Welcome to Tests Explained. Here you will find explanations and diagrams related to the test methods used to measure many of the common properties included on material datasheets.
To view details of a specific test method, just scroll down to the relevant category, find the property you want to know more about, and click on one of the associated links to show details of a test method related to that property.
General
Outdoor Suitability UL 746C RoHS Compliance Click here
Physical
Apparent Density / Bulk Density / Bulk Factor ISO 60, ASTM D1895 Apparent Viscosity ASTM D3835 Bulk Density / Bulk Factor / Apparent Density ISO 60, ASTM D1895 Density / Specific Gravity ISO 1183, ASTM D792,
ASTM D1505, ASTM D4883Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance
(ESCR)ASTM D1693 ESCR - Environmental Stress Cracking
ResistanceASTM D1693 Melt Mass-Flow Rate (MFR) ISO 1133, ASTM D1238 Humidity Absorption / Water Absorption ISO 62, ASTM D570,
ASTM D1056Melt Viscosity ASTM D3835 Melt Volume-Flow Rate (MVR) ISO 1133, ASTM D1238 MFR - Melt Mass-Flow Rate ISO 1133, ASTM D1238 Mould Shrinkage ISO 294-4, ASTM D955 MVR - Melt Volume-Flow Rate ISO 1133, ASTM D1238 Viscosity Number ISO 307 Water Absorption / Humidity Absorption ISO 62, ASTM D570,
ASTM D1056
Mechanical
Apparent Bending Modulus Ball Indentation Hardness Barcol Hardness ASTM D2583 Charpy Impact Strength (Notched) ISO 179 Charpy Impact Strength (Unnotched) ISO 179 Coefficient of Friction ASTM D1894 Compressive Modulus ISO 604, ASTM D695 Compressive Strength / Compressive Stress ISO 604, ASTM D695 Creep ASTM D2990 Dart Drop Impact Strength ISO 7765-1, ASTM D1709 Dart Drop Total Energy Impact Strength ASTM D4272 Dart (Dynatup) Instrumented Impact Strength ISO 7765-2, ASTM D3763 DBTT - Ductile / Brittle Transition Temperature ISO 6603-2 Deformation Under Load ASTM D621 Drop Impact Resistance ASTM D4226 Ductile / Brittle Transition Temperature ISO 6603-2 Durometer Hardness / Shore Hardness (A,C,D) ISO 868, ASTM D2240 Elongation at Break / Strain at Break ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D639,
ASTM D1708Elongation at Yield / Yield Strain ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D638 Fatigue Limit ASTM D671 Flexural Creep ASTM D2990 Flexural Creep Modulus (1h, 1000h) ISO 6602 Flexural Modulus ISO 178, ASTM D790 Flexural Strength / Flexural Stress ISO 178, ASTM D790 Gardner Impact Strength ASTM D3029 Hardness, Barcol ASTM D2583 Hardness, Rockwell (A,E,K,L,M,R) ISO 2039-2, ASTM D785 Hardness, Shore (Durometer) (A,C,D) ISO 868, ASTM D2240 Impact Resistance, Drop ASTM D4226 Impact Strength, Charpy Notched ISO 179 Impact Strength, Charpy Unnotched ISO 179 Impact Strength, Dart Drop ISO 7765-1, ASTM D1709 Impact Strength, Dart Drop Total Energy Impact ASTM D4272 Impact Strength, Gardner ASTM D3029 Impact Strength, Instrumented Dart (Dynatup) ISO 7765-2, ASTM D3763 Impact Strength, Multi-Axial Instrumented ISO 6603-2 Impact Strength, Izod Notched ISO 180, ASTM D256 Impact Strength, Izod Unnotched ISO 180, ASTM D256 Impact Strength, Tensile ISO 8256, ASTM D1822 Impact Strength, Tensile Notched ISO 8256 Instrumented Dart (Dynatup) Impact Strength ISO 7765-2, ASTM D3763 Izod Impact Strength (Notched) ISO 180, ASTM D256 Izod Impact Strength (Unnotched) ISO 180, ASTM D256 Multi-Axial Instrumented Impact Strength ISO 6603-2 Notched Charpy Impact Strength ISO 179 Notched Izod Impact Strength ISO 180, ASTM D256 Notched Tensile Impact Strength ISO 8256 Poissons Ratio ASTM E132 Reversed Notched Izod Impact ASTM D256 Rockwell Hardness (A,E,K,L,M,R) ISO 2039-2, ASTM D785 Secant Modulus (MD/TD) ASTM D882 Shear Modulus ISO 537, ASTM D732 Shear Strength ASTM D732 Shore Hardness / Durometer Hardness (A,C,D) ISO 868, ASTM D2240 Strain at Break / Elongation at Break ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D639,
ASTM D1708Stress at 50%, 100% etc. Strain ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D1708 Stress at Break ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D638,
ASTM D1708Taber Abrasion Resistance ASTM D1044 Tensile Creep ASTM D2990 Tensile Creep Modulus (1h, 1000h) ISO 899-1 Tensile Elongation at Break / Strain at Break Tensile Elongation at Yield / Yield Strain ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D638 Tensile Impact Strength ISO 8256, ASTM D1822 Tensile Modulus ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D638 Tensile Notched Impact Strength ISO 8256 Tensile Strength / Tensile Stress at Break ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D638,
ASTM D1708Tensile Strength at Yield / Tensile Stress at Yield ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D638 Tensile Stress at 50%, 100% etc. Strain ISO 527-1-2, ASTM D1708 Tensile Stress at Break / Tensile Strength ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D638,
ASTM D1708Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) ASTM D638 Unnotched Charpy Impact Strength ISO 179 Unnotched Izod Impact Strength ISO 180, ASTM D256 UTS - Ultimate Tensile Strength ASTM D638 Yield Strain / Elongation at Yield ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D638 Yield Strength / Yield Stress ISO 527-1,-2, ASTM D638
Thermal and Flammability
5V, UL/UL94/IEC Flame Rating UL 94,
IEC 60695-11-10,-205VA, UL/UL94/IEC Flame Rating UL 94,
IEC 60695-11-10,-205VB, UL/UL94/IEC Flame Rating UL 94,
IEC 60695-11-10,-20Accelerated Oven Ageing ISO 4577 Brittleness Temperature ISO 974, ASTM D746 Change in Shore/Durometer Hardness in Air ISO 188, ASTM D573 Change in Shore/Durometer Hardness in Oil ISO 1817, ASTM D471 Change in Tensile Modulus in Air ASTM D573 Change in Tensile Strain at Break in Air ISO 188 Change in Tensile Strain at Break in Liquid ISO 1817 Change in Tensile Strength in Air ISO 188, ASTM D573 Change in Tensile Strength in Liquid ISO 1817, ASTM D471 Change of Ultimate Elongation in Air ASTM D573 Change in Ultimate Elongation in Liquid ASTM D471 CLTE - Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion ISO 11359-1,-2,
ASTM D696,
ASTM E228CLTE (TMA) - Coefficient of Linear Thermal
Expansion (TMA)ASTM E831 Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (CLTE) ISO 11359-1,-2,
ASTM D696,
ASTM E228Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (CLTE)
(TMA)ASTM E831 Deflection Temperature Under Load (DTUL/HDT) ISO 75, ASTM D648 DTUL - Deflection Temperature Under Load ISO 75, ASTM D648 Flame Rating - UL/UL94/IEC
(HB, V-0, V-1, V-2, 5V, 5VA, 5VB, VTM-0,VTM-1,VTM-2)UL 94,
IEC 60695-11-10,-20Flammability Classification, IEC
(HB, V-0, V-1, V-2, 5V, 5VA, 5VB)IEC 60695-11-10,-20 Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) ASTM E1356 Glow Wire Flammability Index IEC 60695-2-12 Glow Wire Ignition Temperature (GWIT) IEC 60695-2-13 GWIT - Glow Wire Ignition Temperature IEC 60695-2-13 HB, UL/UL94/IEC Flame Rating UL 94,
IEC 60695-11-10,-20HDT - Heat Deflection Temperature ISO 75, ASTM D648 Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT/DTUL) ISO 75, ASTM D648 IEC Flammability Classification
(HB, V-0, V-1, V-2, 5V, 5VA, 5VB)UL 94,
IEC 60695-11-10,-20Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) ISO 4589-1,-2,
ASTM D2863Melt Specific Heat ASTM C351 Melt Thermal Conductivity ISO 8302, ASTM C177 Melting Temperature (DSC) ISO 3146 Needle Flame Test IEC 60695-2-2 Oxygen Index / Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) ISO 4589-1,-2,
ASTM D2863Peak Crystallisation Temperature (DSC) ISO 3146,
ISO 11357-1,-3,
ASTM D3418Relative Temperature Index (RTI)
(Strength, Impact, Electrical)UL 746 RTI - Relative Temperature Index
(Strength, Impact, Electrical)UL 746 Softening Temperature (Point) - Vicat ISO 306, ASTM D1525 Specific Heat / Melt Specific Heat ASTM C351 Temperature, Brittleness ISO 974, ASTM D746 Temperature, Deflection Under Load (DTUL/HDT) ISO 75, ASTM D648 Temperature, Glass Transition (Tg) ASTM E1356 Temperature, Heat Deflection (HDT/DTUL) ISO 75, ASTM D648 Tg - Glass Transition Temperature ASTM E1356 Thermal Conductivity / Melt Thermal Conductivity ISO 8302, ASTM C177 UL/UL94/IEC Flame rating
(HB, V-0, V-1, V-2, 5V, 5VA, 5VB, VTM-0,VTM-1,VTM-2)UL 94,
IEC 60695-11-10,-20V-0, UL/UL94/IEC Flame Rating UL 94,
IEC 60695-11-10,-20V-1, UL/UL94/IEC Flame Rating UL 94,
IEC 60695-11-10,-20V-2, UL/UL94/IEC Flame Rating UL 94,
IEC 60695-11-10,-20Vicat Softening Temperature / Vicat Softening Point ISO 306, ASTM D1525 VTM-0, UL/UL94 Flame Rating UL 94 VTM-1, UL/UL94 Flame Rating UL 94
Electrical
Arc Resistance (PLC) ASTM D495 Comparative Tracking Index (CTI) (PLC) UL 746, IEC 60112 CTI - Comparative Tracking Index UL 746, IEC 60112 Dielectric Constant / Relative Permittivity IEC 60250, ASTM D2520,
ASTM D150Dielectric Strength / Electric Strength IEC 60243-1, ASTM D149 Dissipation Factor IEC 60250, ASTM D2520,
ASTM D150Electric Strength / Dielectric Strength IEC 60243-1, ASTM D149 Glow Wire Flammability Index IEC 60695-2-12 Glow Wire Ignition Temperature (GWIT) IEC 60695-2-13 GWIT - Glow Wire Ignition Temperature IEC 60695-2-13 HAI - High Amp Arc Ignition (PLC) UL 746 High Amp Arc Ignition (HAI) (PLC) UL 746 High Voltage Arc Resistance to Ignition (HVAR) (PLC) UL 746 High Voltage Arc Tracking Rate (HVTR) (PLC) UL 746 Hot Wire Ignition (HWI) (PLC) UL 746 HVAR - High Voltage Arc Resistance to Ignition (PLC) UL 746 HVTR - High Voltage Arc Tracking Rate (PLC) UL 746 HWI - Hot Wire Ignition (PLC) UL 746 Needle Flame Test IEC 60695-2-2 Relative Permittivity / Dielectric Constant IEC 60250, ASTM D2520,
ASTM D150Relative Temperature Index (RTI) (Electrical) UL 746 Resistivity, Surface IEC 60093, ASTM D257 Resistivity, Volume IEC 60093, ASTM D257 RTI - Relative Temperature Index (Electrical) UL 746 Surface Resistivity IEC 60093, ASTM D257 Volume Resistivity IEC 60093, ASTM D257
Optical
Clarity / Light Transmission / Transmittance ASTM D1003,
ASTM D1746Gardner Gloss ASTM D523 Gloss ASTM D2457 Haze ASTM D1003 Light Transmission / Transmittance / Clarity ASTM D1003,
ASTM D1746Refractive Index ISO 489, ASTM D543 Transmittance / Light Transmission / Clarity ASTM D1003,
ASTM D1746Yellowness Index ASTM D1925
Elastomers
Bashore Resilience ASTM D2632 Brittleness Temperature ISO 812 Change in Shore/Durometer Hardness in Air ISO 188 Change in Shore/Durometer Hardness in Oil ISO 1817, ASTM D471 Clash-Berg Modulus (Apparent Shear Modulus) ASTM D1043 Compression Set ISO 815, ASTM D395 Continuous Upper Temperature Resistance (CUTR) SAE J2236 CUTR - Continuous Upper Temperature Resistance SAE J2236 Elongation at Break / Strain at Break ISO 37, ASTM D412 Elongation at Yield / Yield Strain ASTM D412 Elongation Set After Break ASTM D412 Hardness, Shore (Durometer) (A,C,D) ISO 868, ASTM D2240 IRHD Hardness ISO 48, ASTM D1415 Mooney Viscosity ASTM D1646 Shore Hardness / Durometer Hardness (A,C,D) ISO 868, ASTM D2240 Strain at Break / Elongation at Break ISO 37, ASTM D412 Tear Strength ISO 34-1, ASTM D624 Tear Strength, Split ASTM D470 Tensile Elongation at Break / Strain at Break ISO 37, ASTM D412 Tensile Elongation at Yield / Yield Strain ASTM D412 Tensile Set ASTM D412 Tensile Strength / Tensile Stress at Break ISO 37, ASTM D412 Tensile Strength at Yield / Tensile Stress at Yield ISO 37, ASTM D412 Tensile Stress at 50%, 100%, 200% etc. ISO 37, ASTM D412 Yield Strain / Elongation at Yield ASTM D412 Yield Strength / Yield Stress ISO 37, ASTM D412
Films
Blocking Load ASTM D3354 Elastic Modulus (MD/TD) ASTM D882 Elmendorf Tear Strength (MD/TD) ISO 6383-2, ASTM D1922 Elongation at Break / Strain at Break (MD/TD) ISO 527-1,-3, ASTM D882 Elongation at Yield / Yield Strain (MD/TD) ASTM D882 Film Toughness (MD/TD) ASTM D882 Flame Rating - UL/UL94 (VTM-0, VTM-1, VTM-2) UL 94 Flexural Modulus (MD/TD) ASTM D790 OTR - Oxygen Transmission Rate ASTM D3985 Oxygen Permeability ASTM D3985 Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) ASTM D3985 Puncture - Maximum Force ISO 6603 Puncture Energy ISO 6603 Seal Strength ASTM F88 Secant Modulus (MD/TD) ASTM D882 Strain at Break / Elongation at Break (MD/TD) ISO 527-1,-3, ASTM D882 Tear Strength, Elmendorf (MD/TD) ISO 6383-2, ASTM D1922 Tensile Elongation at Break / Strain at Break (MD/TD) ISO 527-1,-3, ASTM D882 Tensile Elongation at Yield / Yield Strain (MD/TD) ASTM D882 Tensile Modulus ISO 527-1,-3 Tensile Strength / Tensile Stress at Break (MD/TD) ISO 527-1,-3, ASTM D882 Tensile Strength at Yield / Tensile Stress at Yield (MD/TD) ISO527-1,-3, ASTM D882 Trouser Tear Resistance ISO 6383-1 VTM-0, UL/UL94 Flame Rating UL 94 VTM-1, UL/UL94 Flame Rating UL 94 VTM-2, UL/UL94 Flame Rating UL 94 Water Vapour Transmission (WVT) ASTM E96 Water Vapoour Transmission Rate (WVTR) ASTM F1249 WVTR - Water Vapour Transmission Rate ASTM F1249 Yield Strain / Elongation at Yield (MD/TD) ASTM D882 Yield Strength / Yield Stress ISO527-1,-3, ASTM D882
