ISO/TC 61/SC 9/WG 18 - Preparation of test specimens

This document specifies two two-cavity moulds, the type D11 and D12 ISO moulds, for the injection moulding of small plates measuring 60 mm × 60 mm with a preferred thickness of 1 mm (type D11) or 2 mm (type D12), which can be used for a variety of tests. The moulds can additionally be fitted with inserts for studying the effects of weld lines on the mechanical properties (see Annex A).

This document specifies a method of determining the moulding shrinkage and post-moulding shrinkage of injection-moulded test specimens of thermoplastic material in the directions parallel to and normal to the direction of melt flow. For the determination of shrinkage of thermosets, see ISO 2577[2]. Moulding shrinkage as defined in this document excludes the effects of humidity uptake. This is included in post-moulding shrinkage and thus in total shrinkage. For cases when post-moulding shrinkage is caused by the uptake of humidity only, see ISO 175[1]. Moulding shrinkage as defined in this document represents the so-called free shrinkage with unrestricted deformation of the cooling plates in the mould during the hold period. It is considered, therefore, as the maximum value of any restricted shrinkage.

This document establishes the general principles and procedures to be followed when machining and notching test specimens from compression-moulded and injection-moulded plastics, extruded sheets, plates and partially finished or wholly finished products. In order to establish a basis for reproducible machining and notching conditions, the following general standardized conditions are applied. It is assumed, however, that the exact procedures used are selected or specified by the relevant material specification or by the standards on the particular test methods. If sufficiently detailed procedures are not thus specified, the interested parties agree upon the conditions to be used.

This document specifies a four-cavity mould, the type С ISO mould, for the injection moulding of small tensile bars measuring ≥ 60 mm × 10 mm × 3 mm (the type CW11 test specimen in ISO 20753).

ISO 294-5:2017 specifies a mould (designated the type F ISO mould) for the injection moulding of plates with a preferred size of 80 mm × 120 mm and a minimum size of 80 mm × ≥90 mm and with a preferred thickness of 2 mm for single-point and multi-point data acquisition. It has been found to provide the maximum anisotropic properties, with only a slight sensitivity to the rate of injection. Whenever possible, a two cavity mould is intended to be used. For the design of plastic parts, this will provide upper and lower bounds for the tensile properties. Matching the plate thickness to a given part thickness is not a suitable criterion because of the effect of mould filling rate and part geometry on anisotropy. Investigation of the anisotropy of materials is a special procedure intended to provide guidance in the design of mouldings for end-use applications and is not intended as a quality control tool. In the injection moulding of thermoplastic materials, the flow of molten polymer can influence the orientation of fillers such as fibreglass or the orientation of polymer chains, resulting in anisotropic behaviour. For the purposes of ISO 294-5:2017, the flow direction is defined as the direction from the gate to the far end of the mould cavity and the cross direction as the direction perpendicular to the flow direction. The type F mould is not intended to replace the type D mould used to determine the moulding shrinkage of thermoplastics.

ISO 294-1:2017 specifies the general principles to be followed when injection moulding test specimens of thermoplastic materials and gives details of mould designs for preparing two types of specimen for use in acquiring reference data, i.e. type A1 and type B1 test specimens as specified in ISO 20753, and provides a basis for establishing reproducible moulding conditions. Its purpose is to provide consistent descriptions of the main parameters of the moulding process and to establish a uniform practice in reporting moulding conditions. The particular conditions required for the reproducible preparation of test specimens will vary for each material used and are given in the International Standard for the relevant material or are to be agreed upon between the interested parties. NOTE Interlaboratory tests with acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene (ABS), styrene/butadiene (SB) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) have shown that mould design is an important factor in the reproducible preparation of test specimens.

ISO 293:2004 specifies the general principles and the procedures to be followed with thermoplastics in the preparation of compression-moulded test specimens, and sheets from which test specimens may be machined or stamped.

ISO 294-5:2011 specifies a two-cavity mould (designated the type F ISO mould) for the injection moulding of 80 mm x 90 mm plates with a preferred thickness of 2 mm for single-point data acquisition because 2 mm has been found to provide the maximum anisotropic properties, with only a slight sensitivity to the rate of injection. For the design of plastic parts, this will provide upper and lower bounds for the tensile properties. Matching the plate thickness to a given part thickness is not a suitable criterion because of the effect of mould filling rate and part geometry on anisotropy. Suitable test specimens [ISO 527‑2 type 1BA tensile test specimens or type 1 (80 mm x 10 mm) bars] are then machined or die-cut from the plates and used to obtain information on the anisotropy of thermoplastic parts. Investigation of the anisotropy of materials is a special procedure intended to provide guidance in the design of mouldings for end-use applications and is not intended as a quality control tool. In the injection moulding of thermoplastic materials, the flow of molten polymer may influence the orientation of fillers such as fibreglass or the orientation of polymer chains. This can result in anisotropic behaviour. The knowledge of anisotropic behaviour is valuable in designing plastic parts.

This part of ISO 294 specifies two two-cavity moulds, the type D1 and D2 ISO moulds, for the injection moulding of small plates measuring 60 mm × 60 mm with a preferred thickness of 1 mm (type D1) or 2 mm (type D2), which can be used for a variety of tests. The moulds may additionally be fitted with inserts for studying the effects of weld lines on the mechanical properties.

Contains the general principles to be followed for the preparation of injection moulding test specimens of thermoplastics and gives details of mould design for preparing multipurpose test specimens as specified in ISO 3167 and tensile bars. Replaces the second edition of ISO 294.

Specifies a four-cavity mould, the type C, for the injection moulding of small tensile bars measuring >= 60 mm × 10 mm × 3 mm. Replaces the second edition of ISO 294.

Specifies two two-cavity moulds, the type D1 and D2, for the injection moulding of small plates measuring 60 mm × 60 mm with a preferred thickness of 1 mm (type D1) or 2 mm (type D2) which can be used for a variety of tests. Replaces the second edition of ISO 294.

Cancels and replaces the second edition (1980). Establishes the general principles and procedures to be followed when machining and notching test specimens from compression-moulded and injection-moulded plastics, extruded sheets, plates and partially finished or wholly finished products.

Specifies the general principles and the procedures to be followed with thermoplastics in the preparation of specimens, which are homogeneous and isotropic and from which test specimens may be machined or stamped. In order to obtain mouldings in a reproducible state, the main steps of the procedure, including four different cooling methods, are standardized. Two alternative kinds of moulds, flash moulds and positive moulds, are specified.

Specifies the procedure for the preparation of injection moulded test specimens in the form of rectangular plates (80 mm x 50 mm x 4 mm) with predominantly monoaxial orientation. Bars cut from the plate in different directions may serve as test specimens for the determination of the dependence of mechanical strength upon the degree and direction of the predominant orientation in the plate.