Monthly Roundup: Rubber and Plastics Industries Standards from May 2025 (Part 2)

Looking back at May 2025, the Rubber and Plastics Industries witnessed pivotal developments in international standardization. Five notable standards were published this month, each addressing core aspects of product testing, material analysis, and manufacturing quality—crucial pillars for professionals aiming to maintain best-in-class safety, compliance, and performance. This comprehensive summary is designed for industry specialists seeking clarity on recent updates, a synthesis of evolving trends, and practical insights for compliance strategies.

Monthly Overview: May 2025

May 2025 continued a steady trajectory of technical refinement and scientific advancement within the Rubber and Plastics Industries. This month’s portfolio was characterized by a balance between updates to established testing methods (notably in tyre and rubber analysis) and emerging methodologies for advanced polymer characterization. Of particular note were standards focusing on the verification of motorcycle tyre capabilities, new protocols for evaluating plasticity in raw rubbers, and sophisticated instrumental techniques for polymer structure analysis. This level of activity not only reinforces the sector’s commitment to safety and reliability but also underlines a rapid response to the evolving demands of modern manufacturing and product certification.

Compared to previous periods, May’s standards emphasized both end-product functionality and upstream material quality. The publication cadence revealed a focus on harmonizing laboratory practices globally and connecting physical testing with high-end analytical instrumentation, all while maintaining attention on practical industrial applications—such as welded PVC joints used in window and door systems.

For industry professionals, staying abreast of these standards is vital; they set benchmarks for product integrity, support regulatory approvals, and often determine market access. The standards covered here highlight the sector’s strategic priorities for ongoing innovation, efficiency improvements, and risk management.

Standards Published This Month

ISO 10231:2025 - Motorcycle Tyres - Test Methods for Verifying Tyre Capabilities

Motorcycle tyres — Test methods for verifying tyre capabilities

This latest edition of ISO 10231 specifies comprehensive test methods for verifying the core capabilities of motorcycle tyres. Rather than grading performance or establishing quality levels, this standard provides clear procedures for ensuring that tyres meet safety and functional requirements for a broad scope of motorcycle applications.

The document details rigorous approaches for strength, endurance, high-speed, and centrifugal growth testing—each reflecting real-world operational stresses. Key updates include tightened tolerances for testing equipment (such as plunger diameter, slip angle, and camber angle), enhancing precision and repeatability. These methods apply to all motorcycle tyres and are essential tools for manufacturers, testing laboratories, and regulators concerned with conforming to global safety regimes.

Stakeholders in vehicle certification, quality assurance, and tyre development will find these methods crucial for homologation, R&D, and ongoing production control. ISO 10231:2025 fits within broader global frameworks by harmonizing terminology and referencing related norms, such as ISO 4223-1.

Key highlights:

• Defines test equipment and procedures for strength, endurance, high-speed, and centrifugal growth
• Clarifies testing tolerances for accurate, reproducible results
• Applies to all motorcycle tyres, supporting both OEM and aftermarket sectors

Access the full standard:View ISO 10231:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 2007:2025 - Rubber, Unvulcanized - Determination of Plasticity - Rapid-Plastimeter Method

Rubber, unvulcanized — Determination of plasticity — Rapid-plastimeter method

ISO 2007:2025 delivers a critical update to the rapid assessment of raw and compounded unvulcanized rubber plasticity—a fundamental property influencing processability and product performance. The rapid-plastimeter method quantifies the plasticity number, measuring the height of a disc-shaped test specimen after standardized compression—offering fast, objective insights into rubber quality prior to vulcanization.

Updates in this edition include revised calibration guidance, refinements to apparatus specifications, and increased clarity in reporting, all designed to boost laboratory consistency and inter-lab reproducibility. By referencing ISO 2930 for the Plasticity Retention Index (PRI), the standard ensures close alignment with established durability testing protocols.

This method is essential for suppliers and converters in rubber product manufacturing—tire makers, seal producers, and compounders alike benefit from faithful adherence, supporting quality gates and regulatory conformance across the global supply chain.

Key highlights:

• Rapid determination of plasticity for raw and unvulcanized rubbers
• Harmonized with ISO 2930 for durability assurance
• Updated calibration and reporting for greater consistency

Access the full standard:View ISO 2007:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 514:2025 - Plastics - Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) Based Profiles - Determination of the Strength of Welded Corners and T-Joints

Plastics — Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) based profiles — Determination of the strength of welded corners and T-joints

EN 514:2025 addresses the structural integrity assessment of welded corners and T-joints in unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) profiles, with a particular focus on their application in window and door fabrication. This standard codifies tensile and compression bending methods for quantifying the failure stress of welds, thus directly supporting compliance and quality in construction materials.

Updates in this revision include redefined terminology (notably the term "failure load") and expanded equipment measuring ranges, reflecting advances in material strengths and testing capabilities. The procedures outlined here ensure manufacturers, fabricators, and test laboratories can reliably validate the durability of welded joints against increasingly stringent building codes and performance specifications.

For procurement specialists and quality managers in window and door manufacturing, this standard is instrumental in specifying procurement requirements and in-house quality checks on welded PVC profiles.

Key highlights:

• Defines test methods for strength verification of welded PVC-U joints in windows and doors
• Revised terminology and equipment tolerances for modern applications
• Facilitates compliance with construction quality and safety regulations

Access the full standard:View EN 514:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 18177:2025 - Plastics - Test Method for Estimation of the Short Chain Branching Distribution of Semicrystalline Ethylene 1-Olefin Copolymers - Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

Plastics — Test method for estimation of the short chain branching distribution of semicrystalline ethylene 1-olefin copolymers — Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

ISO 18177:2025 pioneers international standardization of a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique—successive self-nucleation and annealing (SSA)—for quantifying the short chain branching distribution (SCBD) in semicrystalline ethylene 1-olefin copolymers (including key grades like ethylene/1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene copolymers). This method allows for detailed characterization of polymer structure, which strongly determines material properties such as strength, flexibility, and processability.

The standard outlines apparatus requirements for both conventional and high-performance DSC, specimen preparation protocols, and protocols for result reporting—ensuring reproducibility across laboratories. By enabling precise assessment of branching, crystallinity, and molecular composition, this document bridges the analytical and manufacturing worlds, empowering resin producers, converters, and quality assurance labs to refine product performance.

The technique is recommended as a companion to other molecular characterization methods, and is particularly relevant for research, certification, and high-performance polyethylene packaging, film, and pipe applications.

Key highlights:

• Establishes SSA-DSC as a robust tool for SCBD analysis in ethylene copolymers
• Enables reliable calculation of crystallinity and branching ratios
• Standardized for use in both production R&D and third-party testing labs

Access the full standard:View ISO 18177:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 4504:2025 - Plastics - Polyethylene (PE) - Determination of Co-Monomer Content by Solution State 13C-NMR Spectrometry

Plastics — Polyethylene (PE) — Determination of co-monomer content by solution state 13C-NMR spectrometry

ISO 4504:2025 sets the global benchmark for quantifying co-monomer content in polyethylene using advanced solution-state carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) spectrometry. Two analytical methods are defined: the inverse gated decoupling method (A) and the insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer (INEPT, method B). This revision provides recalibrated formulae, enhanced data reporting, and improved method precision, reflecting current scientific consensus and instrumentation advances.

The methods specified in ISO 4504:2025 are essential for resin producers, quality control laboratories, and researchers managing PE formulations for films, pipes, and fit-for-purpose polymers demanding tight compositional tolerances. The ability to accurately determine co-monomer distribution is crucial for maintaining desired mechanical, chemical, and processing properties—and avoiding costly production variances.

Importantly, this document does not apply to ethylene homopolymers or systems with multiple co-monomers, focusing its guidance on single co-monomer systems for clarity and precision.

Key highlights:

• Two standardized 13C-NMR methods: inverse gated decoupling and INEPT
• Up-to-date formulae and comprehensive data reporting requirements
• Supports consistent polymer quality for high-spec PE applications

Access the full standard:View ISO 4504:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

The May 2025 standards portfolio for the Rubber and Plastics Industries reveals several prominent trends:

• Emphasis on Analytical Precision and Instrumentation: Tangible updates to laboratory test methods—such as advanced DSC and NMR protocols—underscore a shift towards sophisticated, data-driven material characterization. Organizations are expected to invest in modern analytical tools and develop personnel expertise accordingly.
• Material and End-Product Quality: Standards span both raw material testing (unvulcanized rubber, PE co-monomer content, ethylene copolymer structure) and finished part validation (tyre performance, welded PVC joint strength). This dual emphasis bridges chemical analysis and functional assessment, supporting quality across the supply chain.
• Safety and Regulatory Confidence: With updates clarifying terminology and tolerances, the new documents align with the rising expectations of global markets and regulatory bodies for transparent, reproducible, and safety-focused procedures.
• Global Harmonization: Reference to international terminology, updated reporting practices, and compatibility with related standards reflect an ongoing effort to unify practices and facilitate mutual recognition across borders.

PVC windows and doors, motorcycle tyres, and polyethylene-based products emerge as priority sectors, mirroring both consumer safety and high-volume industrial needs.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

Given this month’s focus areas, organizations across the Rubber and Plastics Industries should:

• Review and Update Internal Procedures: Benchmark current practices against the detailed apparatus, calibration, and reporting requirements in these standards.
• Invest in Training and Equipment: Laboratory leaders should assess the readiness of teams to apply advanced DSC and NMR methods. Updating to modern instrumentation may be required for compliance and competitive advantage.
• Map Standards to Compliance Workflows: Manufacturers and suppliers in the automotive (tyres), construction (PVC profiles), and polymer sectors should update compliance matrices and certification packages to reflect these latest standards.
• Plan for Transition Periods: Allow sufficient time for procedure validation and staff upskilling before these standards become contractually or regulatorily enforced. Early adoption can be a competitive differentiator.
• Utilize Resource Platforms: All referenced documents are readily accessible via iTeh Standards, which provides centralized documentation, updates, and search tools.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from May 2025

May 2025 represented a significant period for the Rubber and Plastics Industries, with the publication of five standards shaping practices across material science, component validation, and laboratory analysis. Among the most impactful advances:

• Testing protocols for critical safety components (motorcycle tyres, welded PVC joints) were clarified and improved
• Rapid and accurate assessment techniques for unvulcanized rubber, PE, and ethylene copolymers were standardized or updated
• The momentum towards harmonized, instrumentation-driven analysis continues to accelerate

For professionals—whether in manufacturing, R&D, quality assurance, or supply chain roles—active engagement with these standards is essential to sustain excellence and compliance. Gaining familiarity with both the big-picture industry shifts and the fine details of each standard will position organizations for success in a competitive and highly regulated market.

To delve deeper into any standard, follow the provided links to iTeh Standards and review complete document details, purchasing options, and supplementary resources.

This article is Part 2 of 3 in the May 2025 Rubber and Plastics Industries standards overview series. For a complete picture of the month’s standardization activity, be sure to explore the full series on iTeh Standards.