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IS 13360-2-5 (2013): Plastics - Methods of Testing, Part 2:

Sampling and Preparation of Test Specimens, Section 5:
Multipurpose Test Specimens [PCD 12: Petroleum, Coal, and
Related Products]

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Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda

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IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 5) : 2013

ISO 3167 : 2002

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Indian Standard
PLASTICS METHODS OF TESTING
PART 2 SAMPLING AND PREPARATION OF TEST SPECIMENS
Section 5 Multipurpose Test Specimens

( First Revision )

ICS 83.080.01

BIS 2013

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002
June 2013

Price Group 5

Plastics Sectional Committee, PCD 12

NATIONAL FOREWORD
This Indian Standard (Part 2/Sec 5) (First Revision) which is identical with ISO 3167 : 2002 Plastics
Multipurpose test specimens issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards on the recommendation of the Plastics Sectional
Committee and approval of the Petroleum, Coal and Related Products Division Council.
This standard was originally published in 1997 which was identical with ISO 3167 : 1993. The first
revision of this standard has been undertaken to align it with the latest version of ISO 3167 : 2002.
The text of ISO Standard has been approved as suitable for publication as an Indian Standard without
deviations. Certain conventions are, however, not identical to those used in Indian Standards. Attention
is particularly drawn to the following:
a) Wherever the words International Standard appear referring to this standard, they should be
read as Indian Standard.
b) Comma (,) has been used as a decimal marker while in Indian Standards, the current practice
is to use a point (.) as the decimal marker.
In this adopted standard, reference appears to certain International Standards for which Indian
Standards also exist. The corresponding Indian Standards which are to be substituted in their respective
place are listed below along with their degree of equivalence for the editions indicated:
International Standard
ISO 293 : 2004 Plastics
Compression moulding test
specimens of thermoplastic
materials

ISO 294 -1 : 1996 Plastics

Injection moulding of test pecimens
of thermoplastic materials Part 1:
General principles, and moulding of
multipurpose and bar test specimens

ISO 295 : 2004 Plastics

Compression moulding of test
specimens of thermosetting
materials

ISO 2818 : 1994 Plastics

Preparation of test specimens by
machining

1)

Corresponding Indian Standard

1)

IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 1) Plastics

Methods of testing: Part 2 Sampling
and preparation of test specimens,
Section 1 Compression moulding
test specimens of thermoplastic
materials (first revision)
IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 3) : 2000
Plastics Methods of testing: Part 2
Sampling and preparation of test
specimens, Section 3 Injection
moulding of test specimens of
thermoplastic materials General
principles and moulding of
multipurpose and bar test specimens
IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 2) : 2013
Plastics Methods of testing: Part 2
Sampling and preparation of test
specimens, Section 2 Compression
moulding of test specimens of
thermosetting materials (first
revision)
IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 4) : 1999
Plastics Methods of testing: Part 2
Sampling and preparation of test
specimens, Section 4 Preparation of
test specimens by machining (first
revision)

Degree of Equivalence
Identical

Technically Equivalent

Identical

do

Under print.

(Continued on third cover)

IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 5) : 2013

ISO 3167 : 2002

Indian Standard
PLASTICS METHODS OF TESTING
PART 2 SAMPLING AND PREPARATION OF TEST SPECIMENS
Section 5 Multipurpose Test Specimens

( First Revision )
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies requirements relating to multipurpose test specimens for plastic moulding
materials intended for processing by injection or direct compression moulding.
Specimens of types A and B are tensile test specimens from which, with simple machining, specimens for a variety
of other tests can be taken (see annex A). Because they have such wide utility, these tensile specimens are referred
to in this International Standard as multipurpose test specimens.
The principal advantage of a multipurpose test specimen is that it allows all the test methods mentioned in annex A
to be carried out on the basis of comparable mouldings. Consequently, the properties measured are coherent as all
are measured with specimens in the same state. In other words, it can be expected that test results for a given set of
specimens will not vary appreciably due to unintentionally different moulding conditions. On the other hand, if
desired, the influence of moulding conditions and/or different states of the specimens can be assessed without
difficulty for all of the properties measured.
For quality-control purposes, the multipurpose test specimen may serve as a convenient source of further specimens
not readily available. Furthermore, the fact that only one mould is required may be advantageous.
The use of multipurpose test specimens shall be agreed upon by the interested parties, because there may be
significant differences between properties of the multipurpose test specimens and those specified in the relevant test
methods.
The main modification with respect to the previous edition of this International Standard lies in narrowing the
tolerances on the radius of the shoulder of specimen types A and B. Taking into account the fact that many moulds
based on the previous edition are still in use, the changes are introduced as recommendations only. It is intended to
change from recommended to mandatory use at the next revision. Thereby a time span of about 10 years is
provided, allowing a gradual transition in the course of regular mould replacement. See also annex B.

2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this International Standard. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these
publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this International Standard are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For
undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC
maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISO 293:1986, Plastics Compression moulding test specimens of thermoplastic materials
ISO 294-1:1996, Plastics Injection moulding of test specimens of thermoplastic materials Part 1: General
principles, and moulding of multipurpose and bar test specimens
ISO 295:1), Plastics Compression moulding of test specimens of thermosetting materials
ISO 2818:1994, Plastics Preparation of test specimens by machining
1) To be published. (Revision of ISO 295:1991)

IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 5) : 2013

ISO 3167 : 2002
ISO 10724-1:1998, Plastics Injection moulding of test specimens of thermosetting powder moulding compounds
(PMCs) Part 1: General principles and moulding of multipurpose test specimens

3 Dimensions of test specimens

For the purposes of this International Standard, the preferred multipurpose test specimen is the type A tensile
specimen shown in Figure 1. This can be made suitable for a variety of other tests by simple cutting, because the
length l1 of its narrow parallel-sided portion is 80 mm 2 mm.
Dimensions in millimetres

Specimen type

l3

Overall lengtha

! 150
Recommended valueb 170

! 150

l1

Length of narrow parallel-sided portion

80 2

60,0 0,5

Radius

20 to 25
Recommended valueb 24 1

! 60c
Recommended valueb 60,0 0,5

l2

Distance between broad parallel-sided

portionsd

104 to 113

106 to 120
Recommended rangeb
106 to 110

b2

Width at ends

b1

Width of narrow portion

10 0,2

Thickness

4,0 0,2

20,0 0,2

The recommended overall length of 170 mm for type A is consistent with ISO 294-1 and ISO 10724-1. For some materials,
the length of the tabs may need to be extended (e.g. to give an overall length of 200 mm) to prevent breakage or slippage in the
jaws of the test machine.
b

The recommended values and ranges may become mandatory on occasion of the next revision of the standard. The lower
tolerances on the radius reduce the ranges of the stress concentrations that are found at the transitions between the narrow
parallel-sided and the rounded portions. Together with the smaller tolerance on the distance between the broad parallel-sided
portions for type B, a common value of the initial distance between jaws can be used for tensile testing (see ISO 527-2).

(l2 l1 )2 + (b2 b1 )2
4 (b2 b1 )

r=

Resulting from l1 , r , b1 and b2 , but within the indicated tolerance.

Figure 1 Type A and B multipurpose test specimens

IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 5) : 2013

ISO 3167 : 2002

4 Preparation of test specimens

4.1 General
Test specimens shall be prepared in accordance with the relevant material specification. When none exists,
specimens shall be either directly compression or injection moulded from the material in accordance with ISO 293,
ISO 294-1, ISO 295: or ISO 10724-1, as appropriate, or machined in accordance with ISO 2818 from plates that
have been compression or injection moulded from the compound.
Strict control of all conditions of the specimen preparation is essential to ensure that all test specimens in a set are
actually in the same state.
All surfaces of the test specimens shall be free from visible flaws, scratches or other imperfections. With moulded
specimens all flash, if present, shall be removed, taking care not to damage the moulded surface.
The broad sides of each specimen shall be suitably marked (see the note), for injection-moulded specimens to
distinguish between the sides formed by the cavity plate and the fixed plate of the mould (see ISO 294-1 or
ISO 10724-1), for compression-moulded and machined specimens to identify any asymmetry resulting from the
underlying moulding process.
NOTE Asymmetry with respect to thickness may influence the flexural properties, including the temperature of deflection under
load (see annex A).

For injection-moulded specimens, the sides can be identified by the impressions of the ejection pins and by the draft
angle. Compression-moulded and machined specimens shall be marked at their shoulders. ISO bars taken from the
central part of multipurpose test specimens shall be marked outside their central 40 mm section, which is loaded by
flexural testing.

4.2 Injection moulding of multipurpose test specimens

Type A test specimens shall be injection moulded as specified in ISO 294-1 or ISO 10724-1, as appropriate, and
under conditions defined in the relevant International Standard for the material under examination.

4.3 Compression moulding of multipurpose test specimens

Type B test specimens shall be compression moulded directly to their final dimensions as specified in ISO 293 or
ISO 295:, as appropriate, and under conditions defined in the relevant International Standard for the material
under examination.

4.4 Machining of multipurpose test specimens

4.4.1 Machining of test specimens shall be performed either as specified in ISO 2818 or as agreed upon by the
interested parties.
4.4.2 Test specimens having a width of 10 mm shall be cut symmetrically from the central parallel-sided portion of
the multipurpose test specimen.
The surface of the central parallel-sided portion of the test specimen shall remain as moulded:
The width of the machined portions of the specimen shall be not less than that of the central parallel-sided
portion, but may exceed the width of the latter by not more than 0,2 mm.
During the machining operation, care shall be taken to avoid any damage to the moulded surfaces of the central
portion.
For test specimens longer than 80 mm, the broad ends of the type A multipurpose test specimen (or type B for test
specimens longer than 60 mm) shall be machined to the width of the central parallel-sided portion.

IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 5) : 2013

ISO 3167 : 2002
4.4.3 Type B multipurpose test specimens shall be machined from suitably processed compression-moulded plates
(see 4.3).

5 Report on preparation of test specimens

The report shall contain the following information:
a) a reference to this International Standard;
b) an indication of the specimen type (A or B);
c) the type, source, manufacturer's code, grade and form, including history, etc., if known;
d) the method of moulding and the conditions used;
e) the method of machining and the conditions used;
f)

the number of test specimens produced;

g) the standard atmosphere for conditioning, plus any special conditioning treatment if required by the standard for
the material or product concerned;
h) the date of preparation.

IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 5) : 2013

ISO 3167 : 2002

Annex A
(informative)
Recommended applications for multipurpose test specimens or parts thereof

Referencea

Type of specimen and/or

dimensions

ISO 527-2

A or B

Tensile creep test

ISO 899-1:

A or B

Flexural test

ISO 178:2001

80 10 4

Flexural creep test

ISO 899-2:

80 10 4

Compressive test

ISO 604:

(10 to 50) 10 4

ISO 179-1 and ISO 179-2

80 10 4

ISO 180

80 10 4

Method

mm

Tensile test

Impact strength Charpy

Impact strength Izod
Impact strength tensile
Temperature of deflection under load
Vicat softening temperature
Hardness, ball indentation
Environmental stress cracking

ISO 8256

80 10 4

ISO 75-2:

80 10 4

ISO 306

(! 10) 10 4
(! 20) 20 4

ISO 2039-1:2001
ISO 22088-2:, ISO 22088-3: and
ISO 22088-4:

A or B or 80 10 4

ISO 1183-3

30 10 4

ISO 4589-2 and ISO 4589-3

80 10 4

Comparative tracking index (CTI)

IEC 60112

15 15 4

Electrolytic corrosion

IEC 60426

30 10 4

ISO 11359-2

(> 30) 10 4

Density
Oxygen index

Coefficient of linear expansion

a

See Bibliography.

IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 5) : 2013

ISO 3167 : 2002

Annex B
(informative)
Consequences of changes in geometry

B.1 Test specimen length

The length of 170 mm may be too short for some materials in connection with a distance between the grips of
115 mm. While the test specimen length of 170 mm is sufficient for the large majority of tensile tests, clamping
problems occasionally arise with highly reinforced grades and with very ductile ones.
If 170 mm is too short for some materials, this is even more true for the length of ! 150 mm that was used in the
previous edition. The !-sign gives the freedom to use lengths > 170 mm, which is also allowed in this edition. This
recommendation is in line with ISO 294-1.

B.2 Radius tolerance

Taking into account the tolerances, the length l2 between the shoulders is

106,125 mm " l2 " 112,526 mm

this edition

103,996 mm " l2 " 112,526 mm

previous edition

The clamping distance (in ISO 527-2) remains unchanged:

L = 115 mm 1 mm
The shortest possible distance from clamp to shoulder is:

smin = 0,737 (same for this and previous edition)

The longest possible distance from clamp to shoulder is:
this edition:

4,932 mm

previous edition:

6,002 mm

This is not a very big change, but it affects the effective length. It may be used to determine nominal strain data in the
pre-yield range for e.g. modulus determination under severe conditions, where extensometers cannot be used, e.g.
in temperature-controlled enclosures, by using grip separation only. However, the effective length is quite sensitive to
radius changes, and limiting the radius tolerance reduces possible error sources when utilizing this method. It may be
introduced in ISO 527-2 on the occasion of the next revision.
The reduction of the radius tolerance of machined specimens allows the use of a common clamping distance of

(115 1) mm. This is the main benefit of the proposal.

B.3 Notch factor

When the type A specimen, with a radius of 20 mm to 25 mm, was introduced in addition to the type B specimen
(radius ! 60 mm) in the previous edition of ISO 3167, calculations were made to compare the two types of
specimen.

IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 5) : 2013

ISO 3167 : 2002
Assuming linear-elastic material behaviour, notch factors of 1,045 (for r = 60 mm) and 1,143 (r = 20 mm) were
found. Therefore tensile strength differences of about 10 % could be expected, and were also found in machined test
specimens of brittle materials. However, when testing injection-moulded specimens, a reduction in tensile strength at
yield of

1 % 1 % (average of 22 materials)
was found. Compared to the radius reduction from 60 mm to 20 mm, the recommended increase from (20 mm to
25 mm) to (23 mm to 25 mm) will result in only a very minor reduction of the notch factor, with negligible effect on the
test results.
Changes in tensile strength at yield values due to the radius tolerance reduction for injection-moulded specimens are
not to be expected. There may be a slight increase in strain-at-break values.

IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 5) : 2013

ISO 3167 : 2002

Bibliography

[1]

ISO 75-2:1), Plastics Determination of temperature of deflection under load Part 2: Plastics and ebonite

[2]

ISO 178:2001, Plastics Determination of flexural properties

[3]

ISO 179-1:2000, Plastics Determination of Charpy impact properties Part 1: Non-instrumented impact
test

[4]

ISO 179-2:1997, Plastics Determination of Charpy impact properties Part 2: Instrumented impact test

[5]

ISO 180:2000, Plastics Determination of Izod impact strength

[6]

ISO 306:1994, Plastics Thermoplastic materials Determination of Vicat softening temperature (VST)

[7]

ISO 527-2:1993, Plastics Determination of tensile properties Part 2: Test conditions for moulding and
extrusion plastics

[8]

ISO 604:2), Plastics Determination of compressive properties

[9]

ISO 899-1:3), Plastics Determination of creep behaviour Part 1: Tensile creep

[10] ISO 899-2:4), Plastics Determination of creep behaviour Part 2: Flexural creep by three-point loading
[11] ISO 1183-3:1999, Plastics Methods for determining the density of non-cellular plastics Part 3: Gas
pyknometer method
[12] ISO 2039-1:2001, Plastics Determination of hardness Part 1: Ball indentation method
[13] ISO 4589-2:1996, Plastics Determination of burning behaviour by oxygen index Part 2: Ambienttemperature test
[14] ISO 4589-3:1996, Plastics Determination of burning behaviour by oxygen index Part 3: Elevatedtemperature test
[15] ISO 8256:1990, Plastics Determination of tensile-impact strength
[16] ISO 11359-2:1999, Plastics Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) Part 2: Determination of coefficient of
linear thermal expansion and glass transition temperature
[17] ISO 22088-2:5), Plastics Determination of resistance to environmental stress cracking (ESC) Part 2:
Constant tensile stress method
[18] ISO 22088-3:6), Plastics Determination of resistance to environmental stress cracking (ESC) Part 3:
Bent strip method
1) To be published. (Revision of ISO 75-2:1993)
2) To be published. (Revision of ISO 604:1993)
3) To be published. (Revision of ISO 899-1:1993)
4) To be published. (Revision of ISO 899-2:1993)
5) To be published. (Revision of ISO 6252:1992)
6) To be published. (Revision of ISO 4599:1986)

IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 5) : 2013

ISO 3167 : 2002
[19] ISO 22088-4:7), Plastics Determination of resistance to environmental stress cracking (ESC) Part 4:
Ball or pin impression method
[20] IEC 60112:1979, Method for determining the comparative and the proof tracking indices of solid insulating
materials under moist conditions
[21] IEC 60426:1973, Test methods for determining electrolytic corrosion with insulating materials

7) To be published. (Revision of ISO 4600:1992)

(Continued from second cover)

International Standard

Corresponding Indian Standard

Degree of Equivalence

ISO 10724-1 : 1998 Plastics

Injection moulding of test specimens
of thermosetting powder moulding
compounds (PMCs) Part 1:
General principles and moulding of
multipurpose test specimens

IS 13360 (Part 2/Sec 10) : 2006

Plastics Methods of testing: Part 2
Sampling and preparation of test
specimens, Section 10 Injection
moulding of test specimens of
thermosetting powder moulding
compounds (PMCs) General
principles and moulding of
multipurpose test specimens

Identical

For tropical countries like India, the standard temperature and the relative humidity shall be taken as
27 2oC and 65 5 percent, respectively.
In reporting the result of a test or analysis made in accordance with this standard, if the final value,
observed or calculated, is to be rounded off, it shall be done in accordance with IS 2 : 1960 Rules for
rounding off numerical values (revised).

Bureau of Indian Standards

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harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods
and attending to connected matters in the country.
Copyright
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without the prior permission in writing of BIS. This does not preclude the free use, in course of implementing the standard, of necessary details, such as symbols and sizes, type or grade designations.
Enquiries relating to copyright be addressed to the Director (Publications), BIS.
Review of Indian Standards
Amendments are issued to standards as the need arises on the basis of comments. Standards are also
reviewed periodically; a standard along with amendments is reaffirmed when such review indicates that
no changes are needed; if the review indicates that changes are needed, it is taken up for revision. Users
of Indian Standards should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest amendments or edition by
referring to the latest issue of BIS Catalogue and Standards: Monthly Additions.
This Indian Standard has been developed from Doc No.: PCD 12 (2481).
Amendments Issued Since Publication
______________________________________________________________________________________
Amendment No.
Date of Issue
Text Affected
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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