Physical & Rheological Properties Testing Services

Physical & Rheological Properties Testing

The critical material properties are density and specific gravity, Moisture Content, Yield Stress, and Melt Flow. These physical and rheological properties impact processing, part consistency, and whether a material behaves the same batch to batch. At MatX Lab, we measure density, flow, viscosity, hardness, and moisture content of metals, plastics, elastomers, and powders. This work detects changes that can turn a good batch into a processing problem.

What Is Physical & Rheological Properties Testing?

Physical and rheological testing measures a material's bulk physical properties and its flow and deformation behavior. Physical properties include density, hardness, and moisture content. Rheological properties describe how a material flows and deforms under shear and temperature, from a molten polymer to a paste. Together they predict how a material will process and perform, and they often reveal a change that composition alone does not.

Techniques We Offer

Physical and rheological work depends on the material and the property, and we scope the right method. Each technique below links to its own page.

Density and Specific Gravity

Measures mass per unit volume by displacement or pycnometry, used for material verification, porosity, and filler content.

Melt Flow Rate (MFR/MFI)

This measures the flow of a molten thermoplastic, a fast, widely specified check of molecular weight and processability.

Viscosity and Rheometry

Measures flow and deformation of liquids, melts, and pastes versus shear rate and temperature, characterizing processing behavior in detail.

Hardness and Durometer

Measures resistance to indentation across metals, plastics, and elastomers, from Rockwell and Brinell to Shore durometer.

Solution and Melt Viscosity

Characterizes molecular weight through intrinsic and melt viscosity, useful for polymer quality and degradation.

Density and Porosity by Gas Pycnometry

Measures true and skeletal density and open porosity of powders and porous solids.

Moisture and Volatiles

Measures water and volatile content by Karl Fischer titration and loss-on-heating, both of which affect processing and properties.

When to Use Physical & Rheological Properties Testing

This testing is the right call whenever handling, processing, or lot-to-lot consistency is the question.

• Verifying density and detecting porosity or filler changes.
• Checking melt flow and processability of thermoplastics.
• Characterizing viscosity and flow of fluids and melts.
• Measuring hardness across material classes.
• Quantifying moisture that affects processing.

Materials & Industries We Apply It To

Physical and rheological testing applies wherever processing and consistency matter.

Materials: Plastics · Elastomers & Rubber · Powders & Bulk Solids · Metals & Alloys · Adhesives & Sealants

Industries: Polymers · Manufacturing · Automotive · Advanced Materials · Energy

Standards & Test Methods

Physical and rheological testing are both method-driven, and your specification usually names the standard. Where an applicable standard exists, testing is aligned to it and cited in your report. We align to the method your specification requires and document it.