How Covalent Accelerated Advanced Materials Testing with the AVE3 Advanced Video Extensometer
About
Covalent is an advanced materials science and analytical services platform headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Location
Sunnyvale, CA
Laboratory Size
30,000 ft2 | 75+ Instruments
Website
"The AVE3 has streamlined our workflow by eliminating the need to manage a separate contact extensometer for each gauge length. It has also reduced operator-to-operator variability, since once the method is set up, it is much more standardized and repeatable across users. That efficiency helps us improve turnaround time, increase testing speed, and offer more competitive pricing to customers."
Shivesh Sivakumar, M.S.
Manager, Mechanical and Thermal Analysis at Covalent
Supporting Innovation Across Industries
Covalent is an independent analytical laboratory supporting technology‑driven industries ranging from semiconductors and energy storage to advanced materials and electronics. As a trusted partner within the Silicon Valley innovation ecosystem, Covalent provides specialized mechanical testing and materials characterization services that help customers overcome critical development, qualification, and failure‑analysis challenges — without the need to build every capability in‑house.
To meet the demands of fast‑moving R&D and increasingly complex materials, Covalent continuously evaluates and adopts advanced testing technologies that expand its capabilities while maintaining efficiency and data quality.
The Challenge
Versatile, High‑Accuracy Strain Measurement — Without Slowing Down
As a service lab supporting a wide range of customers and test standards, Covalent routinely tests specimens of varying sizes, geometries, and materials. These include plastics, thin films, battery separators, metallic foils, and miniature metal specimens — many of which are fragile or incompatible with traditional clip‑on extensometers.
Key challenges included:
- Accurately measuring strain across diverse standards such as ASTM D638, ASTM D882, and ASTM E345
- Handling thin or delicate specimens without influencing test results
- Minimizing setup time and operator‑to‑operator variability in a high‑throughput lab environment
- Expanding testing capabilities to support new and demanding customer applications
Traditional contact extensometers often require removal mid‑test and additional operator intervention, creating inefficiencies.
The Solution
AVE3 Advanced Video Extensometer for Non-Contact Strain Measurement
To address these challenges, Covalent implemented the Instron® AVE3 Advanced Video Extensometer, a non‑contact, video‑based strain measurement system designed for versatility and precision.
The AVE3 stood out for its ability to:
- Support tensile, compression, and flexural testing on a single platform
- Accurately measure strain on thin, fragile, and non‑standard specimens
- Reduce setup time and operator intervention
- Deliver consistent, repeatable results across users and applications
"Versatility is a major driver for us. The AVE3 is a strong fit because it gives us the flexibility to handle many different applications on one platform — and it’s especially valuable for materials that aren’t well suited for contact extensometers, such as battery separators and metallic foils."
Josh Campbell, Ph.D.
Member of Technical Staff at Covalent
The Results
Faster Throughput, Expanded Capabilities, and Confident Data
Since adopting the AVE3, Covalent has seen measurable improvements in efficiency, data quality, and testing capability.
Key outcomes include:
Significantly faster testing workflows | The non‑contact approach eliminates the need for multiple gauge‑length extensometers and reduces setup complexity. Once a method is established, testing becomes highly standardized.
At least 3× faster turnaround time | Streamlined setup and reduced operator variability have dramatically improved throughput — enabling faster delivery and more competitive pricing for customers.
Improved repeatability for delicate materials | For challenging applications such as battery separator testing, the AVE3 delivered excellent repeatability across multiple replicate tests, increasing customer confidence in the results.
Expanded service offerings | The AVE3 has enabled Covalent to test specimens that were previously incompatible with traditional extensometers. In fact, the system made it possible to support one of the lab’s largest clients — work that would not have been feasible otherwise.
"The AVE3 has significantly improved our ability to make accurate strain measurements while keeping setup fast and efficient."
Shivesh Sivakumar, M.S.
Manager, Mechanical and Thermal Analysis at Covalent
Delivering Value Where It Matters Most
By integrating the AVE3 Advanced Video Extensometer into its testing portfolio, Covalent has strengthened its role as a high‑value partner for advanced materials testing — helping customers move faster, generate reliable data, and solve problems that traditional contacting approaches can’t address.