NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D 746 – 98e1
Standard Test Method for
Brittleness Temperature of Plastics and Elastomers by
Impact1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 746; 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.
e1 NOTE—Editorially corrected 8.1.2 and 8.2.2 in April 2002.
1. Scope* E 220 Test Method for Calibration of Thermocouples by
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the tem- Comparison Techniques4
perature at which plastics and elastomers exhibit brittle failure E 644 Test Methods for Testing Industrial Resistance Ther-
under specified impact conditions. Two routine inspection and mometers4
acceptance procedures are also provided. E 1137 Specification for Industrial Platinum Resistance
Thermometers4
NOTE 1—When testing rubbers for impact brittleness use Test Methods 2.2 ISO Standard:
D 2137.
ISO 974-1980 (E) Plastics—Determination of the Brittle-
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the ness Temperature by Impact5
standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3. Terminology
iTeh Standards
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1 General—The definitions of plastics used in this test
method are in accordance with Test Method D 883 unless
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priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
otherwise specified.
3.2 brittleness temperature—that temperature, estimated
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NOTE 2—This test method and ISO 974-1980 (E) are technically statistically, at which 50 % of the specimens would probably
equivalent when using the Type B fixture and the Type III specimen, fail.
however, the minimum number of specimens that are required to be tested
may be significantly different when using this test method. The ISO 4. Summary of Test Method
method requires that a minimum of 100 specimens be tested. ASTM D746-98e1 4.1 To determine the brittleness temperature, specimens are
secured to a specimen holder with a torque wrench. The
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2. Referenced Documents
specimen holder is immersed in a bath containing a heat-
2.1 ASTM Standards: transfer medium that is cooled. The specimens are struck at a
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical specified linear speed and then examined. The brittleness
Insulating Materials for Testing2 temperature is defined as the temperature at which 50 % of the
D 832 Practice for Rubber Conditioning for Low- specimens fail.
Temperature Testing3
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics2 5. Significance and Use
D 1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics2 5.1 This test method establishes the temperature at which
D 2137 Test Methods for Rubber Property—Brittleness 50 % of the specimens tested fail when subjected to the
Point of Flexible Polymers and Coated Fabrics3 conditions specified herein. The test provides for the evaluation
E 77 Test Method for the Inspection and Verification of of long-time effects such as crystallization, or those that may
Thermometers4 be introduced by low-temperature incompatibility of plasticiz-
ers in the material under test. Plastics and elastomers are used
in many applications requiring low-temperature flexing with or
1 without impact. Data obtained by this test method may be used
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.30 on Thermal Properties to predict the behavior of plastic and elastomeric materials at
(Section D20.30.07).
Current edition approved July 10, 1998. Published January 1999. Originally
published as D 746 – 43 T. Last previous edition D 746 – 95.
2 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01. ISO Standards Handbook 21, Vol 1. ISO Standards are available through
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 09.01. American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th Floor, New York, NY
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.03. 10036.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
D 746 – 98e1
low temperatures only in applications in which the conditions and specimen clamp shall have a clearance of 3.6 6 0.1 mm at
of deformation are similar to those specified in this test and immediately following impact. The clearance between the
method. This test method has been found useful for specifica- outside of the striking edge and the clamp shall be 2.0 6 0.1
tion purposes, but does not necessarily measure the lowest mm at impact. These dimensional requirements of the striking
temperature at which the material may be used. edge and clamping device are illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 shows
a typical clamp. Details of the specimen clamp are given in Fig.
NOTE 3—Suitable apparatus is commercially available from several
suppliers. The striking member may be motor-driven, solenoid-operated, 5.
gravity-actuated, or spring-loaded. The motor-driven tester should be 6.3 Torque Wrench, 0 to 8.5 N · m.
equipped with a safety interlock to prevent striker arm motion when the
NOTE 4—Because of the difference in geometry of the specimen
cover is open.
clamps, test results obtained when using the Type A specimen clamp and
6. Apparatus striking member may not correlate with those results obtained when using
the Type B apparatus.
6.1 Type A:
6.1.1 Specimen Clamp and Striking Member—Design the 6.4 Temperature-Measurement System—The temperature of
specimen clamp to hold the specimen or specimens as a the heat-transfer medium shall be determined with a thermo-
cantilever beam. Each individual specimen shall be firmly and couple or resistance thermometer having a suitable range for
securely held in a separate clamp. The striking edge shall move the temperatures at which the determinations are to be made.
relative to the specimens at a linear speed of 2000 6 200 mm/s The temperature-measuring device and the related readout
at impact and during at least the following 6.4 mm of travel. In equipment shall be accurate to at least 60.5°C. The
order to maintain this speed, it may be necessary to reduce the temperature-measuring device shall be located as close to the
number of specimens tested at one time. The distance between specimens as possible. Thermocouples shall be calibrated in
the center line of the striking edge and the clamp shall be accordance with Test Method E 220. Resistance temperature
7.87 6 0.25 mm at impact. The striking edge shall have a devices shall comply with the requirements of Test Methods
radius of 1.6 6 0.1 mm. The striking arm and specimen clamp E 644 and Specification E 1137.
shall have a clearance of 6.35 6 0.25 mm at and immediately
iTeh Standards
NOTE 5—A thermometer may be used if it can be shown to agree with
following impact. These dimensional requirements are illus- the specified temperature measuring system. Mercury-in-glass thermom-
trated in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows a typical clamp.6 Use free-fitting eters shall be calibrated for the depth of immersion in accordance with
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clamping screws, 10-32 National Fine Thread.
6.2 Type B:
Test Method E 77.
6.5 Heat-Transfer Medium—Any liquid heat transfer me-
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6.2.1 Specimen Clamp and Striking Member—Design the dium that remains fluid at the test temperature and will not
specimen clamp to hold the specimen or specimens as a appreciably affect the material tested may be used. Measure-
cantilever beam. Each individual specimen shall be firmly and ment of selected physical properties prior to and after 15-min
securely held in a separate clamp. The striking edge shall move exposure at the highest temperature used will provide an
ASTM
relative to the specimens at a linear speed of 2000 6 200 mm/sD746-98e1
indication of the inertness of a plastic to the heat transfer
at impact and during at least the following 5.0 mm of travel. In
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medium. There should be no significant difference between the
order to maintain this speed, it may be necessary to reduce the results.
number of specimens tested at one time. The radius of the 6.5.1 Where a flammable or toxic solvent is used as the
lower jaw of the clamp shall be 4.0 6 0.1 mm. The striking cooling medium, the customary precautions in handling such a
edge shall have a radius of 1.6 6 0.1 mm. The striking edge material should be exercised. Methanol is the recommended
heat transfer medium for rubber.
6
NOTE 6—The following materials have been found suitable for use at
A detailed drawing of a typical clamp may be obtained from ASTM Headquar-
the indicated temperatures. When silicone oil is used, moisture from the
ters. Order Adjunct : ADJD0746.
air will condense on the surface of the oil, causing slush to form. This
slush may collect on the temperature-measuring device as ice and affect
temperature measurement. If this should occur, remove the ice from the
temperature-measuring device.
Material Temperature, °C
5-mm2/s viscosity silicone oil −60
2
2-mm /s viscosity silicone oil −76
Methyl alcohol −90
6.6 Temperature Control—Suitable means (automatic or
manual) shall be provided for controlling the temperature of
the heat-transfer medium to within 60.5°C of the desired
value. Powdered solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) and liquid
nitrogen are recommended for lowering the temperature, and
FIG. 1 Dimensional Requirements Between Specimen Clamp and an electric immersion heater for raising the temperature.
Striking Edge (Type A) 6.7 Tank, insulated.
2
D 746 – 98e1
FIG. 2 Typical Clamp (Type A)
8.1.1 Geometry—This type of specimen shall be
6.35 6 0.51 mm wide by 31.75 6 6.35 mm long as illustrated
iTeh Standards in Fig. 6.
8.1.2 Preparation— Cut the test specimens from a flat sheet
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die-punched, cut by hand using a razor blade or other sharp
Document Preview tool, or cut by an automatic machine. Specimens may also be
prepared by injection molding.
8.2 Type II (for Fixture Type A):
8.2.1 Geometry (Modified T-50 Specimen)—This type of
ASTM D746-98e1
specimen shall be T-shaped, as illustrated in Fig. 6. When using
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this type of specimen, clamp it so that the entire tab is inside
NOTE—Dimensions are in millimetres.
the jaws for a minimum distance of 3.18 mm.
FIG. 3 Dimensional Details of Striking Edge and Clamping
Device, Type B (Positioning of Unnotched Test Specimen) 8.2.2 Preparation— Cut the test specimens from a flat sheet
with a thickness of 1.91 6 0.13 mm. The specimens may be
die-punched, cut by hand using a razor blade or other sharp
tool, or cut by an automatic machine. Specimens may also be
prepared by injection molding.
8.3 Type III (for Fixture Type B):
8.3.1 Geometry—This type of specimen shall be
20.0 6 0.25 mm long by 2.5 6 0.05 mm wide and 1.6 6 0.1
FIG. 4 Assembled Clamp with Test Specimens, Type B mm thick as illustrated in Fig. 6.
8.3.2 Preparation— Cut the test specimens from a flat
6.8 Stirrer, to provide thorough circulation of the heat sheet. The specimens may be die-punched, cut by hand using a
transfer medium. razor blade or other sharp tool, or cut by an automatic machine.
Specimens may also be prepared by injection molding.
7. Sampling 8.4 Test results will vary according to molding conditions
7.1 Unless otherwise agreed upon between the seller and the and methods of specimen preparation. It is essential that
purchaser, sampling shall be in accordance with the General preparation methods produce uniform specimens. The pre-
and Specific Sampling Procedures sections of Practice D 1898. ferred method of preparation is to use an automatic cutting
Sampling, based on engineering principles, prior to packaging machine. Alternatively, specimens may be die-punched using
shall be considered an acceptable alternative. an arbor press or hydraulically operated press. No matter which
preparation method is employed, the specimen edges shall be
8. Test Specimen free of all flash. Specimens that are damaged in any way shall
8.1 Type I (for Fixture Type A): be discarded. If specimens are to be die punched, sharp dies
3
D 746 – 98e1
iTeh Standards
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ASTM D746-98e1
NOTE—Dimensions are in millimetres.
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FIG. 5 Details of One Form of Clamp Meeting the Requirements of 6.2
FIG. 6 Specimen Geometry
must be used in the preparation of specimens for this test if die may be judged by investigating the rupture point on any
reliable results are to be achieved. Careful maintenance of die series of broken specimens. When broken specimens are
cutting edges is of extreme importance and can be obtained by removed from the clamps of the testing machine it is advan-
daily lightly honing and touching up the cutting edges with tageous to pile these specimens and note if there is any
jewelers’ hard Arkansas honing stones. The condition of the tendency to break at or near the same portion of each specimen.
