ASTM_D_1004_-_13.pdf

Designation:D100413Standard Test Method forTear Resistance(Graves Tear)of Plastic Film and Sheeting1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1004;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S.Department of Defense.1.Scope*1.1 This test method2covers the determination of the tearresistance of flexible plastic film and sheeting at very low ratesof loading,51 mm(2 in.)/min.and is designed to measure theforce to initiate tearing.The specimen geometry of this testmethod produces a stress concentration in a small area of thespecimen.The maximum stress,usually found near the onset oftearing,is recorded as the tear resistance in newtons(orpounds-force).The method is not applicable for film orsheeting material where brittle failures occur during testing orwhere maximum extension is greater than 101.6 mm(4 in.).1.1.1 Although resistance to tear can be expressed in new-tons per microns,(pounds-force per mil)of specimenthickness,this is only advisable where correlation for theparticular material being tested has been established.In mostcases,comparison between films of dissimilar thickness is notvalid.NOTE1Film has been arbitrarily defined as sheeting having nominalthickness not greater than 0.25 mm(0.010 in.).1.2 Constant-Rate-of-Grip Separation TestThis testmethod employs a constant rate of separation of the gripsholding the test specimen.1.2.1 Specimen extension may be measured in this testmethod by grip separation.1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.The values given in parentheses are provided forinformation only.1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.NOTE2There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:3D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for TestingD882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin PlasticSheetingD883 Terminology Relating to PlasticsD4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materi-alsD5947 Test Methods for Physical Dimensions of SolidPlastics SpecimensD6988 Guide for Determination of Thickness of Plastic FilmTest SpecimensE4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing MachinesE691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test Method2.2 ASTM Adjuncts:Die Drawings43.Terminology3.1 Definitions:Definitions of terms applying to this test method appear inTerminology D883.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 The force to initiate tearing across a specific geometryof a film or sheeting specimen is measured using a constant-rate-of-grip separation machine.The force necessary to initiatethe tear is calculated from the load-time or load-displacementdata.5.Significance and Use5.1 Tear resistance of plastic film or sheeting is a complexfunction of its ultimate resistance to rupture.The specimengeometry and speed of testing in this test method are controlledto produce tearing in a small area of stress concentration at1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plasticsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film,Sheeting,andMolded Products.Current edition approved April 1,2013.Published April 2013.Originallyapproved in 1949.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D1004 09.DOI:10.1520/D1004-13.2The following reference may be of interest in connection with this test method:Graves,F.L.,“The Evaluation of Tear Resistance in Elastomers,”India RubberWorld,Vol 111,No.3,December 1944,pp.305308.3For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.4Available from ASTM International Headquarters.Order Adjunct No.ADJD1004.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 rates far below those usually encountered in service.Experi-ence has shown the test to have its best reliability for materialswhich do not have brittle failure or do not elongate greater thantwo hundred percent during testing.5.2 The data from this test method furnish comparativeinformation for ranking the tearing resistance of plastic speci-mens of similar composition.Actual use performance intearing of some plastics may not necessarily correlate with datafrom this test method.5.3 The resistance to tear of plastic film and sheeting,whilepartl