ISO 527-2:2012

Overview

ISO 527-2:2012 - "Plastics - Determination of tensile properties - Part 2: Test conditions for moulding and extrusion plastics" specifies the test conditions for determining tensile properties of moulding and extrusion plastics, based on the general principles in ISO 527‑1. It defines specimen types, apparatus guidance, test speeds for modulus measurement, conditioning, data recording and reporting requirements used in tensile testing of rigid and semi‑rigid thermoplastics, thermosets and selected specialty polymers.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and materials: Applies to rigid and semi‑rigid thermoplastics and thermosetting moulding/extrusion materials (including short‑fibre and particulate filled compounds) and thermotropic liquid crystal polymers. Not intended for flexible films <1 mm (see ISO 527‑3) or rigid cellular materials (see ISO 1926).
• Specimen types and dimensions: Prefers dumbbell-shaped multipurpose specimens type 1A (for injection‑moulded multipurpose specimens) and type 1B (for machined specimens). Preferred thickness is 4.0 ± 0.2 mm, preferred gauge length 75 mm (50 mm acceptable for quality control), and initial grip separation 115 mm.
• Extensometer and gauge length: Recommends a 75 mm gauge length when using multipurpose specimens to improve modulus accuracy; 50 mm may be used for QC. Notes potential errors from bending or misalignment if strain is recorded only on one surface.
• Test speed / strain rate: For tensile modulus determinations on type 1A/1B specimens, the speed shall be 1 mm/min, corresponding to a nominal strain rate of ~1%/min. For small or miniaturized specimens (Annex A), adjust speed to maintain equivalent strain rate.
• Specimen preparation & conditioning: Specimens shall be moulded (injection/compression) or machined from plates per the referenced specimen preparation standards, free of visible flaws; strict control of moulding conditions is required. Conditioning and test procedures refer to ISO 527‑1.
• Data recording, calculation, precision and reporting: Recording frequency guidance for strain signals, precision information (Annex B), and mandatory test report items (including specimen type and test speed) are specified.

Applications and users

• Materials testing and quality control laboratories performing tensile testing of plastics
• Polymer manufacturers, moulders and extruders validating mechanical properties of compounds and finished parts
• R&D and materials selection teams comparing tensile modulus, strength and elongation
• Certification, regulatory and contract testing bodies requiring standardized tensile property data

Keywords: ISO 527-2:2012, tensile properties, moulding and extrusion plastics, tensile modulus, extensometer, gauge length, test specimens, plastic tensile testing

Related standards

• ISO 527‑1:2012 - General principles for tensile testing of plastics
• ISO 527‑3 - Test conditions for films and sheets
• ISO 293 / ISO 294‑1 / ISO 295 / ISO 10724‑1 - Specimen moulding procedures
• ISO 20753 / ISO 2818 - Test specimen types and machining
• ISO 11403‑3 - Environmental influences on properties

This standard is essential when you need reproducible, comparable tensile property data for moulding and extrusion plastics under internationally recognized test conditions.