ISO 4662:2017

Overview

ISO 4662:2017 - "Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic - Determination of rebound resilience" is an international test standard that specifies two standardized methods for measuring the rebound resilience of rubber materials with hardness between 30 IRHD and 85 IRHD. Rebound resilience is the ratio of energy returned to energy applied during a single impact (commonly expressed as a percentage), and is used to characterise the elastic recovery and energy dissipation behaviour of rubber.

The 2017 (fourth) edition revises earlier versions and adds guidance for calculating the impact velocity for the tripsometer method (Annex E).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability
  • Applies to vulcanized or thermoplastic rubber within the stated IRHD hardness range.
• Two test methods
  • Pendulum method: a mass with a spherical end impacts a flat, clamped test piece; kinetic energy of the impacting mass is measured immediately before and after impact.
  • Tripsometer method: a hemisphere mounted on the periphery of a rotating disc impacts the flat test piece; kinetic energy before/after impact is recorded (disc driven by an off‑axis mass).
• Apparatus and setup
  • Detailed requirements for oscillatory devices, hammers/hemispheres, systems for following motion, test-piece holders and temperature control.
• Test-piece preparation and conditioning
  • Procedures for preparing, dimensioning, conditioning (thermal and mechanical) and mounting test pieces to ensure reproducibility.
• Measurements and calculations
  • Measurement of pre‑ and post‑impact energy, expression of results (rebound resilience), and precision/statistical treatment.
• Reporting and precision
  • Required data to include in test reports and information on method precision and repeatability.
• Annexes
  • Informative guidance on non‑standard test pieces, apparatus designs, mounting systems, precision data and impact velocity calculation (Annex E).

Practical applications and users

ISO 4662:2017 is used by:

• Material and product engineers for material selection (e.g., vibration isolation, seals, tyres, footwear soles).
• Quality control laboratories for routine batch verification and production control.
• R&D and polymer scientists studying viscoelastic behaviour, energy dissipation and temperature dependence.
• Certification and compliance testing where standardized rebound measurements are required.

Typical applications include assessing resilience for damping properties, bounce behaviour, and dynamic performance in automotive components, sporting goods, industrial mountings and consumer products.

Related standards

• ISO 23529 - general procedures for preparing and conditioning rubber test pieces (referenced in ISO 4662).
• Hardness standards such as ISO 48 are relevant when specifying IRHD hardness ranges.

Keywords: ISO 4662:2017, rebound resilience, rubber testing, pendulum method, tripsometer method, IRHD, test piece conditioning, impact velocity.