ASTM D1004-13 Tear Resistance (Graves Tear) of Plastic Film and Sheeting

ASTM D1004-13 covers the determination of tear strength or tear resistance of flexible plastic film and sheeting. The site of tear is initiated by a high stress concentration caused by the 90° angle in the specimen. This test method aims to measure force to initiate tear for plastic films that do no exhibit brittle failure or do not elongate greater than 101.6 mm (4 in.).

For this test, we recommend a 5940 Series or 3340 Series single column electromechanical frame.

The challenges of testing to this standard are:

• Non-repeatability of results
• Preventing specimen slippage

Solutions:

• Non-repeatability of results – ASTM D1004-13 requires the operator to exclude results that deviate markedly from the mean value. When using Bluehill^® Universal, the operator can use visual pass/fail indicators to alert users when the results are out of specification. Bluehill Universal also offers a TestCam module to record a video of the test, enabling users to replay videos to ensure a test performed as expected.
• Preventing specimen slippage – When testing thin films, the specimens typically undergo thinning as they are stretched. Instron self-tightening grips are primarily designed for the precision testing of films and other flexible materials exhibiting a large reduction in cross-section area under load.

We recommend reading and reviewing ASTM D1004-13 in order to fully understand the test setup, procedures, and results requirements.