ISO 180 IZOD impact strength test for plastic, notched impact test

Information on the most widely used ASTM standards within the materials testing industry

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ISO 180 Plastics — Determination of Izod Impact Strength

ISO 180 specifies unified methods to measure the Izod impact strength of plastics under standardized conditions, evaluating material brittleness and toughness via pendulum impact tests. A pendulum-based, high-strain-rate test that measures a material's toughness / brittleness by breaking a vertically clamped cantilever specimen with a single swinging striker. The result is reported as Izod impact strength in kJ/m² — the energy absorbed during fracture, normalized to the relevant cross-sectional area.

Test Principle

The specimen is mounted as a vertical cantilever beam, clamped firmly in a vice. A pendulum striker swings down and delivers a single impact against the specimen:

The line of impact is a fixed distance from the clamp

For notched specimens, it is also a fixed distance from the notch centreline

The notch (when present) is placed on the face struck by the striker → creates a stress concentration to simulate real-world flaw/crack-initiation sites.

The absorbed energy = initial pendulum energy − residual swing energy (corrected for friction/air resistance per ISO 13802).

Pendulum striker

↓ impact

┌──────┤ │◄─ notch (if any)

│ │ │

│ specimen (vertical cantilever)

│ └─── clamped in vice

Key: the notch base remaining width = bₙ = 8.0 ± 0.2 mm, specimen thickness h = 4.0 ± 0.2 mm, width b = 10.0 ± 0.2 mm, length l = 80 ± 2 mm.

ISO 180 IZOD impact strength test for plastic, notched impact test

Three Specific Test Methods

ISO 180 defines three mainstream test configurations based on specimen types and notch designs, with distinct method designations:

Method Designation	Specimen Type	Notch Type	Notch Base Radius rₙ	Remaining Width bₙ	Notes
ISO 180/U	Length 80±2 / Width 10.0±0.2 / Thickness 4.0±0.2 mm	Unnotched	—	—	Measures bulk toughness without stress concentrator
ISO 180/A	Length 80±2 / Width 10.0±0.2 / Thickness 4.0±0.2 mm	Notch Type A	0.25 ± 0.05 mm (sharp)	8.0 ± 0.2 mm	Preferred — most common; accentuates notch sensitivity
ISO 180/B	Length 80±2 / Width 10.0±0.2 / Thickness 4.0±0.2 mm	Notch Type B	1.00 ± 0.05 mm (blunter)	8.0 ± 0.2 mm	Used when notch sensitivity comparison between A vs. B is desired

For sheet and laminated materials, two impact directions are additionally defined:

Edgewise parallel (ep): The standard impact direction for Izod tests, where the blow is parallel to the reinforcement plane.

Normal direction (n): The blow is perpendicular to the reinforcement plane, only applicable when specimen thickness equals width (h = b).

Test Specimen

Applicable Materials	Rigid thermoplastic moulding/extrusion materials (filled, reinforced and unfilled) and rigid thermoplastic sheets. Rigid thermosetting moulding materials, sheets and laminates. Fibre-reinforced thermosetting/thermoplastic composites (mat, woven fabrics, chopped strands, prepreg sheets, etc.). Thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers.
Unsuitable materials	Rigid cellular plastics and cellular sandwich structures. Notched specimens are also not recommended for long-fibre-reinforced composites and thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers
Dimension	Length: 80 ± 2; Width (b): 10.0 ± 0.2; Thickness (h): 4.0 ± 0.2 Notch depth: Such that bₙ = 8.0 ± 0.2 mm remaining.
Number of Specimens	Default: 10 specimens per test group. If the coefficient of variation is less than 5% (per ISO 2602), the minimum quantity can be reduced to 5. For laminates tested in two impact directions (parallel/normal), prepare 10 specimens for each direction separately.


*Plastic V notch impact sample 80104mm*	*Organic glass V notch impact sample 80104mm*

Testing equipment and device required for ISO 180 impact test:

Component	Specifications
Pendulum Impact Testing machine	Pendulum-type Izod impact machine with a defined striking edge radius and impact velocity Must be verified per ISO 13802 (Charpy, Izod, and tensile impact verification) Energy selection rule: Absorbed energy W must be between 10% and 80% of the available pendulum energy E If multiple pendulums qualify → use the highest energy one. Friction/air-resistance losses must be determined and corrected per ISO 13802
Pendulum Energy Ranges	1J, 2.75, 5.5J, 11J, 22J. Use the pendulum with the highest energy if multiple qualify.
Clamping System	For plastics sensitive to clamping pressure, use calibrated torque wrenches, pneumatic or hydraulic clamping devices to standardize clamping force, and record the force in test reports.
Notching Device	Make the notch on the impact test sample.

Key Test Parameters & Stipulations

Test environment: Consistent with the conditioning atmosphere, unless high/low temperature testing is required.

Dimension measurement: Measure the central thickness (h) and width (b) of each specimen to 0.02 mm accuracy; strictly measure b_N for notched specimens. For injection-molded specimens, only one sample per cavity needs dimension verification.

Energy range: The specimen’s absorbed energy must be 10%–80% of the pendulum’s total energy.

Friction correction: Calculate and deduct machine friction losses per ISO 13802 to obtain corrected absorbed energy W_c.

Test Procedures of the ISO 180 IZOD Plastic impact test:

1, Pre-test preparation: Condition specimens as required; inspect and calibrate the pendulum impact tester following ISO 13802, and confirm the pendulum energy and impact velocity.

2, Dimension measurement: Measure h, b (and b_Nfor notched samples) of each specimen and record data.

3, Pendulum setup: Lift and lock the pendulum at the specified height.

4, Specimen clamping: Place the specimen in the vice and clamp it stably. For notched specimens, align the notch toward the pendulum’s striking edge. Record clamping pressure if applicable.

5, Execute impact: Release the pendulum, record the raw absorbed energy, and correct the value by deducting friction losses to get W_c.

6, Failure recording: Mark the specimen’s failure type (C/H/P/N).

7, Repeat tests: Conduct the above steps for all specimens in the group.

8, Data processing: Calculate Izod impact strength, average value and standard deviation, then organize the complete test report.

Test Application of ISO 180 (Industry Fields)

Sector / Material Type	Examples
Rigid thermoplastic moulding compounds	ABS, PC, PP, PE, PA (nylon), PBT — unfilled & filled/reinforced
Rigid thermoset moulding materials	Phenolics, epoxies, BMC/SMC
Rigid thermoplastic & thermoset sheets / laminates	Glazing sheets, decorative laminates
Fibre-reinforced composites	Glass-mat, woven fabric, chopped strand, hybrid reinforcements, prepreg-derived panels
Thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs)	High-performance electronic/connector parts
Finished / semi-finished product QC	Machined from actual mouldings, extrusions, cast sheets

Industries: Automotive (interior/exterior trims, under-hood parts), Electronics & E&E (connectors, housings), Packaging (rigid plastic caps/lids), Consumer goods, Aerospace (interior non-structural composites), Construction (profile extrusions, panels).

Related Test standard:

Standard	Relationship
ASTM D256	Standard Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance of Plastics
JIS K 7110	Plastics -- Determination of Izod impact strength
KS M 3055	Plastics-Determination of Izod impact strength
STAS 7310	RIGID PLASTICS Determination of Izod impact strength
AS 1146.1	Impact tests on plastics - Izod impact resistance of rigid plastics
ISO 179-1	Plastics. Determination of Charpy impact properties - Non-instrumented impact test
ISO 13802	Specifies pendulum impact tester requirements
ISO 2818	Specifies specimen preparation for plastic sheets
ASTM D6110	Equivalent American standard for Charpy impact testing of plastics
GB/T 1843	Plastics - Determination of izod impact strength

Charpy Impact is a single point test that measures a materials resistance to impact from a swinging pendulum. Charpy impact is defined as the kinetic energy needed to initiate fracture and continue the fracture until the specimen is broken. The values obtained can be used for quality control or to differentiate general.

QK-20 notch sample reparation machine is used to process the non-metal material impact test specimen notch, such as the plastics, organic glass etc., it’s an ideal notching machine for plastic impact test. Surface with nickle coating, more reliable.

ZQK-20A Sample preparation notch machine for impact tester is used to process the non-metal material impact test specimen, such as the plastics, organic glass etc., The equipment uses electric drive and is equipped with specialized cutting tools, allowing for fast and precise processing of standard-compliant specimen notches.

Q1. What is the ISO 180 test?

A: ISO 180 is an international standard that specifies a pendulum impact test to determine the Izod impact strength of plastics. A vertically clamped specimen is broken by a single blow from a swinging striker, and the energy absorbed is measured and normalized to the specimen’s cross‑sectional area (kJ/m²).

Q2: Why is the ISO 180 Izod impact test important for plastic materials?

A: 1. It quantifies a core mechanical property (impact toughness) of plastics, distinguishing brittle materials from tough ones for material performance evaluation.

2. It serves as a universal benchmark for material selection, formula optimization and product design across global industries.

3. It acts as a key index for incoming inspection, production quality control and batch stability monitoring to prevent product failure caused by insufficient impact resistance.

4. It assesses material notch sensitivity by using different notch types, which guides the design of plastic parts with machined surfaces or structural gaps.

5. As an international standard, it ensures comparable test results among different laboratories, supporting global trade and technical communication.

Q3. What is the biggest mistake labs make in ISO 180 testing?

A:Common errors include:

Using a pendulum with absorbed energy outside the 10–80% range

Incorrect clamping force (especially for pressure‑sensitive plastics)

Measuring notch width (bₙ) with a standard flat‑anvil micrometer (requires profiled anvil)

Testing machined surface under tension for unnotched sheet specimens (invalidates result)

Q4: Why do we use notched specimens in the Izod test?

A: The machined notch creates a controlled stress concentration point. It ensures cracks initiate at a fixed position on every specimen, eliminating random fracture points and making test results stable, repeatable and comparable between different materials or batches. The notch geometry is strictly regulated to unify test conditions worldwide.

Q5: What is the difference between machined notches and moulded-in notches?

A: Machined notches (compliant with ISO 2818) are the preferred option for ISO 180. Moulded-in notches are allowed only if specified by the material standard, but their test results are not comparable to those of machined notches. Operators must regularly inspect the profile of all notches to guarantee compliance

Q6: What are the four failure modes defined in ISO 180?

A: Operators must record the failure type of each specimen after impact:

C (Complete break): The specimen splits into two or more pieces (including Hinge break H).

H (Hinge break): Incomplete break; the two fractured parts form an included angle less than 90°.

P (Partial break): Incomplete break that does not meet the definition of hinge break.

N (Non-break): No fracture occurs; only deformation or stress whitening is observedISO

Q7: What does a higher Izod impact strength value mean?

A: A higher value means the plastic absorbs more energy before fracturing, indicating better toughness, stronger resistance to sudden impact and superior ductility. Materials with low values are brittle and prone to cracking under shock loads.

Q8: What rules apply to data rounding and statistical reporting?

A: 1. All average impact strength values shall be reported to three significant figures.

2. Calculate the arithmetic mean and standard deviation following ISO 2602 if statistical parameters are required.

3. Classify results by failure modes: record the average of the dominant failure type; note the secondary failure type only if its proportion exceeds 1/3

Q8: What is the difference between ISO 180 (Izod) and ASTM D256 (Izod)?

A: They are two mainstream Izod test standards with obvious differences:

Specimen size: ISO 180 uses 80×10×4 mm specimens; ASTM D256 uses 64×12.7×3.2 mm.

Calculation method: ISO 180 divides absorbed energy by the cross-sectional area (unit: kJ/m²); ASTM D256 divides energy by specimen thickness (unit: J/m).

Notch dimensions and tolerance ranges are also different. Test results from the two standards are not directly comparable.

Q9: What common factors cause inconsistent test results?

A: 1. Poor specimen quality: distortion, scratches, uneven thickness or unqualified notch profile.

2. Uncontrolled clamping force: plastics sensitive to pressure will produce deviated data if clamping force is not standardized.

3. Non-compliant conditioning: inconsistent temperature or humidity.

4. Incorrect pendulum selection: absorbed energy beyond the 10%–80% range.

5. Failure to correct machine friction losses before calculation.

Q10: How to test sheet materials and anisotropic composites?

A: 1. For general sheets: The preferred thickness is 4 mm; sheets thicker than 10.2 mm shall be machined to 10 ± 0.2 mm. Type A notches are recommended.

2. For laminates and fibre-reinforced materials: The standard impact direction is edgewise parallel (blow parallel to the reinforcement plane). Only when specimen thickness equals width (h=b) can normal-direction impact (perpendicular to the reinforcement plane) be conducted. Prepare 10 specimens for each impact direction for anisotropic materials.

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