An Introduction To IZOD IMPACT Testing of Plastics: Sample Preparation
An Introduction To IZOD IMPACT Testing of Plastics: Sample Preparation
An Introduction To IZOD IMPACT Testing of Plastics: Sample Preparation
of Plastics
One of the most common tests, at least in
the United States, of the physical characteristics of plastic materials is the notched
izod impact test as specified by ASTM D
256 Standard Test Method for Determining
the Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance of
Plastics.
This test fixes one end of a notched specimen in a cantilever position by means of
a vice. A striker on the arm of a pendulum or similar energy carrier then strikes
the specimen. The energy absorbed by
the specimen in the breaking process
is known as the breaking energy. The
breaking energy can be converted into an
indication of a materials impact resistance
using such units as foot-pounds or joules.
While use of the data generated from a
test for designing a part is not necessarily
recommended, it still provides reasonable
service as a quality control tool. Most US
resin manufacturers have years of izod
test data and many customers are accustomed to selecting
product based on the data. So, love it or hate it, it appears
that the impact test is here to stay.
Since were stuck with it, we might as well look at ways that
we can improve the repeatability and reproducibility of the
test. The key to getting reproducible results between laboratories, or for that matter, repeatable results between operators
in the same lab, is to be sure that both parties are preparing
and testing the samples in the same way. Given all the steps
that are involved, that can be a tremendous undertaking.
Sample Preparation
ASTM D 256 requires that a minimum of five and preferably
ten (or more) individual determinations be made to determine
the average impact resistance for a particular material sample.
An extra specimen needs to be prepared since notching
requires dummy bars be used when notching the specimens,
so that means at minimum of 7 specimens of any particular
sample need to be prepared for testing. However, since the
test method allows inspection of the individual specimen
results, and to retest if they are not satisfactory, it is advisable
to notch several extra specimens if they are available.
Fig 2. Tinius Olsen's model IT503 enclosed
impact tester, capable of performing both
Izod and Charpy impact tests on plastic
specimens, with up to 25J of available
energy with add-on weight sets.
Notching Specimens
In order to do a notched izod test, a precise notch be cut into
the specimens. The purpose of the notch is to serve as a
stress concentrator. The notch is probably the most critical
part of specimen preparation and there is a tight tolerances
defined by ASTM D 256 on the depth of the notch (actually
the material remaining under the radius of the notch), the
angle of cut and the radius at the base (or apex) of the notch.
Research has shown that the notch in the specimen is perhaps the greatest source of variability of test data.
Since materials behave differently in response to the notching
process, it is important to verify the dimensions of the notch
in the specimen as opposed to verifying the cutter dimensions.
Fig 3. Tinius Olsen's model IT504 impact tester, configured for Izod
testing, shown with a cold box to reduce the test temperature (the lid is
removed for this picture).
Commercially available notching machines vary in their features. Some of the more inexpensive ones only have fixed
cutter speeds and hand crank feeds. Technically, these do
not meet the requirements of the standard since cutter speed
and feed speed will vary by material. The standard states
The notching parameters used should not alter the physical state of the material such as by raising the temperature
of a thermoplastic above its glass transition temperature.
Unfortunately, there is no chart that shows the proper
speed for a given material so both cutter speed and feed
rate need to be determined by the technician for each
individual material type by trial and error. A general rule
of thumb is that a high cutter speed combined with a
slow feed rate and a lack of some sort of coolant will
cause more thermal damage than a slow cutter speed,
fast feed rate and the use of coolant. However, if you
are buying the material from a supplier who does this
test, you can always call the suppliers technical department and ask what conditions they are using.
Equipment
Instruments for testing plastics have been manufactured
commercially since the 1940s, and there are several manufacturers of testing equipment that meet the requirements
of ASTM D256. Over the years, the basic physical characteristics of the test machine have stayed the same, but the
means of data acquisition have changed significantly. As a
result, many types of equipment, ranging from analog dial
& pointers to digital readouts to computer interfaces, are
Fig. 6. Tinius Olsen's model IT504 impact tester with the release point of
the pendulum lowered. in Low Blow fashion, to reduce the amount of available energy.
Procedure
Optional Level 1
Test Navigator Basic
Optional Level 3
Test Navigator Plus