Mechanical Materials Testing

Whether it’s safety, durability, or functionality – mechanical properties determine the quality of a product. With many years of experience and state-of-the-art testing technology, we support you in reliably characterizing and assessing materials and components. We offer a broad range of mechanical test methods – standards-compliant, meaningful, and tailored to your specific requirements.

Fast, standards-compliant materials testing from an independent accredited laboratory – ideal for product development and series release
Increased component safety and service life through in-depth materials characterization

Our Services at a Glance

Hardness testing
Macro and micro hardness measurements (e.g. Vickers, Brinell), nano hardness measurements, etc.
Static materials testing
Tensile, compression, and bending tests according to DIN/ISO/ASTM (from high to low temperatures)
Cyclic materials testing
Cyclic–plastic material behaviour in low cycle fatigue / fatigue testing in high cycle fatigue
High-pressure hydrogen testing
Material behaviour under H₂ exposure (autoclave testing up to 400 bar)
Fracture mechanics
Crack growth, KIC, CTOD for safety-relevant components, etc.
Materials testing of microelectronic systems
E.g. solder joints, coatings, etc.

Accredited testing according to ISO/IEC 17025

Hardness measurements according to EN ISO 6506-1 (HB), EN ISO 6507-1 (HV), EN ISO 6508-1 (HRC)
Tensile testing of metallic materials
- At room temperature: EN ISO 6892-1, ASTM E8 / E8M, ASTM 370
- At low temperatures: EN ISO 6892-3
- At elevated temperatures: EN ISO 6892-2, ASTM E21
Fatigue tests on specimens according to DIN 50100, ASTM E466, ISO 1099
Fatigue tests on fasteners according to DIN 969
Fracture toughness testing KIC according to ASTM E399, ISO 12135
Fatigue crack growth according to ASTM E647, ISO 12108
Fracture toughness testing JIC, Jc, J–R, rc according to ASTM E1820 / ISO 12135

Photo Gallery - Mechanical Materials Testing

Crack propagation testing on SENB specimens

Our Services in Detail

Hardness Testing – Macro, Micro (e.g. Vickers, Brinell), Nano Hardness Measurements

Hardness Testing

We offer comprehensive hardness testing using all common methods – from macroscopic measurements to nanoindentation.

Available hardness methods

Vickers hardness (HV) – EN ISO 6507-1
Brinell hardness (HB) – EN ISO 6506-1
Rockwell hardness (HRC) – EN ISO 6508-1
Knoop hardness (HK)*
Martens hardness (HM) / instrumented indentation (nanoindentation)*

Testing services

Core hardness measurements
Hardness profiles or hardness mapping (e.g. after case hardening, nitriding, surface hardening)
Depth profiles for coatings and transition zones
Small samples / cross-sections
Testing according to DIN EN ISO and ASTM standards
Evaluation including documentation and test report

Typical applications

Metallic materials (steels, non-ferrous metals, alloys)
Coatings and thin films
Ceramics and composite materials
Heat-treated components
Welded joints

*Outsourced to MCL-approved cooperation partners

Static Materials Testing

We provide precise, standards-compliant tests to determine mechanical material properties – including under extreme conditions.

Our capabilities

Tensile tests according to EN, ISO, and ASTM
Compression tests according to ASTM E9 and DIN 50106
3-point and 4-point bending tests
Wide temperature range: from –150 °C to 1400 °C, standards-compliant even at high and low temperatures
Atmospheres: testing in air, inert gas, or vacuum
Combination with local strain analysis (ARAMIS) for detailed material insights
Flexible specimen preparation: testing of various geometries and dimensions, e.g. bars, sheets, or special components such as screws, bolts, bearing components

Key benefits

Reliable, standards-compliant results for materials development and quality assurance
Testing under extreme temperatures and special atmospheres
Ability to test finished components directly, not just standard specimens
Highly detailed analysis of local deformation and material behaviour

Examples from practice

Standards-compliant tensile and bending tests to verify mill certificates and qualify critical components such as shafts, flanges, or axles
High-temperature tensile tests on turbine materials up to 1200 °C
Tensile and bending tests on 3D-printed specimens (e.g. Inconel, titanium, stainless steel) to validate process parameters and build orientations

Fatigue Testing / Dynamic Material Testing

Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF)

Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF)

Strain-life (ε–N) curves according to ASTM E606 and ISO 12106
Cyclic stress–strain curves and cyclic creep for lifetime prediction
Tension/compression tests up to ±250 kN in a temperature range from –150 °C to 1400 °C
High-precision laser extensometry for exact strain and crack initiation data
Tests in vacuum, air, or protective gas atmosphere
Custom loading and block programs for customer-specific load spectra
Special tests: coupling thermal cycles (heating/cooling) with mechanical loading – ideal for analysing metastable phases or thermomechanical fatigue

Examples from practice

Lifetime tests on high-strength steels for turbine or drivetrain components
LCF testing of additively manufactured nickel-base alloys for aerospace applications
Investigation of cyclic creep behaviour of materials for high-temperature reactors
Special testing of the stability of metastable austenitic phases under changing temperature

High Cycle Fatigue (HCF)

Our HCF tests provide meaningful data on the fatigue and endurance strength of metallic materials. Whether for component development, material comparison, or lifetime assessment – we test in a standards-compliant, accredited, and practice-oriented way.

Test methods

High cycle fatigue tests within the scope of accreditation according to EN ISO 17025
Tests according to DIN 50100, ASTM E466, and ISO 1099
Types of loading: tension-compression, torsion, and bending (3-point, 4-point, 8-point)
Statistical evaluation of fatigue strength and endurance (S–N curves / Wöhler curves)
Special programs: multistep and block tests to simulate real loading profiles

Specialised equipment

Servo-hydraulic test machines with test frequencies up to 180 Hz
Precise temperature control for tests at low temperatures (–150 °C, N₂) and high temperatures (up to 900 °C, air)
Optical and laser-based strain measurement for high-resolution fatigue analysis
Customisable gripping and fixturing systems for a wide range of specimen and component geometries

Testing conditions

Temperature range: –150 °C to 900 °C
Atmospheres: air, protective gas, or vacuum
Frequencies: up to 180 Hz for efficient lifetime testing
Loading modes: axial, torsional, or combined

Typical applications / examples

Endurance testing of springs, screws, welds, and rotating components
Material comparison for purchasing and quality assurance (e.g. different steel heats or titanium alloys)
Evaluation of additively manufactured structures with respect to fatigue strength and process stability
Lifetime assessment of high-temperature components (e.g. turbine parts, exhaust systems)

Materials testing in high-pressure hydrogen

Hydrogen Testing

Mechanical testing of hydrogen-charged specimens
Materials testing under pressurised hydrogen – hollow specimen technique
Materials testing in high-pressure hydrogen – autoclaves (up to 400 bar)

Materials testing in high-pressure hydrogen – autoclaves (up to 400 bar)

Configuration

H₂ charging: compressed gas (up to 400 bar)
Max. load capacity: ±100 kN
Temperature range: –50 °C to +150 °C
Special feature: crack length measurement using the DCPD method

Types of tests

CLT
Cyclic fatigue (LCF, low-frequency HCF)
Fracture mechanics tests (KIC, J–R curves, da/dN curve, ΔKth)
…

Fields of application (materials development and assessment of hydrogen embrittlement resistance)

Materials for hydrogen transport and storage
Materials for the automotive industry
Materials for fastening applications in hydrogen environments

Fracture Mechanics Testing

We perform static and cyclic fracture mechanics tests (partly within the scope of accreditation according to EN ISO 17025).

Our focus and expertise

Static fracture mechanics
KIC, JIC, J–Δa curves, CTOD
Cyclic fracture mechanics
da/dN curves
Threshold determination
Resistance curves (R-curves)
Various specimen configurations
CT, SE(B), SE(T)
Temperature range
From –150 °C to 800 °C

Materials Testing of Microelectronic Systems

The mechanical characterization of electronic systems, their components, and interconnect technologies is crucial to ensure reliability and lifetime under real operating conditions. By analysing mechanical loading of solder joints, PCBs, and housings, weak points can be identified and both design and material selection can be specifically improved. This ensures that the mechanical stability of components and connections is optimally aligned with the electrical functionality of the overall system.

Mechanical Testing / Bond Testing

We characterize the mechanical properties of materials used for manufacturing microelectronic components as well as simple and complex assemblies.

Our focus and expertise

Determination of interfacial strength in various materials, e.g. by shear tests, pull tests, or wedge tests
Reliability tests (creep tests, cyclic loading)
Characterization of wire bonds (pull tests on wires from 20 to 400 μm diameter, shear tests, etc.)
3-point and 4-point bending tests up to 1000 N for a wide range of materials (e.g. wafers, PCBs, etc.)

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) characterizes the viscoelastic or “rheological” properties of solids and liquids.

Our focus and expertise

Creep and creep recovery
Stress relaxation
Stress ramps
Shear rate ramps
Iso-strain and iso-stress tests
Fatigue tests with freely defined waveforms

Mechanical Materials Testing – Your Direct Contact

Knowledgeable experts who understand your project – and help make it a success.

Dr. Stefan Marsoner Head of Services

Email: services(at)mcl.at
Tel: +43 676 848883 400

Dr. Florian Summer Service Solution Manager

Email: services(at)mcl.at
Tel: +43 676 848883 462

Dr. Angelika Spalek Service Solution Managerin

Email: services(at)mcl.at
Tel: +43-676 848883 461