ASTM Standard Opens Path to Faster and More Cost-Effective Mechanical Testing with PIP
Having pioneered the development of the method, Plastometrex has now led the development of ASTM Standard E3499-25 for Profilometry-based Indentation Plastometry (PIP), giving engineers and researchers a globally recognised route to faster, easier, and more cost-effective mechanical testing. For users, this means audit-ready data, consistent results across laboratories and supply chains, and a clear pathway to adoption in regulated sectors such as aerospace and energy.
The approval follows a thorough, multi-year process, including collaborative validation work with NPL, Airbus, Nikon, and Renishaw, followed by reviews and balloting within ASTM’s committee system, reflecting both the robustness of the method and the consensus of experts from across the global materials community.
The standardization effort was initiated and led by Plastometrex CTO Dr Jimmy Campbell, who originally coined the term ‘Indentation Plastometry’ in a 2019 peer-reviewed paper, and has since guided its technical development. This achievement further cements Plastometrex’s role as the pioneers of Indentation Plastometry and the driving force behind its progression from innovative concept to international test method standard.
Dr Campbell had this to add, “From the outset, our goal with Indentation Plastometry was to create a method that gave engineers the fundamental mechanical properties as conventional tensile testing, but with far greater efficiency and versatility. Securing an ASTM standard is a major step in that journey. It validates the rigour of the science, recognises the work of the experts involved, and gives industry the confidence to enjoy the benefits that PIP offers. For me, it’s rewarding to see a concept we’ve been developing since the early 2000s now established as an international test method standard that will help accelerate innovation and raise the bar for mechanical testing worldwide.”
PIP is a physics-based approach that extracts stress-strain curves from indentation test data using an inverse finite element method. This methodology underpins all of Plastometrex’s products: the PLX-Benchtop, PLX-HotStage, and PLX-Portable, each of which will be covered by the new standard.
PIP testing is valued for delivering stress-strain curves quickly, using minimal material, and without the complexity of conventional tensile testing. Crucially, it can also be applied in scenarios where tensile testing is not feasible, such as with small or thin specimens, or in-service assets, broadening the scope of mechanical testing beyond what has been possible before.
With the publication of the ASTM standard, PIP adoption is expected to accelerate further. The standard gives engineers and decision-makers greater confidence in using PIP data for a wide range of applications, from research and alloy development to process monitoring and, increasingly, qualification. This recognition also reduces barriers to internal approval, makes audit readiness straightforward, and ensures results are comparable across organisations. Because ASTM standards are internationally recognized, this development also provides a foundation for global comparability and regulatory alignment.
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