Polymer Mechanical & Other Testing

By
Swapnil Ahire& Team
Introduction

Testing of Polymeric material

 Determination of technological & operational properties of
materials primarily by use of machines & instruments.
 Testing shows whether a material/part is suitable for its
intended application or not.
 Purpose of testing
Purpose of
Testing

Properties of In process Finished

To Aid Research
RM Inspection Products Quality
Testing Standard

• Test Method , Environmental conditions.

• Specimen type & dimensions
• Repetition of test result
• ASTM-American Society for Testing of materials
• ISO-International Organization for Standardization
• DIN-Deutsches institute Fur Normung
• OEM standards, Automotive standards.
Mechanical testing
 Type of property to be determined
1) Tensile Properties 5) Tear Properties
I. Tensile Strength I. Tear Strength
II. Elongation
2) Flexural Properties 6) Flammability
I. Flexural Modulus
II. Flexural Strength 7) Fogging
3) Impact Properties
I. Izod & Charpy 8) Chemical Resistance
II. Gardner
III. Multi-axial Impact 9) Sample preparation
4) Hardness
I. Shore A & Shore D
II. IRHD
5) Thermo-Mechanical Properties
I. HDT
II. VICAT
UTM-Universal Testing machine
• Universal (Versatile) can perform many standard tensile & compression tests
• Tensile properties:
1) Tensile strength @ yield & break
2) Elongation @ yield & break
3) Tensile Modulus
4) Modulus @ different elongation
• Flexural properties:
1)Flexural Modulus
2)Flexural Strength
• Compressive properties:
1) Load Vs deflection
2) Stiffness
• Other properties:
1) Adhesion Testing
2) Creep test
3) Shear strength test
4) Tear resistance & tear strength test
UTM-Universal Testing machine

• Main Components of UTM

1. Load Frame/columns
2. Load cell
3. Cross head
4. Extensometer
5. Output device
6. Conditioning
Tensile Properties
• Tensile strength: Maximum tensile stress sustained by a test piece during
tension test or ultimate strength of material subjected to tensile
loading./Measurement of the ability of material to withstand forces that
tends to pull it apart & to what extent the material stretches before
breaking .
• Tensile Test
1. Tensile strength @ yield
2. Tensile strength @ break
3. Elongation @yield
4. Elongation @ break
5. Tensile Modulus (Young's Modulus/Modulus of elasticity)
6. Resilience
7. Toughness
Tensile Properties
• Stress (load) & Strain (elongation/change in dimension) recorded
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛 (∆𝐿)
Strain (ε)=
𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑
Stress(σ) =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎

% Elongation @ yield/break = ε*100

𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡

Tensile Strength @ yield=
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 (𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ∗𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘.)

𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡

Tensile Strength @ break=
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎

𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑛 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠

Tensile Modulus =
𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑛 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠
Tensile Properties-Actual results
Tensile Properties-Actual results
Tensile Properties -Standards

• Standard
1. ASTM D 638 : Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties
of Plastics
2. ASTM D 5083 : Standard Test Method for Tensile
Properties of Reinforced Thermosetting Plastics Using
Straight-Sided Specimens
3. ASTM D 882 : Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties
of Thin Plastic Sheeting
4. ASTM D 412 : Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized
Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers—Tension
5. ASTM D 3039/D3039 M : Standard Test Method for
Tensile Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials
Tensile properties

• Significance
1. Strength of Material
2. Material Selection
3. Product designing
4. Quality control tool
5. RM inspection tool
6. Research & development- Effect of additives
7. Data for design software
Flexural Properties

• The flexural test measures the force required to bend a

beam under three point loading conditions.
Flexural Properties
Tangent Modulus
Also called "modulus of elasticity"
It is the slope of tangent drawn to stress
strain curve at initial straight line portion
within elastic limit
EB = L3 m / 4 bd3
Where ,
EB = modulus of elasticity in bending , Mpa EB = modulus of elasticity in bending , Mpa
L = support span , mm
b = width of beam tested , mm
m= slope of tangent to the initial straight
line portion of the load deflection curve ,
N/mm, of deflection
d= depth of beam tested (mm)
Flexural Modulus
Secant Modulus Chord Modulus
- -
slope of a secant drawn from the origin to a Calculated from two discrete points on
perticular point on the stress strain curve. the load deflection curve.
EB = L3 m / 4 bd3 Ef = (σ f2 - σ f1 ) / (Єf2 - Єf1 )
Where , Where,
σ f2 - σ f1 = the flexural stresses,
measured at predefined points on the
load deflection curve
Єf2 - Єf1 = the flexural strain values,
L = support span , mm measured at predefined points on the
load deflection curve
b = width of beam tested , mm
m= slope of secant to the load deflection
curve, N/mm
d= depth of beam tested (mm)

3𝑃𝐿
Flexural Strength: Flexural Strength= P=Load at given point
2𝑏𝑑3
L=Support span length
B= width of specimen
d= depth of beam
Flexural Properties
• Significance
1. Strength of Material
2. Material Selection
3. Product designing
4. Research & development- Effect of additives

 Standards
1. ASTM D 790 : Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and
Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials
2. ISO 178 : Plastics -- Determination of flexural properties
Flexural Properties-Actual results
Flexural Properties-Actual results
Poisson's Ratio
 Ratio of transverse contraction strain to longitudinal extension strain in the
direction of stretching force.
 Tensile deformation is considered positive and compressive deformation is
considered negative.
 Materials ability to withstand tensile & compressive forces

εtransverse
Poisson's ratio= −
εlongitudinal
Tear Strength

 Force per unit thickness required to rupture, initiate, or propagate a tear

through a sheet of rubber in the form of one of several test piece geometries
 Rubber , plastic films.
 A tearing strain (and stress) is applied to a test specimen by means of a tensile
testing machine operated without interruption at a constant rate of crosshead
traverse until the specimen is completely torn.

𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝒐𝒓 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒

Tear strength= 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠

 Standards
1. ASTM D 624 :Standard Test Method for Tear Strength of Conventional Vulcanized Rubber
and Thermoplastic Elastomers
Tear Strength-ASTM D 624

The maximum force required to tear a test specimen is used to calculate the tear strength of
the Die A, B, and C specimens while the mean force is used for the T and CP specimens.
 Impact Properties

 Ability of a material to absorb applied energy.

 Ability to resist the fracture under shock loading or
ability of materials to resist the fracture under stress
applied at high speed.
 Significance -
Quick and easy quality control check to determine if a
material meets specific impact properties or to compare
materials for general toughness. Higher the impact energy,
the higher is the toughness.
Impact Test

• Type of Impact Test-

1. Izod Impact – Notch & Un-notched
2. Charpy Impact – Notch & Un-notched
3. Multi-axial Impact Test
4. Gardner Impact Test
Izod & Charpy Impact
Difference Between Izod & Charpy Impact

Izod Impact Charpy Impact

Sr. No. Parameters
ASTM D 256 ISO 180 ASTM D6110 ISO 179-1
Specimen 63.5 ± 2.0 × 12.7 ± 0.2 127 × 12.70 ± 0.15 × 3 to
1 80±2 × 10±0.2 × 4±0.2 80±2 × 10±0.2 × 4±0.2
dimensions in (mm) × 3 to 12.7 12.7

Notch Type Radius of notch Base

-- 0.25 ± 0.05 mm - 0.25 ± 0.05 mm -

2 Type -A - (0.25 + 0.05)mm - (0.25 + 0.05)mm
Type -B - (1.00 + 0.05)mm - (1.00 + 0.05)mm

Type-C - - - (0.10+0.02)mm

5 Angle 45 ± 1° 45 ± 1° 45 ± 1° 45 ± 1°
Notch face is facing Notch face is facing the Notch face is positioned Notch face is positioned
3 Direction of Notch
the striker striker away from the striker away from the striker
Sample placed in a Sample placed in a Sample placed
4 Sample Position Sample placed horizontally
vertical position vertical position horizontally
Hammer strike at point Hammer strike at point of
Hammer strike at the Hammer strike at the
6 Point Of Strike of notch but in opposite notch but in opposite
upper tip of specimen upper tip of specimen
direction direction

7 Hammer Type Farming hammer Farming hammer Ball Pin hammer Ball Pin hammer

8 Measurement Unit J/m kJ/m2 J/m Or kJ/m2 kJ/m2

Gardner Impact

• Falling dart impact is a traditional method for

evaluating the impact strength or toughness of a
plastic material.
• Significance: The test is often used to specify
appropriate materials for applications involving
impact or to evaluate the effect of secondary
finishing operations or other environmental factors
on plastic impact properties.
Gardner Impact

Test Procedure:
 The test sample rests on a base plate over an opening of
specified diameter.
 An "impactor" sits on top of the test sample with a nose of
specified radius in contact with the center of the test sample. A
weight is raised inside a guide tube to a predetermined height,
then released to drop onto the top of the impactor, forcing the
nose through the test sample
 The drop height, drop weight, and the test result (pass / fail) are
recorded
 The most common method to analyze this data is called the
"Bruceton Staircase" method.
 A number of samples are used to bracket the pass/fail energy
level. Then a series of 20 impacts are conducted. If a test sample
passes, the drop height is increased by one unit. If a test sample
fails, the drop height is decreased by one unit.
 The results from the 20 impacts are used to calculate the Mean
Failure Height the point at which 50% of the test samples will fail
under the impact.
 Specimen size:
For optimum results using the staircase method, a minimum of 30 test samples are necessary. Any
flat specimens can be tested - the preferred test sample is a 100mm (4") disk or plaque.
Data:
Mean Failure Height in cm (inches)
Mean Failure Energy in kg-cm (in-lb)
Multiaxial Impact/High speed Puncture Property

• The High Speed Impact test is used to

determine toughness. This test method
provides a measure of the rate
sensitivity of the material to impact.

 Significance:-
 This test method designed to
provide load vs deformation
response of plastic under essentially
multiaxial deformation conditions at
impact velocities
 Test Procedure:

 Clamp the Specimen between the plates of

the specimen holder, taking care to center
the specimen for uniform gripping.
 Set the speed to desired value (2.5, 25, 125,
200 & 250 m/min.)
 Using the load –versus displacement trace
and appropriate scaling factors, calculate
peak load in N, deflection in mm
Multiaxial Impact-Actual Results

PP 20 % talc filled compound

PP 20 % talc filled compound
Multiaxial impact test-Type of fracture

Tested at room temperature Tested at -300C

Impact Properties- Standards

• Standards:
1. ASTM D 256:10e1 - Standard test methods for determining the Izod pendulum
impact resistance of plastics.
2. ASTM D 6110:10-Standard Test Method for Determining the Charpy Impact
Resistance of Notched Specimens of Plastics
3. ASTM D 1822:13 - Standard Test Method for Tensile-Impact Energy to Break Plastics
and Electrical Insulating Materials
4. ASTM D 5420: - Standard Test Method for Impact Resistance of Flat, Rigid Plastic
Specimen by Means of a Striker Impacted by a Falling Weight (Gardner Impact)
5. ASTM D 1709:16a - Standard Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film by
the Free-Falling Dart Method
6. ASTM D 2444:10 - Standard Test Method for Determination of the Impact
Resistance of Thermoplastic Pipe and Fittings by Means of a Tup (Falling Weight)
7. ISO 180:10 - Plastics -- Determination of Izod impact strength
8. ISO 179:10 - Plastics -- Determination of Charpy impact properties -- Part 1: Non-
instrumented impact test
Hardness-Shore

• Hardness: Resistance to Indentation

 Shore A hardness
 Shore D hardness
Hardness-IRHD
• International Rubber Hardness degree
• Measuring the difference between the depths of indentation of a ball into a
rubber surface under a small initial contact force followed by a large total test
force.
• Four Types
Indenter diameter Contact force Additional force Total force
Test method Application
mm N N N
Thickness >= 4 mm
Range: 35 IRHD -
N
2,50 ± 0,01 0,30 ± 0,02 5,40 ± 0,01 5,70 ± 0,03 85 IRHD
(normal test)
or 30 IRHD -
95 IRHD
Thickness >= 4 mm
H
1,00 ± 0,01 0,30 ± 0,02 5,40 ± 0,01 5,70 ± 0,03 Range: 85 IRHD -
(high hardness)
100 IRHD
Thickness >= 6 mm
L
5,00 ± 0,01 0,30 ± 0,02 5,40 ± 0,01 5,70 ± 0,03 Range: 10 IRHD -
(low hardness)
35 IRHD
Thickness < 4 mm
Range: 35 IRHD -
M
0,395 ± 0,005 0,008 3 ± 0,000 5 0,145 ± 0,000 5 0,153 3 ± 0,001 85 IRHD
(microtest)
or 30 IRHD -
95 IRHD
Hardness-IRHD
Thermal Properties
1) HDT:
 Temperature at which a standard test bar deflects
a specified distance under a specified load.
 Significance -
 The deflection temperature test results are a
useful measure of relative service temperature
for a polymer when used in load-bearing parts.
 HDT is a short-term test and should not be used
alone for product design. Other factors such as
the time of exposure to elevated temperature,
the rate of temperature increase, and the part
geometry all affect the performance.
 Does not represent the upper temperature limit
Heat Deflection Temperature
Heat Deflection Temperature

For HDT Test - ASTM D 648 & ISO 75 – 1 & 2

HDT
Sr. No. Parameters
ASTM ISO
1 Specimen dimensions 127*13*3mm 80*10*4 mm

0.455 MPa, 0.450 MPa,

2 Stress
1.82 MPa 1.8 MPa

3 Temperature Rate 2 ± 0.2˚C/min 120 ± 10˚C

4 Heating Medium
Liquid Paraffin,
Liquid Paraffin, transformer
transformer oil, glycerol
oil, glycerol and silicon oil
and silicon oil

5 Start Temperature Temp. 27˚C 27˚C

6 Deflection 0.25 mm 0.35 mm

7 Span 100 mm 64 mm
Heat Deflection Temperature-Values
Vicat Softening Temperature

1) VST: ASTM D 1525 & ISO 306

• The Vicat softening temperature is the temperature at which a flat-ended

needle penetrates the specimen to the depth of 1 mm under a specified
load using a selected uniform rate of temperature.
• The temperature reflects the point of softening to be expected when a
material is used in an elevated temperature application.

• Test Methods –
• A 50 – Force 10 N & Heating Rate 50 °C
• B 50 - Force 50 N & Heating Rate 50 °C
• A 120 - Force 10 N & Heating Rate 120 °C
• B 120 - Force 50 N & Heating Rate 120 °C
Vicat Softening Temperature

• For VST Test - ASTM D 1525 & ISO 306

VSP
Sr. No. Parameters
ASTM ISO

3 mm to 6.5 mm thick & 10 mm 3 mm to 6.5 mm thick & 10 mm

1 Specimen dimensions
square or 10 mm dia. square or 10 mm dia.

a)Method A50 & A120 = 10± 0.2 N, a)Method A50 & A120 = 10± 0.2 N,
2 Stress b) Method B50 & B120 = 50± 1 N , b) Method B50 & B120 = 50± 1 N ,

50 ± 5˚C/hr 50 ± 5˚C/hr
3 Temperature Rate
120 ± 10˚C/hr 120 ± 10˚C/hr

Liquid Paraffin, Transformer oil, Liquid Paraffin Transformer oil,

4 Heating Medium
glycerol and silicon oil glycerol and silicon oil

5 Start Temperature 25˚C 25˚C

6 Deflection 1 mm 1 mm
HDT & VSP Difference
Vicat Softening Temperature

Significance-

• Ranks the thermal performance of plastics according

to the temperature that causes a specified
penetration by a lightly loaded probe
• Used as a general indicator of short term, high
temperature performance
• Less sensitive to sample thickness and molding
effects
Test Standards – HDT & VST

• Standards –
• ASTM D 648:16 - Standard Test Method for Deflection
Temperature of Plastics Under Flexural Load in the Edgewise
Position
• ISO 75-1 & 2:13 - Plastics — Determination of temperature of
deflection under load — Part 1: General test method & Part 2
• ASTM D 1525:09- Standard Test Method for Vicat Softening
Temperature of Plastics
• ISO 306:13 - Plastics — Thermoplastic materials —
Determination of Vicat softening temperature (VST)
 Flammability

Most Plastics are carbon based materials & will burn and give off
gases and smokes when subjected to flame.
Plastics degrade at high temperatures into volatile and gaseous
combustion products.
Flammability test
1. UL 94
2. Limiting Oxygen Index(LOI)
3. Rate of burning(ROB)
4. Smoke density
Flammability Testing -UL94 Standard

UL 94- Underwriters Laboratory 94

 Method of classifying a materials tendency to either extinguish or spread

a flame once it has been ignited
 Type of tests
1) Horizontal burning (HB)
2) Vertical burning (V0, V1, V2)
3) 500 w Vertical Burning test (5VA, 5VB)
4) Thin Material vertical burning (VTM-0, VTM-1,VTM-2)
5) Radiant panel flame spread test
6) Horizontal burning foamed material test (HBF,HF-1, HF-2)
 UL94-Horizontal Burning
• Test Specimen : Length-125± 5 mm, width-13 ± 0.5 mm, thickness varies from 3 to
13 mm
• Test Condition:
Flame application 20 mm high burner flame
Flame application time 30 s

If the flame front reaches the first mark within 30 s, flame application is discontinued.

60𝐿
Rate of Burning (V)=
𝑡
L= damaged length
t= time to burn
Test criteria Burning rate V Flammability
rating

Test specimen thickness 3-13 mm ≤40 mm/min HB

Test specimen thickness ‹ 3 mm ≤75 mm/min HB

Flame is extinguished before first

=0 mm/min HB
mark
Limiting Oxygen Index(LOI)
• Definition-
The limiting oxygen index (LOI) is the minimum concentration of oxygen,
expressed as a percentage, that will support combustion of a polymer. It is
measured by passing a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen over a burning
specimen, and reducing the oxygen level until a critical level is reached.
• Significance
 Limiting Oxygen Index Testing (LOI), is a very widely used method for
determining the relative flammability of polymeric materials.
 Describes the tendency of a material to sustain a flame, is widely used as a
tool to investigate the flammability of polymers.
• Standard:
 ASTM D 2863: Standard Test Method for Measuring the Minimum Oxygen
Concentration to Support Candle-Like Combustion of Plastics (Oxygen Index)
 ISO 4589:Plastics -- Determination of burning behavior by oxygen index --
Part 3: Elevated-temperature test
 Limiting Oxygen Index(LOI)

• Test specimen:
Limiting Oxygen Index(LOI)

• The result is usually expressed as:

• LOI values of different material
Flammability Testing Standards

• Standards:
 ASTM D 635:Standard Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position.
 ASTM D 3801:Standard Test Method for Measuring the Comparative
Burning Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical Position.
 ASTM D 4804:Standard Test Method for Determining the Flammability
Characteristics of Non rigid Solid Plastics.
 ISO 1210:Plastics -- Determination of the burning behavior of horizontal
and vertical specimens in contact with a small-flame ignition source
 ISO 9773: Plastics -- Determination of burning behavior of thin flexible
vertical specimens in contact with a small-flame ignition source
 ISO 10351:Plastics -- Determination of the combustibility of specimens
using a 125 mm flame source
 ISO/DIS 9772.3:Cellular plastics -- Determination of horizontal burning
characteristics of small specimens subjected to a small flame
Fogging
What is fog Testing ?
Fogging

• Significance: The purpose of the testing is to assist material

manufactures & the companies that uses their products in
identifying & developing products that outgas VOC at reduced
rate.
Fogging Methods
• Photometric Method
 The test sample is placed in a sealed beaker - the
inside surface of the cooled beaker cover is glass.
 The bottom of the beaker is placed in a controlled
temperature oil bath for a specified period of time -
typically 3 hours.
 For the photometric method, gloss readings of the
glass cover before the test and after conditioning
following the test are compared.
Fogging Methods
• Gravimetric Method
 The test sample is placed in a sealed beaker - the
inside surface of the cooled beaker cover is
aluminum foil.
 The bottom of the beaker is placed in a controlled
temperature oil bath for a specified period of time -
typically 16 hours.
 weights of the test sample and the aluminum foil
before the test and immediately after the test are
compared.
Fogging Standards
Chemical Resistance
• Ability of plastic materials to resist the action towards various chemicals.
• Significance: Basis for standardization and serve as a guide to compare the
relative resistance of various polymers to typical reagents and selection of
plastics materials for specific applications.
• Standard Specimen
• Product/part level testing
• Subjecting the specimen/part to specific condition-immersion of specimen
in chemical for specific time at specified temperature
• Checking various properties after exposure:
-Surface appearance
-Change in weight
-Change in dimension
-Change in geometry
-Change in mechanical properties
Chemical Resistance
• Resistance to fuel/chemicals-Automotive parts
 Petrol Diesel break fluid clutch fluid
 Rubbing the specimen/part with by cotton wet with the fluid 10 times
 Observe the part for surface appearance /any residue left on cotton
• Resistance to fuel/oil-Rubber hose
 ASTM reference oils
 Rubber hoses immersed in oils having different composition for specified
time & temperature
 Different properties observed after exposure
- Swelling
- Change in geometry/dimension : shape distortion
- Mechanical properties : Hardness , Tensile strength , Elongation
Chemical resistance

• Standards
 ASTM D 543: Standard Practices for Evaluating the Resistance of Plastics to
Chemical Reagents.
 ASTM D 4398: Standard Test Method for Determining the Chemical
Resistance of Fiberglass-Reinforced Thermosetting Resins by One-Side
Panel Exposure.
 ASTM D 1239: Standard Test Method for Resistance of Plastic Films to
Extraction by Chemicals.
 ASTM C 581: Standard Practice for Determining Chemical Resistance of
Thermosetting Resins Used in Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Structures Intended
for Liquid Service
 OEM Standards
Sample Preparation

• Operational requirement of characterizing materials

by means of different testing method.
• Integral part for accurate analysis & interpretation of
results.
• Techniques
1) Molding/Casting
2) Machining/cutting
3) Part testing
Sample Preparation

• Factors affecting- Test results

1. Specimen geometry
2. Thermal & shear history
3. Polymer chain orientation/crystallinity/ morphology
4. Residual stresses
5. Machining/ cutting methods
6. Conditioning
Sample preparation Methods
• Thermoplastics
1. Injection Molding
-Most common method
-highly oriented, good surface finish, dimensional accuracy
 Factors affecting
-Process Temperature : degradation/incomplete melting
-Injection Pressure : material packing
-Mold temperature : crystallization behavior
2. Compression Molding
-Isotropic : equal properties in all direction
 Factors affecting
-Molding temperature & time
-Mold design: cooling & surface finish
-Packing pressure : flow &cooling inconsistency
Sample preparation Methods

• Thermosetting
1. Compression Molding
2. Transfer Molding

• Rubber/Elastomer
1. Compression Molding
-Punching/ cutting specimen

• Part/Product testing
-Parts/finished product
-Cutting/ punching , finishing
Sample Preparation-Standards

• Standards
1. ISO 294 : Plastics - Injection molding of test specimens of thermoplastic
materials
2. ASTM D 3641 : Standard Practice for Injection Molding Test Specimens of
Thermoplastic Molding and Extrusion Materials
3. ASTM D 4703 :Standard Practice for Compression Molding Thermoplastic
Materials into Test Specimens, Plaques, or Sheets
4. ASTM 618 : Standard Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
5. ISO 291: Plastics -- Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
6. Processing/Molding standard for each material available.
Sample Preparation-Standards content

 Raw material pretreatment

-RM physical form
-Pre-drying
 Processing conditions
-Melt temperature
-Mold temperature
-Hold pressure /back pressure/ injection pressure
-Cycle time (Cooling time/curing time)
 Specimen dimension
 Cutting or punching method
-Punch dimensions
 Mold dimension
-no. of cavities
-Cavity configuration
 Conditioning of specimen
-Storage condition
-Temperature & humidity