Designation: D 3379 – 75 (Reapproved 1989)e1

Standard Test Method for

Tensile Strength and Young’s Modulus for High-Modulus
Single-Filament Materials1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3379; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

e1 NOTE—Editorial changes were made throughout in May 1989.

1. Scope conditions, grip system and mounted specimen. It must be

1.1 This test method covers the preparation, mounting, and subtracted from the indicated elongation to yield true specimen
testing of high-modulus single-filament materials [over > elongation in the gage length (Note 1). System compliance
9
21 3 10 Pa (> 3 3 106 psi)] for the determination of tensile correction will not apply when elongation in the specimen gage
strength and Young’s modulus, at room temperature. length is determined by direct measurement.
1.2 This test method is limited to single filaments utilizing a NOTE 1—The magnitude of the system compliance can be a significant
fixed gage length at least 2000 times longer than the nominal portion of the indicated compliance. Extreme care must be exercised in the
filament diameter. determination of this correction as outlined in 8.2.
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous materials, opera- 3.2 Definitions of terms and symbols relating to this test
tions, and equipment. This standard does not purport to method appear in Terminology E 6, and the Appendix to Test
address all of the safety concerns associated with its use. It is Method D 638.
the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
appropriate safety and health practices and determine the 4. Summary of Test Method
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 4.1 A random selection of single filaments is made from the
material to be tested. The filaments are center-line mounted on
2. Referenced Documents
special slotted tabs. The tabs are gripped so that the test
2.1 ASTM Standards: specimen is aligned axially in the jaws of a constant-speed
D 638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics2 movable-crosshead test machine. The filaments are then
E 4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines3 stressed to failure at a constant strain rate.
E 6 Terminology Relating to Methods of Mechanical Test- 4.2 For this test method, filament cross-sectional areas are
ing3 determined by planimeter measurements of a representative
number of filament cross sections as displayed on highly
3. Terminology
magnified photomicrographs. Alternative methods of area de-
3.1 Definitions: termination such as optical gages, image-splitting microscope,
3.1.1 mounting tab—a thin paper, compliant metal, or linear weight-density method, etc, may also be used.
plastic strip with a longitudinal slot of fixed gage length. The 4.3 Tensile strength and Young’s modulus are calculated
mounting tab should be as thin as practicable to minimize from the load-elongation records and the cross-sectional area
filament misalignment. measurements.
3.1.2 system compliance—that portion of the indicated
elongation contributed by the load train system and the 5. Significance and Use
specimen gripping system. This compliance must be deter- 5.1 Properties determined by this test method are very
mined experimentally for a given combination of test machine useful in the evaluation of new materials at the research and
development levels. Very short filaments, such as whiskers of
1
nonuniform cross section, call for highly specialized test
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C-28 on
Advanced Ceramics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C28.07 on techniques not covered by this test method.
Ceramic Matrix Composites.
Current edition approved Feb. 28, 1975. Published April 1975.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 D 3379 – 75 (1989)e1
6. Apparatus test specimens are gently separated from the strand bundle.
6.1 Tensile strength and Young’s modulus properties of Selection should be random. The critical considerations are
single-filament specimens may be determined by several es- that the filament be not visibly damaged or attached to another
tablished testing procedures. The apparatus described herein filament, and have sufficient length.
shall use a constant-strain-rate tensile testing machine with a 7.2 Segments used for area determinations shall represent
test specimen bonded to a suitable tab. the same population as those used for tensile testing.

FIG. 1 Tab Showing Typical Specimen Mounting Method

6.2 Stationary Member—This member shall be rigidly fixed 8. Procedure

to the test machine frame and shall contain a housing, located 8.1 Test Specimen Mounting:
on the machine centerline, for a load cell and part of the 8.1.1 Loosely place a strand bundle from the material to be
specimen grip assembly. tested on a suitable work surface.
6.3 Movable Member—This member, also called the cross- 8.1.2 Randomly choose and carefully separate a suitable
head, shall be driven at a constant preset strain rate. It shall single-filament specimen from the strand bundle.
contain an adaptor, on the machine centerline, for the other part 8.1.3 The specimen gage length shall be the same for a
of the specimen grip assembly. given test group. Determine the length to the nearest 60.1 mm.
6.4 Load Cell—The load-sensing device shall have suffi-
cient capacity to accept and transmit load signals above the NOTE 2—For this test method, the specimen gage length shall be
between 20 and 30 mm. The tab shape should be proportioned as shown
highest anticipated loads. Its accuracy shall be verified in in Fig. 1, with an overall length about three times the specimen gage
accordance with Practices E 4. length and a width of about one half the gage length.
6.5 Grips—The gripping system shall be of a design such
that axial alignment may be easily accomplished without 8.1.4 Use a tab (Fig. 1) for specimen mounting. Center the
damaging the specimens. specimen over the tab slot with one end taped to the tab.
6.6 Load- and Elongation-Measuring System—A record of 8.1.5 Lightly stretch the filament and tape its opposite end to
test load to failure, with corresponding indicated elongation, the tab.
shall be provided. For this test method, chart and crosshead 8.1.6 Carefully place a small amount of suitable adhesive4
speeds shall be provided to produce acceptable data. on the filament at each edge of the slot and bond the filament
6.7 Mounting Tabs—A typical test specimen mounting tab to the mounting tab.
is shown in Fig. 1. Alternative methods of specimen mounting 8.1.7 Repeat 8.1.2-8.1.6 to complete the test group.
may be used. 8.2 Filament Specimen Testing:
6.8 Metallographic Capability—This test area should have 8.2.1 Stabilize the tensile test machine in accordance with
the following capabilities: the manufacturer’s instructions.
6.8.1 Sample Preparation and Encapsulation in Potting 8.2.2 Calibrate the test machine before testing begins and at
Compound. 4-h intervals throughout the work period.
6.8.2 Metallographic Polishing Units. 8.2.3 Set the crosshead and chart recorder speeds to provide
6.8.3 Metallograph Unit, with high magnification capabili- a test time to specimen fracture of about 1 min. Make load
ties (to 30003). scale range selection such that specimen fracture occurs above
6.9 Area Planimeter. 25 % of full scale.
6.10 Other methods of measuring specimen cross-sectional 8.2.4 Grasp a mounted test specimen in one tab grip area by
areas may be used (see 4.1). the faces of the stationary jaws.

7. Test Specimens
7.1 Selection of Test Specimens—Special care shall be taken 4
H. Courtwright No. 70 cement crystals, melted by a microtorch flame, have
to assure obtaining representative strand or single-filament been found satisfactory for this test method. Ordinary sealing wax has proven
segments. A statistically significant number of single-filament equally effective.

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 D 3379 – 75 (1989)e1
8.2.5 Position the crosshead so that the other tab grip area 9.2.4 Mount a group of single-filament specimens by the
may be grasped as in 8.2.4. Visually check the axial specimen specified tab method, 8.1.1-8.1.7, at several different gage
alignment. lengths (minimum of three samples each). These tabs must be
8.2.6 With the mounting tab unstrained, cut both sides of the made of the same material as that used in the procedure
tab or burn it away very carefully at mid-gage as shown in Fig. outlined herein. Determine the gage length to the nearest 60.1
1. If specimen damage occurs, discard the specimen. mm.
8.2.7 Tension the specimen with the chart continuously 9.2.5 Carry out standard tensile testing (8.2) of these speci-
recording the test load to failure and the indicated elongation. mens.
8.2.8 Follow 8.2.4-8.2.7 for each specimen of the test group. 9.2.6 Analyze the recorder charts as follows: Draw a line
9. Calculation through the initial straight line section of the generated
load-time curve to the extremes of the chart records (see Fig.
9.1 Measurement of Cross-Sectional Area—Determine the 2). Measure the chart extension in millimetres as shown.
average specimen area for a test group by planimetering a Calculate the indicated compliance, Ca, for each sample as in
representative number of filament cross sections (minimum of 9.5.1.
ten), as shown on photomicrographs as prepared by the
9.2.7 On Cartesian coordinate paper, plot each indicated
metallographic facility (9.3.1). Where doubt exists as to the
compliance on the Y-axis and its gage length on the X-axis for
cross-sectional area of a test specimen, prepare and measure its
all specimens (Fig. 3). Draw the best fit line through each set
broken ends by this method. Use a magnification of 20003 to
of points to intersect the zero gage length axis. The vertical
30003 on the photomicrographs for this technique.
displacement indicated shall be called the zero gage length
9.2 Determination of System Compliance:
intercept or the system compliance, Cs.
9.2.1 Elongation—The specimen fragility prevents the use
of normal strain-sensing devices, such as strain gages, exten- 9.2.8 Determine the true compliance, C, by subtracting the
someters, etc. However, an optical method may be used to system compliance, Cs, from the indicated compliance, Ca.
detect gage section elongation directly. Use an alternative 9.3 Area—Calculate the area as follows:
means for determining the true gage length elongation from (af 3 1026
analysis of the chart speed, crosshead speed, and the system A5 (1)
N~Mf! 2
compliance.
9.2.2 System Compliance—This compliance must be deter-
mined experimentally for a given test machine and grip system. where:
It must be subtracted from the chart indicated compliance to A = average filament area, m2(or in.2),
yield the actual specimen elongation in the gage length. af = area of one filament, mm2(or in.2),
9.2.3 Use a test material of the same elemental structure as N = number of filaments measured, and
Mf = photomicrograph magnification factor.
the materials to be evaluated, which exhibits a constant
Young’s modulus of comparable magnitude, to determine the NOTE 3—Eq 1 is applicable only to SI units. A suitable conversion
system compliance. factor must be used for inch-pound units.

FIG. 2 Typical Load-Time Curve

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 D 3379 – 75 (1989)e1

FIG. 3 Typical System Compliance

9.4 Tensile Strength—Calculate the tensile strength as fol- Ym 5 L/CA (5)

lows:
T 5 F/A (2) where:
Ym = Young’s modulus, Pa (or psi),
L = specimen gage length, mm (or in.),
where:
C = true compliance, mm/N (or in./lbf), and
T = tensile strength, Pa (or psi),
A = average filament area, m2 (or in.2).
F = force to failure, N (or lbf), and
A = average filament area, m2(or in.2). 10. Report
9.5 True Compliance: 10.1 The report shall include the following:
9.5.1 Indicated Compliance—Calculate the indicated com- 10.1.1 Complete identification of the test specimens, includ-
pliance as follows: ing material type, source, manufacturer’s name and code
Ca 5 I/P 3 H/S (3) number, previous history, etc.,
10.1.2 Method of selecting specimens,
10.1.3 Number of specimens for each test series,
where:
10.1.4 Method of mounting test specimens,
Ca = indicated compliance, mm/N (or in./lbf),
I = total extension for straight line section of load-time 10.1.5 Method used for specimen cross-section area deter-
curve, extrapolated across full chart scale, mm (or mination, including measured cross-sectional areas,
in.), 10.1.6 Specimen gage length,
H = crosshead speed, mm/s (or in./min), 10.1.7 System compliance, if required,
P = full scale force, N (or lbf), and 10.1.8 Test machine parameters; crosshead speed, chart
S = chart speed, mm/s (or in./min). speed, load cell used, etc.,
9.5.2 True Compliance—Calculate the true compliance as 10.1.9 Method used for determination of gage length elon-
follows: gation,
10.1.10 Individual filament breaking loads,
C 5 C a 2 Cs (4)
10.1.11 Tensile strength of each specimen, average and
standard deviation for series,
where: 10.1.12 Young’s modulus of each specimen, average and
C = true compliance, mm/N (or in./lbf), and standard deviation for series,
Cs = system compliance, mm/N (or in./lbf). 10.1.13 Atmospheric conditions of test room (temperature
9.6 Young’s Modulus—Calculate Young’s modulus as fol- and relative humidity), and
lows: 10.1.14 Date of test.

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 D 3379 – 75 (1989)e1
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