ASTM D5748 Stretch Wrap Film Puncture Resistance Test

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ASTM D5748 — Standard Test Method for Protrusion Puncture Resistance of Stretch Wrap Film

ASTM D5748 determine the resistance of stretch wrap / stretch film to penetration by a probe under a controlled, low-rate (quasi-static) single-velocity condition, while the film is clamped so it develops biaxial stress — the stress state most representative of real-world end use.

Test Principle:

This test applies a biaxial stress field to a clamped stretch wrap film specimen, which highly mimics the stress state of stretch wrap during wrapping, transportation and storage. A standardized probe moves vertically at a constant low speed to penetrate the film until rupture. During the whole process, the system continuously records force, displacement and energy changes.

The core evaluation targets are the film’s capacity to resist protrusion penetration and absorb impact energy, which directly reflects its practical puncture resistance performance.

ASTM D5748 Stretch Wrap Film Puncture Resistance Test

Specify Test Methods:

A flat, circular area of stretch wrap film is clamped taut around its perimeter in a dedicated specimen clamping fixture.

A 0.75 in. (19 mm) diameter pear-shaped probe, coated with TFE-fluorocarbon (Teflon), is centered over the clamped film.

The probe is driven downward at a constant crosshead speed into the film until it completely penetrates through.

Because the film edges are fixed, the membrane stretches biaxially (radially + circumferentially) as the probe pushes down — closely mimicking how a sharp corner, protrusion, or irregular load edge presses into tightly wrapped pallet film in the field.

The force–displacement curve is recorded continuously. From this curve the method extracts:

*Maximum force (greatest force achieved during the test)

*Break force / Peak force at break (force value at the instant the film ruptures)

*Penetration distance (probe travel from first contact → puncture break)

*Energy to break / Work to break (area under the force–displacement curve = energy absorbed)

The key physics idea: puncture resistance here is really a measure of the film's energy-absorbing ability under biaxial tension rather than simple "how hard a needle can you push before it snaps."

Test equipment required for ASTM D5748 puncture test:

Component	Specification
Universal Testing Machine	A universal tensile/compression tester (frame with controllable crosshead). Compression- or tension-type load cell — select FSL so puncture falls in the 20–80% range.
Ring clamp fixture	A circular clamping frame (6 in / 152 mm in diameter) to fix the film tightly without slack.
Test Probe	The signature component: 0.75 in. (19 mm) Ø pear-shaped TFE-fluorocarbon coated probe. The Teflon coating minimizes friction so results are dominated by the film's own puncture behavior.
Template & Specimen Cutter	A 6×6 in (150×150 mm) template for cutting standard square specimens.

Test Specimen Information:

Specimen Size & Quantity: Standard dimension: 6 × 6 in (150 × 150 mm) square sheet.

Minimum quantity: 5 valid specimens per sample batch.

Thickness Measurement: Measure the thickness at the center of each specimen for 3 times, calculate the average value and record it formally.

Conditioning: Prior to testing, condition all specimens for no less than 40 hours under the standard environment: temperature 23 ± 2 °C (73.4 ± 3.6 °F), relative humidity 50 ± 5%. All tests are conducted under the same laboratory atmosphere.

Key Test Parameters

Parameter	Prescribed Value
Crosshead speed	10 in./min (250 mm/min)
Chart recorder speed	10 in./min (250 mm/min)
Probe geometry	Pear-shaped, Ø 0.75 in. (19 mm), TFE-fluorocarbon coated (DuPont spec: Teflon coating ≈ 0.0015 in. / 0.0381 mm thick)
Specimen size	Cut with a 6 × 6 in. (150 × 150 mm) template; effective clamped test area ~4 in. (102 mm) diameter
Conditioning	73.4 ± 3.6°F (23 ± 2°C) and 50 ± 5% RH for ≥ 40 h prior to test (Procedure A of ASTM D618)
Load range selection	Puncture event should occur within 20–80% of full-scale load (FSL)
Minimum specimens	n ≥ 5 per sample

ASTM D5748 Stretch Wrap Film Puncture Resistance Test Procedures:

1, Equipment Calibration: Install the probe and clamping fixture, center the probe over the fixture, and calibrate the universal testing machine per the manufacturer’s instructions. Set the load range properly.

2, Specimen Preparation: Use the template and cutter to cut at least 5 specimens. Measure and record the average thickness of each specimen.

3, Parameter Setting: Set crosshead speed and chart recorder speed to 10 in/min (250 mm/min); reset integrators or data acquisition systems to zero.

4, Specimen Mounting: Clamp the film specimen firmly on the fixture. Lower the probe to the position closest to the film without physical contact.

5, Test Execution: Start the universal tester. Stop the crosshead once the probe fully penetrates the film. Discard invalid specimens if rupture holes appear outside the probe contact area.

6, Data Collection: Record specimen ID, break force (peak force), maximum force, penetration distance and break energy via testing software or chart records.

7, Repeat Test: Complete the test for all remaining specimens following the above steps.

8, Calculation and report:

The standard provides exclusive formulas for data calculation (applicable to chart recorder data; software-calculated results are also accepted):

Peak force at break: Calculated by chart reading and full-scale load.

Maximum force: The peak force value recorded during the whole penetration process.

Probe penetration distance: Calculated based on chart length, crosshead speed and chart speed.

Energy to break: Calculated by integrator readings, full-scale load and running speed.

All results are recorded in both imperial (lb, in, in-lb) and metric (N, mm, J) units.

Test Application & Significance:

Sector	Why It Matters
Logistics & Warehousing	Palletized loads with metal banding, wooden crate edges, sharp carton corners, or machined parts press into the film under tension — poor puncture resistance → tear → load shift/collapse
Food & Beverage Transport	Wrapped pallets of canned goods, bottles, or sharp-edged frozen cases; film breach → contamination / spill / loss.
Building Materials / Construction	Bricks, tiles, hardware — extremely puncture-prone loads.
Manufacturing / Automotive	Parts with burrs, fasteners, or angular geometries wrapped for intra-plant transfer.
Stretch Film R&D & QC	Film producers use D5748 to rank formulations (LLDPE vs. metallocene vs. blends), control production uniformity, and support supplier/customer specifications.

Related Standards:

ASTM F1306	Standard Test Method for Slow Rate Penetration Resistance of Flexible Barrier Films and Laminates
GB/T 37841	Test method for puncture resistance of plastic film and sheeting
ISO 12236	Geosynthetics — Static puncture test (CBR test). This is the direct international equivalent of ASTM D6241, using the same 50-mm probe.
ASTM D6241	static puncture strength for geotextiles (50‑mm probe) – recommended for open geotextiles.

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Puncture resistance test fixture are used to determine the puncture or rupture characteristics of a material. This is generally a compressive test where a material is compressed by a probe or other type of device until the material ruptures.

Q1: What is ASTM D5748 used to test?

A: It is a standard test method to measure the protrusion puncture resistance of stretch wrap films. It evaluates how well the film resists penetration by a standard probe under controlled biaxial stress.

Q2: Why is ASTM D5748 testing important for stretch wrap films?

A: Puncture resistance is a critical end-use property. In logistics, packaging and transportation, stretch films are frequently exposed to sharp edges, corners and protrusions of goods. Poor puncture resistance causes film rupture, package loosening and cargo damage. This standardized test provides reliable data to assess real-world performance, support quality control, material R&D and supplier evaluation.

Q3. How does ASTM D5748 differ from the more famous "Dart Drop" test (ASTM D1709)?

Feature	ASTM D5748	ASTM D1709 (Dart Drop)
Loading style	Slow, controlled probe push at 250 mm/min (quasi-static)	Free-falling dart (dynamic impact)
Stress state	Biaxial membrane stretching over a clamped ring	Localized high-rate impact on a clamped film
Output	Force, displacement, energy to break (continuous curve)	Impact weight/energy at 50% failure (pass/fail statistical method)
Best for	Ranking puncture toughness, formulation/process control, comparing films on "sharp protrusion" performance	Assessing high-speed impact resistance, drop-like events
Limitation	Low rate — not a high-speed crash simulator	Measures "critical impact energy," but gives less detail on force–displacement behavior

Q4: When should a test specimen be discarded as invalid?

A: If the film breaks or forms holes at positions other than the contact area of the probe, the test result is invalid and the specimen must be discarded.

Q5. What does the "pear-shaped, Teflon®-coated probe" do — why not just use a needle or spike?

A: The standard specifies a 0.75 in. (19 mm) diameter pear-shapedprobe, coated with TFE-fluorocarbon (Teflon®) (~0.0015 in. / 0.0381 mm thick).

Pear shape (bluntly rounded, not a sharp needle) → It represents a "protrusion" (corner, edge, knot, boss, fitting) rather than an unrealistically sharp pin. That's deliberate: the failure mode should be dominated by the film's stretch + tear, not by simply slicing it.

Teflon coating (low friction) → Reduces frictional drag along the film as it stretches around the probe. This helps ensure the measured force and energy reflect the film's own puncture resistance, not artifact losses to friction.

Q6. When should I specify ASTM D5748 in a film specification or purchase order?

A: You should consider mandating D5748 data when:

The wrapped loads have sharp edges, corners, metal bands, wooden elements, or protruding parts

You've experienced field puncture failures and want an objective way to screen film grades

You need a repeatable QC spec (min energy-to-break, min break force, etc.) tied to a recognizable ASTM method.

You're developing or qualifying new film formulations (LLDPE vs mLLDPE vs blends vs additives) and want to see which one actually absorbs more puncture energyunder biaxial loading.

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