Precise creep test for plastics under realistic operating conditions
Case Study
- Customer: Polymer Service GmbH Merseburg (PSM)
- Location: Merseburg, Germany
- Industry: Testing service provider, plastics testing laboratory
- Topic: Expansion of the testing infrastructure to include Kappa Multistation
May 2026
Polymer Service GmbH Merseburg is expanding its testing capabilities in the field of long-term and creep tests with a Kappa Multistation from ZwickRoell. The system enables parallel, standards-compliant creep and relaxation tests under controlled load and temperature conditions, thus creating a basis for the reliable evaluation of the time-dependent material behavior of plastics and composites.
Tasks Areas of competence Solution Result Products
Polymer Service GmbH Merseburg
Since its founding in 2001, Polymer Service GmbH Merseburg (PSM) has been an established partner for the testing and analysis of polymeric materials as well as for damage analysis, directly at the interface between research and industrial application.
In-depth knowledge of structure-property relationships and decades of expertise in the mechanical and fracture mechanics testing of plastics form the basis for targeted mechanical, thermal and physical characterization of polymers. For this purpose, PSM has a powerful and versatile equipment portfolio for performing the corresponding tests, which enables a reproducible and standards-compliant characterization of a wide variety of polymeric materials.
With its testing laboratory accredited by DAkkS according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, PSM stands for practical, reproducible and standards-compliant test results and brings extensive experience in the use of modern testing and measurement technology. The existing methodological depth is the prerequisite for reliably addressing material- and application-relevant issues and reliably interpreting test results.
In research and development projects, PSM takes on analytical and validation tasks in particular and supports project partners along the entire value chain – from material selection to process evaluation to ensuring component properties. Successful participation in numerous industry-related projects and close cooperation with companies and research institutions make PSM a valued partner for demanding testing and development tasks.
PSM has been working with ZwickRoell testing systems for many years and is very satisfied with their reliability, ease of use and technical support. Even before the expansion of the creep testing technology, the company relied on a broad-based testing infrastructure from ZwickRoell, including an AllroundLine Z050, a 2.5 kN zwickiLine for tensile and compression tests, an Amsler HDT/Vicat Allround for determining thermomechanical characteristic values, an Mflow extrusion plastometer, and other systems for impact, hardness, and universal mechanical testing. This trust, built up over the years, was a key factor in the decision to choose the Kappa Multistation.
The task
The mechanical behavior of polymeric materials is highly dependent on time and temperature. Plastic components are often exposed to mechanical loads and thermal influences over long periods of time. Customers therefore need reliable information about the creep behavior, tension decrease, and long-term stability of their materials and components. For a comprehensive material characterization, creep and relaxation tests are therefore required, which must be performed over long periods of time under constantly defined boundary conditions. The requirements included high force and temperature stability, reproducible measurement conditions over several thousand hours, and the ability to perform multiple tests in parallel and independently of each other. At the same time, the requirements for test throughput, reproducibility and conformity to standards are increasing. Long individual tests lead to high throughput times and tie up laboratory capacities, which extends project durations and increases costs.
The ZwickRoell solution
A Kappa Multistation 5 × 10 kN was used to meet these requirements. The electro-mechanical creep testing system enables the simultaneous operation of up to five completely independent test axes with a nominal force of 10 kN each. The modular design allows long-term tests with test durations of up to 10,000 hours.
The load frame with up to 5 single lead screw drives and precision steel columns ensures precise axial force application and reproducible alignment according to ASTM E1012. The drive technology allows stable test conditions even at very low test speeds.
Each test axis is equipped with a precision load cell in accordance with ISO 7500-1. The closed-loop control via testControl II allows independent control of each axis without mutual interference, even in the event of specimen breakage.
For PSM, the high degree of flexibility is particularly crucial: Customer-specific test tasks can be precisely mapped by combining test parameters such as temperature, test time, and measured quantity. The temperature chamber enables tests in the range of −40 °C to +250 °C, thus creating realistic operating conditions. The strain measurement is performed - according to the recommendation of ISO 899-1 - non-contact with the videoXtens, with no influence on the specimen. High-resolution cameras record longitudinal and transverse strain with high accuracy, even with very small elongation and long test durations. Even small deformations are reliably detected, which is particularly advantageous for sensitive or thin-walled specimens.
Another practical advantage for PSM is the familiar testXpert testing software. Since the laboratory has been working with ZwickRoell systems for years, the Kappa Multistation could be integrated into existing processes without any additional training requirements. Experienced test engineers, standardized operating processes, and the option of DAkkS calibration support user safety, traceability and consistently high data quality.
The result
The decision to purchase the Kappa Multistation was technically and strategically sound for Polymer Service GmbH Merseburg. The system meets the high requirements for reproducible, standard-compliant long-term tests and enables precise characterization of the time-dependent material behavior of plastics and composite materials over a wide temperature and load range. By performing several creep and relaxation tests in parallel and independently, laboratory efficiency was significantly increased and the existing testing capacities were sustainably expanded.
The decisive factor for the investment was not only the technical suitability of the system, but also the trust in ZwickRoell that has grown over many years. PSM is familiar with the systems, the software, and the support from years of cooperation and was therefore able to integrate the Kappa Multistation directly into the ongoing testing operation with a high degree of certainty. For PSM's customers, the combination of standard compliance, practical test conditions, and high data quality results in reliable and internationally comparable test results, short response times, and a reliable basis for decision-making for material selection, product approvals and damage assessments. The Kappa Multistation strengthens PSM's position as a capable and independent partner for demanding long-term tests and offers clear added value for customers from industry and research.
“With the Kappa Multistation, we have a compact testing system for reliable and standards-compliant long-term tests. It enables us to apply our plastics expertise in a targeted manner to demanding customer projects and to provide a well-founded assessment of time-dependent material behavior. The intuitive operation and stable control technology offer a high level of safety, even with long test times. Our decision to choose ZwickRoell is based on many years of positive experience with the systems and technical support."
Prof. Dr. Katrin Reincke, Managing Director, Polymer Service GmbH Merseburg
