1. Overview
Instron 6800 Universal Testing Machine is a high-precision mechanical testing platform designed for tension, compression, bending, peeling, tearing, and cyclic loading across metals, polymers, composites, biomaterials, films, fibers, and structural components. The 6800 series offers exceptional load-cell accuracy, tight displacement control, high stiffness frames, and advanced safety systems, supporting both R&D and quality-control environments.
Features
2. Principle
The Instron 6800 applies controlled force or displacement to a specimen while continuously recording stress, strain, extension, and failure behavior.
The system operates in force control, displacement control, or strain control, depending on the standard and material response.
Typical mechanical results
- Stress–strain curves
- Tensile strength, yield strength, Young’s modulus
- Strain-at-break, elongation, and ductility
- Compressive modulus and crushing behavior
- Flexural modulus from bending geometries
Optional environmental chambers allow temperature-dependent mechanical testing.
3. Data Interpretation
Common data visualizations
- Stress–strain curve: primary mechanical signature of materials
- Elastic slope: used to extract Young’s modulus
- Yield point: onset of permanent deformation
- Ultimate tensile strength: peak stress before necking or failure
- Strain-at-break: ductility assessment
- Energy absorption: area under curve for toughness
Interpretation characteristics
- Steep initial slope = high stiffness
- High yield stress = strong resistance to plastic deformation
- Large strain-at-break = high ductility or elasticity
- Sudden drop = fracture or brittle behavior
- Cyclic tests reveal fatigue, hysteresis, and softening/stiffening trends
4. Example Applications
- Polymers and elastomers: modulus tuning, strain-at-break, stress relaxation
- Metals and alloys: tensile strength, yield strength, ductility, fracture
- Composites: flexural strength, interlaminar shear, panel mechanics
- Films and packaging: tensile modulus, seal strength, tear resistance
- Biomaterials and tissues: low-strain modulus and strength under hydrated conditions
- Adhesives: lap-shear strength, peel strength, bonding durability
- Foams and soft solids: compression creep and recovery
- Additively manufactured parts: mechanical qualification and print-parameter evaluation
Compression Plattens:
- Compression modulus, strength and yield strength
- Can be coupled with multimeter/data acquisition system for piezoresistance measurement
Static Flexure Fixtures:
- Flexural modulus, strength and yield strength
- Fully adjustable span distance to suit a wide range of specimen sizes
Publications involving the Instron system in the experimental conditions:
- Study of stress-strain behavior of Diels-Alder polymer networks