Automatic tensile- and elasticity tests on elastanes (Spandex) have special requirements regarding the delivery of the yarn into the test section at very low pre-tension and the resolution of the force measurement particularly for setting the standardized pre-tension of only 0,01 cN/tex. Furthermore, elastomeric yarns are characterized by an extremely high elasticity with elongation-at-break values, sometimes in excess of 800 %. For standard tensile testers equipped with conventional clamping systems this sometimes results in substantial slippage of the sample in the clamp and in premature breakage at the jaw.

Based on the legendary STATIMAT line Textechno has created the fully automatic tensile tester for elastomeric yarns STATIMAT MEL+. This worldwide unique instrument fulfills the specific requirements of testing elastomeric yarns by means of a high-resolution force-measuring system with a resolution of 10 μN (1 mg), dedicated jaw faces, and a special software algorithm. The package changer was modified for minimum friction, in order not to pre-elongate the yarn. These features make the STATIMAT MEL+ a fully automatic tensile- and elasticity tester even for the finest elastomeric yarns.

Besides the automatic testing mode, a special device is available for tensile testing according to the BISFA standard. Here, all influence coming from the user and the clamping system are eliminated that otherwise affect tests on bare elastane yarns.

STATIMAT MEL+ follows international testing standards, e.g. ISO 2060, ASTM-D1907, ASTM-D6717 and ASTM-D2653.

In addition, other sample holders and load cells are available for tests on elastic woven- and knitted fabrics.

Textechno also offers a range of other STATIMAT devices. Each designed to test different typed of materials according to specific testing requirements. STATIMAT 4U, STATIMAT DS and STATIMAT ME+.