MECHANICAL TESTING

Tensile Testing of Plastics - ASTM D 638

"Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics"
This test method covers the determination of the tensile properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics in the form of standard dumbbell-shaped test specimens when tested under defined conditions of pretreatment, temperature, humidity and testing machine speed.

This test method can be used for testing materials of any thickness up to 14 mm (0.55 in.). However, for testing specimens in the form of thin sheeting, including film less than 1.0 mm (0.04 in.) in thickness, Test Methods D 882 is the preferred test method. Materials with a thickness greater than 14 mm (0.55 in.) must be reduced by machining.

This test method is designed to produce tensile property data for the control and specification of plastic materials. These data are also useful for qualitative characterization and for research and development. For many materials, there may be a specification that requires the use of this method, but with some procedural modifications that take precedence when adhering to the specification.

Tensile properties may vary with specimen preparation and with speed and environment of testing. Consequently, where precise comparative results are desired, these factors must be carefully controlled.

Index of Mechanical Testing