Tensile testing is used to determine the mechanical characteristics. The samples used are generally loaded under tension until breakage. Defined samples have to be prepared for tensile testing. This type of testing is frequently carried out within the scope of heat treatment of cast aluminium components.

An alternative that is available under certain circumstances an individualised component test, in which a component is loaded under pressure until breakage. Depending on the type of application, this procedure can be a rapid alternative to tensile testing. With the aid of test series during the testing phase (sampling), correlations can be drawn to the mechanical properties from tensile testing.