PROPERTIES OF PLASTICS

QUALITY Degree to a set of inherent characteristic fulfils requirement

TESTING
Testing yields basic information about a Plastics, its properties relative to another material, and its quality in reference to a standard.

TEST METHODS
A definitive procedure for the identification, measurement, and evaluation of one or more qualities, characteristics or properties of a material, product, system or service that produces a test result.

CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTIES
Characterisation /Rheological Electrical Properties Mechanical Properties Optical Properties Permanence Properties Thermal Properties Product Testing

CHARACTERISATION / RHEOLOGICAL Cup / Spiral Flow Viscosity

K-Value Hoppler Brookfield Cone-Plate Co-axial Cylinder

CHARACTERISATION / RHEOLOGICAL
Torque Rheometer
Torque/Melt Temperature Stability Test Effect of Additives Capillary Rheology

Thermal Analyser (DSC/TGA/TMA) Molecular Weight & Distribution (HPLC/GPC) Identification by FTIR

ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES Arc Resistance Comparative Tracking Index Dielectric Strength Dielectric constant

ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
Insulation Resistance Resistivity Surface Volume Static Charge

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES Abrasion Resistance Bond Strength Compressive Strength Co-efficient of Friction Creep/ Stress relaxation

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Flexural Strength Folding Endurance Fatigue Resistance Hardness
Shore A & D Rockwell L, M, R Brinell

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Impact Strength
Izod / Charpy Falling Dart - Film / Pipe

Tear Resist. for Film Tensile Strength Stiffness Shear Strength

OPTICAL PROPERTIES
Clarity Colour Measurement Gloss Haze Microscope Studies
Pigment Dispersion Defects

Refractive Index

Mechanical Properties
Introduction The mechanical properties, among all the properties of plastics, are often the most important properties used in End-use application, which involve some degree of mechanical loading Classification
Short-term - Tensile, Compression, Impact, Flexural Long-term - Creep, Stress Relaxation & Fatigue Surface - Abrasion, Hardness, Co-efficient Friction

Stress - Strain
Stress: The force applied to produce deformation in a unit area of a test specimen
Stress = FORCE AREA = Kg cm 2

Strain: The ratio of the change in Length to the Original Length

Sa tr in

L = L

Modulus of Elasticity : The ratio of stress to corresponding strain below the proportional limit of a polymer.

Stress Kg Modulus = = cm 2 Strain

Types of Stress - Strain Curves

Description of Polymer Soft, Weak (PTFE) Soft, Tough (PE) Hard, Brittle (PF) Hard, Strong (ACETAL) Hard, Tough (PC) Modulus Yield Stress Low Low Low High High High Low None High High Ultimate Strength Low Yield Stress Moderate High High Elongation at Break Moderate High Low Moderate High

Tensile Test
Tensile test in a broad sense, is a measurement of the ability of a material to withstand forces that tend to pull it apart and to determine to what extent the material stretches before breaking.

Significance:
To produce data for the control and specification of polymers to provide useful data for plastics engineering design purpose

Standard:
ASTM D 638, ISO 527-1

Factor:
Temp., RH, Speed, Grips & Specimen preparation

Flexural Test
The ability of the material to withstand bending forces applied perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. Significance :
The polymer used in the form of a beam and if the service failure occurs in bending.

Standard :
ASTM D 790, ISO 178

Factor :
Temp., RH, Speed & Specimen preparation

Compression Test
Compression Strength: Describe the behaviour of the material when it is subjected to a compressive load at a relatively low and uniform rate of loading. Significance:
To provide standard data for R&D. To know about deformation in Engineering application. compression for

Standard:
ASTM D 790, ISO 178

Factor:
Temp., RH, Speed & Specimen preparation

Impact Test
Describe the resistance of Plastics to breakage by sudden shock. Types of Impact Test 1. Pendulum Impact - Izod - Charpy - Tensile Impact 2. High Rate Tension Impact Test 3. Free Weight Drop Impact Test 4. Instrumented Impact Test

Significance:
To provide Information about the toughness & brittleness of the materials.

Standard:
ASTM D 256, 5628, 5420, 1709

Factor:
Temp., RH, Speed & Specimen preparation (Notch Sensitivity), MWD, Molecule Orientations & Additives.

Tear Resistance
To determine the force necessary to propagate a tear in the Plastic Film & Sheets. Significance :
Actual End Use Application

Standard : ASTM D 1004, 1922, 1938 Factors :

Temp., RH, Speed & Specimen preparation (Notch Sensitivity), MWD, Molecule Orientations & Additives.

Creep Resistance & Stress Relaxation

Creep Resistance : To determine the deformation under load ( Tensile, Flexural, Compression) with time. Stress Relaxation : To determine a gradual decrease in Stress with time under a constant Deformation (Strain) Permanent Deformation: Ratio between Creep & Stress Relaxation Significance :
High Performance & Extreme Reliable Applications.

Standard : ASTM D 2990 Factors :

Temp., RH, Speed & Specimen preparation, MWD, Molecule Orientations & Additives.

Fatigue Resistance
To determine the repeated cyclic loading (Flexing, Compressing, Twisting & Stretching) Significance :
High Performance & Extreme Reliable Applications.

Standard : ASTM D 671 Factors :

Temp., RH, Speed & Specimen preparation, MWD, Molecule Orientations & Additives.

Abrasion Resistance
To determine the Material Loss through Frictional Force, Load, True Contact Significance :
High Performance & Extreme Reliable Applications.

Standard : ASTM D 1242, 1044 Factors :

Temp., RH,Wheels of Abrader, MWD, Molecule Orientations & Additives.

Hardness
Hardness : Resistance of Material to deformation. Types of Hardness :
Rockwell Hardness Durometer Hardness Barcol Hardness

Significance :
High Performance & Extreme Reliable Applications.

Standard : ASTM D 785, 2240, 2583 Factors :

Temp., RH, Surface Condition, MWD & Additives.

Co-efficient of Friction
Determination of Sliding Friction of Plastics. Significance :
High Performance & Extreme Reliable Applications.

Standard : ASTM D 3028 Factors :

Temp., RH, Speed, Surface Condition, & Additives.

PERMANENCE PROPERTIES
Chemical Resistance Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance (ESCR) Permeability
Gas Transmission Rate Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate

Weathering of Plastics
Natural Weathering Accelerated Weathering

PERMANENCE PROPERTIES
It Shows the Durability of Plastics Resistance to Environment other than High & Low Temperature, such as Resistance to Sunlight Weather Corrosive Atmosphere Heat Temperature Humidity

Chemical Resistance
Factors affecting Degree of Crystallinity Polar / Non-polar Polymer Bond (Strength & Distance) Polymer Branching Effect of Additives

Chemical Resistance (For Un-Stressed Products)

Chemical Tests are..
Immersion Test Strain-Resistance Test Solvent Stress-Cracking Resistance

Analytical Tests are..

Moisture , Heat & Steam Test Water Absorption Test

Immersion Test
Test Method ASTM-D 543 Studying Weight , Dimension & Mechanical Properties Effect of Test :
Loss of Gloss Swelling Clouding Tackiness Crazing Bubbling

Strain-Resistance Test
Test Method ASTM-D 2290 Studying Staining with Tea, Coffee, Blood, Shoe Polish, etc Effect of Test :
Residual Staining Colour of Plastics

Solvent Stress-Cracking Resistance

Test Method ASTM-D 5308 Studying rupture, cracking, crazing Effect of Test :
Clarity Loss in Mechanical Properties Weight & Volume

Moisture , Heat & Steam Test Water Absorption Test

Test Method ASTM-D 570 Studying Weight & Volume Changes Effect of Test :
Mechanical, Optical & Electrical Properties Weaken the weak weld line of moulded parts Weight & Volume

Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance (ESCR)

Test Method ASTM-D 1693 Studying Surface initiated brittle fracture as well as internal & External Stresses for low Molecular weight Polymer Reagents : Igepal CO-630 Effect of Test :
Crazing, Cracking, Ruptures, Swelling Mechanical Failure Weight & Volume

Gas Transmission Rate

Studying Transmission of Gases such as Nitrogen, Oxygen & Carbon Dioxide Application :
Wrapping of the Films Parachutes Gas Balloons Packaging

Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate

Test Method ASTM-E 96 Studying Transmission of Moistures Application :

Wrapping of the Films Packaging of Coffees, Biscuits, Tea etc

Weathering of Plastics
Types of Radiation
X-Ray UV Radiation (100-400nm) Visible Light (400-780nm) Infra Red Radiation

Photo Chemical Changes

Photon/quantum Energy (100kcal) Carbon-Carbon(C-C), Carbon-Hydrogen(C-H ) (65-85 kcal)

Natural Weathering
Test Method ASTM-D 1435 at 45 facing the equator (south), Ten Alumunium mirror or Ten
Fold Sunlight Studying For Outdoor Exposure

Zones :
Hot & Dry Climate Hot & Wet Climate Winter Cold Temp. Marine Jungle

Accelerated Weathering
Sunlight Vs. Artificial Light Sources Low Pressure Mercury Vapour Lamp Method Arc Lamp Method Xenon Arc Lamp Method Effects : Mechanical Properties Colour Changes Gloss Brittleness

THERMAL PROPERTIES
Brittleness Temperature Crystalline Melting Point Dimensional Stability Flammability Rate of Burning Oxygen Index Test Flammability as per UL standard Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)

THERMAL PROPERTIES
Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) Martens Heat Stability Test Melt Flow Index (MFI) Oxygen Induction Time (OIT) Shrinkage/ Reversion Thermal Conductivity Vicat Softening Point (VSP) Thermal Ageing (Hot air oven)

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