing Material Performance with Confidence

Material behaviour can only be reliably assessed through robust test data. Working together with testing laboratories, we plan, oversee, and interpret test programmes tailored precisely to the question at hand — from determining individual material properties to long-term ageing simulations.

Strength Testing under Tensile, Shear or Combined Load

Tensile, shear and combined-load tests provide the fundamental data on strength, elongation, and failure behaviour of elastic adhesives and sealants. Depending on the question at hand, round specimens, H-specimens, or peel and shear test pieces are used, in line with common testing standards for elastomers and construction adhesives.

Measurements under Dynamic Loading

Facade bonds are exposed to cyclic loading from wind and temperature changes throughout their service life. Dynamic testing simulates this recurring stress and provides insight into fatigue behaviour and the long-term stability of the bond.

Measurement of Creep Behaviour under Sustained Load

Under constant, long-term load, elastic adhesives can gradually deform over time (creep). Creep tests over defined periods show how this deformation develops and are particularly safety-relevant for load-bearing structural glazing bonds.

Measurement of Stress Relaxation

Relaxation testing records how much the internal stress of an adhesive decreases over time under constant deformation. These values are important for realistically representing the long-term behaviour of joints and for incorporating this behaviour into calculation models.

Accelerated Ageing

To realistically estimate the service life of adhesives and sealants, samples are artificially aged under weathering conditions — through UV exposure, heat, moisture, temperature cycling, and water immersion. A combination with mechanical cycling is possible. Afterwards, adhesion and mechanical properties are re-tested to draw conclusions about long-term durability.