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    How To Perform An ASTM D638 Plastic Tensile Strength Test

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    Ajay Wanve
    The document provides instructions for performing an ASTM D638 tensile strength test on plastics. The test uses "dumbell" shaped specimens in a universal testing machine to measure properties like tensile strength, elongation, and modulus of elasticity. Specimens are pulled at a constant rate until breaking. An extensometer is required to accurately measure properties in the small linear region of plastics. The necessary equipment includes a universal testing machine, extensometer, data acquisition system, and tensile grips.

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    How To Perform An ASTM D638 Plastic Tensile Strength Test

    Uploaded by

    Ajay Wanve
    272 views4 pages
    The document provides instructions for performing an ASTM D638 tensile strength test on plastics. The test uses "dumbell" shaped specimens in a universal testing machine to measure properties like tensile strength, elongation, and modulus of elasticity. Specimens are pulled at a constant rate until breaking. An extensometer is required to accurately measure properties in the small linear region of plastics. The necessary equipment includes a universal testing machine, extensometer, data acquisition system, and tensile grips.

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    ASTM_Testing methods

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    The document provides instructions for performing an ASTM D638 tensile strength test on plastics. The test uses "dumbell" shaped specimens in a universal testing machine to measure properties like tensile strength, elongation, and modulus of elasticity. Specimens are pulled at a constant rate until breaking. An extensometer is required to accurately measure properties in the small linear region of plastics. The necessary equipment includes a universal testing machine, extensometer, data acquisition system, and tensile grips.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    272 views4 pages

    How To Perform An ASTM D638 Plastic Tensile Strength Test

    Uploaded by

    Ajay Wanve
    The document provides instructions for performing an ASTM D638 tensile strength test on plastics. The test uses "dumbell" shaped specimens in a universal testing machine to measure properties like tensile strength, elongation, and modulus of elasticity. Specimens are pulled at a constant rate until breaking. An extensometer is required to accurately measure properties in the small linear region of plastics. The necessary equipment includes a universal testing machine, extensometer, data acquisition system, and tensile grips.

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    How to Perform an ASTM D638 Plastic Tensile

    Strength Test
    ASTM D638 is one of the most common plastic strength specifications and covers the tensile
    properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics.  This test method uses standard "dumbell"
    or "dogbone" shaped specimens under 14mm of thickness.  A universal testing machine
    (tensile testing machine) is needed to perform this test.  If you are going to perform this test,
    you should read the entire specification from ASTM. This is a quick summary to decide if this
    test is right for you, and to point out what equipment you need to perform the test.

    First off, do not perform this test if you have films or elastomers.  If you have film under
    1mm in thickness use ASTM D882.  If you have an elastomer use ASTM D412.

    Test Procedure:

    1. Cut or injection mold your material into one of


    the five "dumbbell" shapes.  The exact shape you
    use is dependent upon your material's rigidity and
    thickness.
    2. Load the specimen into tensile grips.
    3. Attach the extensometer to the sample
    4. Begin the test by separating the tensile grips at a constant rate of speed.  Speed
    depends on specimen shape and can range from 0.05 - 20 inches per minute.  The target
    time from start of test to break should be from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.
    5. End the test after sample break (rupture)

    Analysis obtained: 

    1. Tensile Strength
    2. Elongation at Yield
    3. Elongation at Break
    4. Nominal Strain at Break (Grip Separation)
    5. Modulus of Elasticity
    6. Secant Modulus
    7. Poisson's Ratio (Requires Transverse Extensometer)

    Equipment required:

    1. Universal testing machine (tensile testing machine)


    1. Needs to be servo controlled to keep a constant rate of speed.
    2. Capacity needs to be enough for your materials.  A 1,000 lbf single column
    system is usually sufficient for most non-reinforced plastics.   A 2,000 lbf dual column
    system is also very common.  A high capacity 10,000 lbf model is sometimes needed
    for larger samples and/or stronger materials such as reinforced plastics or
    composites.
    2. Extensometer
    1. Required when measuring modulus, yield, and modulus. Why?  For two
    reasons: 1) The linear region of plastics is very small and happens suddenly so grip
    separation is just not accurate enough.  2) Dumbbell specimens do not have uniform
    widths so there will be errors when both the wide and narrow sections of the
    dumbbell shaped specimen elongate at different rates. 
    3. Data Acquisition
    1. Software or suitable electronics are required to operate the machine and to
    take the measurements. Basic systems will provide the raw data, and stress-strain
    charts. Using these sources of data, you can determine and calculate all of the
    analysis listed above. However, fully PC based systems have the capability to
    calculate all of these automatically. For example, our MTESTQuattro testing software
    has built in support for ASTM D638 and all of these calculations are provided
    immediately after performing the test.
    4. Tensile Grips
    1. Any grip with serrated faces is usually adequate for this
     test.  You can use wedge, pneumatic, vise, or other self tightening grips such as
    eccentric roller or scissor grips.

    Video of the Test:

    Machine Setup - ADMET eXpert 2611 Testing Machine:


    Sample Test Report from ADMET MTESTQuattro Testing Software:

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