ISO 23559:2011

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 23559
Second edition
2011-11-15
Plastics — Film and sheeting — Guidance
on the testing of thermoplastic films
Plastiques — Film et feuille — Lignes directrices pour les essais de
films thermoplastiques
Reference number
ISO 23559:2011(E)
©
ISO 2011

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ISO 23559:2011(E)
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2011
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s
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Published in Switzerland
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ISO 23559:2011(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 23559 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 11, Products.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 23559:2007), of which it constitutes a minor
revision to introduce an additional test specimen (for low strains) for the tensile impact test specified in Table 2.
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ISO 23559:2011(E)
Introduction
This International Standard has been prepared to provide guidance in the testing of plastic films for producers
and users.
Although there are existing standards that provide this guidance for a number of film products, these are quite
specific in respect to the materials covered and do not address many commercial films that are produced
as blends or as multi-layer structures. In some cases, the existing standards are limited to only one process
technique for producing the film.
It is also recognized that, because of the multitude of commercial processes used to produce films and the
different processing parameters required for different materials, blends and/or structures, the concept of
general standardization of film specimen preparation is not realistic at this time. On the other hand, it is possible
to standardize specimen preparation for well-defined materials and fabrication processes, but this is not within
the scope or intent of this document.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD  ISO 23559:2011(E)
Plastics — Film and sheeting — Guidance on the testing of
thermoplastic films
SAFETY STATEMENT — Persons using this document should be familiar with normal laboratory
practice, if applicable. This document does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety and health
practices and to ensure compliance with any regulatory requirements.
1  Scope
This International Standard identifies specific test procedures to assist producers and users in the selection
and characterization of thermoplastic films in single- or multi-layer form. It is intended to serve as a guide for
those films for which there are no existing standards or specifications.
NOTE Because of the range of materials used and the wide variety of processes available to produce various film
constructions, this document does not address specimen preparation.
If an International Standard exists for a specific film product, the requirements of that standard shall take
precedence over this document.
There are many national, regional and industrial standards that address the requirements for specific
applications. Since this International Standard is intended to provide general guidance, it is not within the
scope to address these.
The significance of the data and fitness for use shall be determined by the user.
2  Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(including any amendments) applies.
ISO 307, Plastics — Polyamides — Determination of viscosity number
ISO 527-3, Plastics — Determination of tensile properties — Part 3: Test conditions for films and sheets
ISO 1133-1, Plastics — Determination of the melt mass-flow rate (MFR) and melt volume-flow rate (MVR) of
thermoplastics — Part 1: Standard method
ISO 1183-1, Plastics — Methods for determining the density of non-cellular plastics — Part 1: Immersion
method, liquid pyknometer method and titration method
ISO 1183-2, Plastics — Methods for determining the density of non-cellular plastics — Part 2: Density gradient
column method
ISO 1183-3, Plastics — Methods for determining the density of non-cellular plastics — Part 3: Gas pyknometer
method
ISO 2813, Paints and varnishes — Determination of specular gloss of non-metallic paint films at 20°, 60°
and 85°
ISO 4589-1, Plastics — Determination of burning behaviour by oxygen index — Part 1: Guidance
ISO 4589-2, Plastics — Determination of burning behaviour by oxygen index — Part 2: Ambient-temperature
test
ISO 4592, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of length and width
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ISO 23559:2011(E)
ISO 4593, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of thickness by mechanical scanning
ISO 6383-1, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of tear resistance — Part 1: Trouser tear method
ISO 6383-2, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of tear resistance — Part 2: Elmendorf method
ISO 7765-1, Plastics film and sheeting — Determination of impact resistance by the free-falling dart method —
Part 1: Staircase methods
ISO 7765-2, Plastics film and sheeting — Determination of impact resistance by the free-falling dart method —
Part 2: Instrumented puncture test
ISO 8256, Plastics — Determination of tensile-impact strength
ISO 8295, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of the coefficients of friction
ISO 8296, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of wetting tension
ISO 9773, Plastics — Determination of burning behaviour of thin flexible vertical specimens in contact with a
small-flame ignition source
ISO 11357-2, Plastics — Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) — Part 2: Determination of glass transition
temperature
ISO 11357-3, Plastics — Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) — Part 3: Determination of temperature and
enthalpy of melting and crystallization
ISO 11443, Plastics — Determination of the fluidity of plastics using capillary and slit-die rheometers
ISO 11501, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of dimensional change on heating
ISO 11502, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of blocking resistance
ISO 13468-1, Plastics — Determination of the total luminous transmittance of transparent materials — Part 1:
Single-beam instrument
ISO 13468-2, Plastics — Determination of the total luminous transmittance of transparent materials — Part 2:
Double-beam instrument
ISO 14782, Plastics — Determination of haze for transparent materials
ISO 15105-1, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of gas-transmission rate — Part 1: Differential-
pressure methods
ISO 15105-2, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of gas-transmission rate — Part 2: Equal-pressure
method
ISO 15106-1, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of water vapour transmission rate — Part 1:
Humidity detection sensor method
ISO 15106-2, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of water vapour transmission rate — Part 2:
Infrared detection sensor method
ISO 15106-3, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Determination of water vapour transmission rate — Part 3:
Electrolytic detection sensor method
ISO 15989, Plastics — Film and sheeting — Measurement of water-contact angle of corona-treated films
IEC 60093, Methods of test for volume resistivity and surface resistivity of solid electrical insulating materials
IEC 60112, Method for the determination of the proof and the comparative tracking indices of solid insulating
materials
IEC 60243-1, Electrical strength of insulating materials — Test methods — Part 1: Tests at power frequencies
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ISO 23559:2011(E)
IEC 60250, Recommended methods for the determination of the pe
...