Nature Compound GmbH improves its reliability in materials testing
Case Study
- Customer: Nature Compound GmbH
- Location: Schwerte, Germany
- Industry: Plastics
- Topic: Tensile strength and elongation at break with ZwickRoell materials testing machine Z005
August 2025
Determining tensile strength and elongation at break is a key part of quality control and material and product development. Nature Compound GmbH uses ZwickRoell's Z005 materials testing machine in its laboratory to precisely evaluate the mechanical properties of bioplastics. This ensures that sustainable materials meet the necessary requirements reproducibly, in accordance with standards, and efficiently.
Bioplastics for a sustainable future
Nature Compound GmbH is an innovative manufacturer of bioplastic granulates, based in the Schwerte, Germany. The company develops and produces customized materials based on renewable raw materials that are either biodegradable or recyclable, depending on the application. A particular advantage: The granulates can be processed on existing extrusion and injection molding lines without additional investment—a clear advantage for industrial integration.
In addition to developing granulates, the company also offers its own end products, which are manufactured directly from its proprietary bioplastic. These include durable, reusable cups produced using injection molding, as well as Nature Form Papyrus – a bio-based thermoforming film ideal for the production of trays and packaging forms. Nature Compound GmbH pursues a holistic sustainability approach along the entire value chain. Through practical consulting, customized solutions, and a high degree of ecological responsibility, the company combines environmental awareness with economic efficiency – thus positioning itself as a partner for sustainable material solutions.
Quality assurance through standardized testing procedures according to international standards
To ensure the quality and suitability of materials for specific applications, comprehensive materials testing takes place in the laboratory. International standardized testing methods are used, which play a central role in product development, material selection, and quality assurance.
The most important mechanical characteristics include:
- Young's modulus (modulus of elasticity): Indicates the stiffness of a material, i.e., how much it deforms under stress.
- Tensile strength: Describes the maximum tensile stress that a material can withstand before it tears.
- Strain at break: Shows how much a material can stretch before it fails—a measure of its deformability.
These characteristics are determined with the Z005 AllroundLine materials testing machine from ZwickRoell in accordance with DIN EN ISO 527. The tests are performed on injection-molded standard specimens that are manufactured in-house.
In addition, further test methods provide additional information about the behavior:
- Impact strength and notched impact strength to DIN EN ISO 179: Assesses the resistance strength to impact stress.
- Flow properties (MVR/MFR) to DIN EN ISO 1133: Describe the flow behavior of plastics in a molten state – an important parameter for processing.
These tests enable a thorough assessment of the performance of bioplastics and form the basis for development of long-lasting and sustainable products.
