Information on the most widely used ASTM standards within the materials testing industry
ISO 179: Plastics -- Determination of Charpy impact properties
ASTM D6110: Standard Test Method for Determining the Charpy Impact Resistance of Notched Specimens of Plastics.
ISO 179 specifies a method for determining the Charpy impact strength of plastics under defined conditions. A number of different types of specimen and test configurations are defined. Different test parameters are specified according to the type of material, the type of test specimen and the type of notch.
The method can be used to investigate the behaviour of specified types of specimen under the impact conditions defined and for estimating the brittleness or toughness of specimens within the limitations inherent in the test conditions. It can also be used for the determination of comparative data from similar types of material.

This method is suitable for use with the following range of materials:
** rigid thermoplastic moulding and extrusion materials (including filled and reinforced compounds in addition to unfilled types) and rigid thermoplastics sheets; rigid thermosetting moulding materials (including filled and reinforced compounds) and rigid thermosetting sheets (including laminates);
** fibre-reinforced thermosetting and thermoplastic composites incorporating unidirectional or multi-directional reinforcements (such as mats, woven fabrics, woven rovings, chopped strands, combination and hybrid reinforcements, rovings and milled fibres) or incorporating sheets made from pre-impregnated materials (prepregs), including filled compounds;
** thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers.
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| Plastic V notch impact sample 80*10*4mm | Organic glass V notch impact sample 80*10*4mm |
ISO 179 & ASTM D6110 both are standard test method for determining the impact strength or impact resistance of a plastic specimen with a Charpy test. Charpy impact strength testing involves the use of a pendulum to break a test specimen being supported in a cantilever configuration. The impact energy absorbed in impacting a plastic specimen in a Charpy test is taken as being equal to the difference between the potential energy of the pendulum and the energy remaining in the pendulum after impacting the plastic specimen. Corrections accounting for friction and air-resistance losses must also be made to determine the true impact resistance of the plastic. Specimens tested to determine the impact strength through the Charpy impact resistance test and the practices of ISO 179 must be notched. Charpy impact testing of notched specimens in accordance to ISO179 is a common test to determine notch sensitivity of a plastic material. Test machines that are used to perform Charpy impact strength tests in accordance to ISO 179 must meet the requirements of ISO 13802; verification of Charpy pendulum impact testing machines.
| Impact test specimen size: | 80*10*4mm (length*width*thickness) |
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