ASTM D638 is the most common testing standard for determining the tensile properties of reinforced and non-reinforced plastics. With the use of plastics being at an all-time high, it is critical that manufacturers be able to properly gauge the mechanical strength of their materials. This guide is designed to introduce you to the basic elements of an ASTM D638 plastic tensile test, including an overview of the equipment, software, and samples needed.
ISO 527-2 is an international standard for determining the tensile properties of reinforced and non-reinforced plastics. While it provides similar results to ASTM D638, ISO 527-2 is not considered technically equivalent due to differences in specimen size and test requirements. While some large multinational manufacturers test to both ASTM D638 and ISO 527-2, most of our customers demonstrate a preference for one standard or the other.
