ASTM D1004-03
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Initial Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Sheeting
Standard Test Method for Initial Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Sheeting
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the tear resistance of flexible plastic film and sheeting at very low rates of loading, 51 mm [2 in.]/min. and is designed to measure the force to initiate tearing. The specimen geometry of this test method produces a stress concentration in a small area of the specimen. The maximum stress, usually found near the onset of tearing, is recorded as the tear resistance in newtons [or pounds-force]. The method is not applicable for film or sheeting material where brittle failures occur during testing or where maximum extension is greater than 101.6 mm [4 in.].
Note 1—Film has been arbitrarily defined as sheeting having nominal thickness not greater than 0.25 mm [0.010 in.].
1.2 Constant-Rate-of-Grip Separation Test—This test method employs a constant rate of separation of the grips holding the test specimen.
1.2.1 Specimen extension may be measured in this test method by grip separation.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in brackets are provided for information only.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Note 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation:D1004–03
Standard Test Method for
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Tear Resistance (Graves Tear) of Plastic Film and Sheeting
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1004; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* D 4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Mate-
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rials
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the tear
D 5947 Test Methods for Physical Dimensions of Solid
resistance of flexible plastic film and sheeting at very low rates
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Plastics Specimens
of loading, 51 mm [2 in.]/min. and is designed to measure the
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E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
force to initiate tearing. The specimen geometry of this test
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
method produces a stress concentration in a small area of the
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Determine the Precision of a Test Method
specimen.Themaximumstress,usuallyfoundneartheonsetof
tearing, is recorded as the tear resistance in newtons [or
3. Terminology
pounds-force]. The method is not applicable for film or
3.1 Definitions:
sheeting material where brittle failures occur during testing or
Definitions of terms applying to this test method appear in
where maximum extension is greater than 101.6 mm [4 in.].
Terminology D 883.
NOTE 1—Film has been arbitrarily defined as sheeting having nominal
thickness not greater than 0.25 mm [0.010 in.].
4. Summary of Test Method
1.2 Constant-Rate-of-Grip Separation Test—This test
4.1 The force to initiate tearing across a specific geometry
method employs a constant rate of separation of the grips of a film or sheeting specimen is measured using a constant-
holding the test specimen.
rate-of-grip separation machine. The force necessary to initiate
1.2.1 Specimen extension may be measured in this test the tear is calculated from the load-time or load-displacement
method by grip separation.
data.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
5. Significance and Use
standard. The values given in brackets are provided for
information only. 5.1 Tear resistance of plastic film or sheeting is a complex
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the function of its ultimate resistance to rupture. The specimen
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the geometryandspeedoftestinginthistestmethodare controlled
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- to produce tearing in a small area of stress concentration at
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- rates far below those usually encountered in service. Experi-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. ence has shown the test to have its best reliability for materials
which do not have brittle failure or do not elongate greater than
NOTE 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
two hundred percent during testing.
5.2 The data from this test method furnish comparative
2. Referenced Documents
information for ranking the tearing resistance of plastic speci-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
mens of similar composition. Actual use performance in
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D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
tearing of some plastics may not necessarily correlate with data
D 882 Test Methods for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
3 from this test method.
Sheeting
3 5.3 The resistance to tear of plastic film and sheeting, while
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
partly dependent upon thickness, has no simple correlation
with specimen thickness. Hence, tearing forces measured in
1 newtons [or pounds-force] cannot be normalized over a wide
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film and Sheeting.
Current edition approved August 10, 2003. Published October 2003. Originally
approved in 1949. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D 1004 – 94a (03).
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The following reference may be of interest in connection with this test method: Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.
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Graves, F. L., “The Evaluation of Tear Resistance in Elastomers,” India Rubber Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.03.
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World, Vol 111, No. 3, December 1944, pp. 305–308. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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