VICAT Softening Point Apparatus / HDT – Heat deflection / distortion test

Vicat (VST) – Softening point test

Thermoplastics do not have a certain melting point that defines the transit from solid to liquid with accuracy. It is rather a gradual softening with the increase in temperature. For this reason, the Vicat softening temperature was introduced as a substitute value for the melting point in the measurement sector. This value describes the temperature at which a circular indenter of 1 mm² in section, under a standardised load of 10 N or 50 N, penetrates exactly 1 mm into the specimen. The Vicat softening temperature is standardised in ISO 306 and ASTM D 1525.

HDT – Heat deflection / distortion test

A standard sized test specimen is subjected to a bending stress, whilst the temperature is raised at a uniform rate. The temperature at which the specified deflection occurs is measured and recorded. Testing is carried out in accordance with the ISO 75 (parts 1, 2 and 3) and ASTM D648 Test Standards.

Since this result given by the temperature depends on the load selected, the geometry of the specimen, the heating speed and the flexure chosen, the bending temperature under load represents an applicable value for comparing different materials with each other. The measurement of the deformability of plastics at temperature may be overlapped by internal material stresses.

VICAT Softening Point Apparatus / HDT Features

• Robust construction
• Interior of the test station from stainless steel. The design of the interior volume is studied in such a way as to ensure a perfect thermal change, both for heating and cooling.
• Temperature control by PID and Pt-100 sensor
• Working temperature: from ambient to +250 ºC
• Resolution: +/- 0.1 ºC
• Accuracy: +/- 0.2 ºC
• Heating speed: 120ºC / hour and 50ºC / hour (configurable)
• Test stations equipped with linear displacement sensors, with a range of 10 mm and a resolution of ± 0.01 mm
• Set of 16 weights for each test station included in delivery: 2 of 5 g, 2 of 10 g, 2 of 15 g, 1 of 25 g, 1 of 50 g, 1 of 100 g, 2 of 200 g, 1 of 500 g, 1 of 750 g, 1 of 845 g and 2 of 2000 g
• Manufactured in Spain by Metrotec a leading manufacture of materials testing equipment

Calibration and Repair service available please ask for a quotation.