ASTM adopts PIP standard E3499-25: faster material testing for 3D printing

With E3499-25, ASTM has published a new standard for Profilometry-based Indentation Plastometry (PIP). The method originates from Plastometrex, which validated the standard over several years together with partners such as NPL, Airbus, Nikon, and Renishaw and steered it through ASTM’s committee process. This is relevant for engineers in additive manufacturing because it allows mechanical properties to be determined faster and with greater material efficiency—especially for small samples, thin-walled structures, or in-field parts where tensile specimens are not practical.

PIP reconstructs stress–strain curves from instrumented indentation tests. To do this, the penetration profile of an indenter is recorded by profilometry, and the material’s flow curve is identified using inverse finite-element analysis. The method yields core quantities such as Rp0,2, Rm, and uniform elongation based on minimal material removal and with shorter turnaround times compared to conventional tensile tests. In AM workflows, PIP can thus accelerate parameter studies, heat-treatment tuning, or incoming inspections; it also enables in-service checks on printed components without extracting function-critical samples.

Plastometrex CTO Dr Jimmy Campbell, added: “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.”

With the standard in place, results become easier to audit and compare across laboratories. This facilitates internal approval in regulated sectors such as aerospace or energy. For additive manufacturing, E3499-25 creates a clear path to gather mechanical-materials data reproducibly and integrate it into qualification documents, digital twins, and process windows. In the short term, broader use in research and production can be expected; in the long term, PIP could purposefully complement conventional testing strategies.