HDT and Vicat Tester (Heat Deflection & Softening Point)

HDT and Vicat Tester: Advanced Thermal Analysis for Plastics

In the polymer industry, determining the exact temperature at which a material loses its structural integrity is vital for quality control. The HDT and Vicat Tester is the standard instrument for measuring these thermal limits. Whether you are manufacturing PVC pipes, injection-molded parts, or raw granules, this apparatus provides the data needed to predict how your product will behave under heat and stress.

Dual Testing Capabilities

This versatile machine combines two essential thermal tests into one robust platform:

• Vicat Softening Temperature (VST): Determines the temperature at which a flat-ended needle penetrates the specimen to a depth of 1mm. This is crucial for assessing surface softness according to ISO 306 and ASTM D1525.
• Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT): Measures the temperature at which a standard test bar deflects under a specific load (0.45 MPa or 1.8 MPa). This simulates structural failure and is governed by ISO 75 and ASTM D648.

Precision Engineering and Control

The accuracy of an HDT/Vicat test depends entirely on temperature stability. Our device features:

• Oil Bath System: A stainless steel tank with a powerful circulation pump ensures uniform temperature distribution, eliminating “cold spots” that cause false results.
• PID Control: Advanced algorithms maintain a strictly linear heating rate (50°C/h or 120°C/h) as required by the standards.
• Multi-Station Design: Allows for the simultaneous testing of multiple samples to increase laboratory efficiency.

The Importance of Sample Preparation

For Heat Deflection Testing (HDT), the test specimen must be a perfectly cut rectangular bar. Rough edges from a hand saw will create stress concentrators and skew the results. We highly recommend using a specialized Laboratory CNC Milling Machine to prepare your samples to exact standard dimensions.

Comprehensive Material Characterization

Thermal testing is often the final step in material validation. To ensure the quality of your incoming raw materials before they are molded, we recommend pairing this device with our Melt Flow Index (MFI) Tester . Together, these instruments provide a complete picture of your polymer’s rheological and thermal properties.

Consultation and Purchase

To request a technical datasheet or a price quotation for the HDT and Vicat Tester, please click the “contact for purchase” button to contact our sales team via WhatsApp. For more details on our range of polymer testing equipment, visit our Contact Us page.