ISO 37 Tensile Test on Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic

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

Descriptions of the most prominent lSO standards within the materials testing industry

Standards including EN, DIN, JlS, and more

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Tensile test evaluates material resistance to stretching, measuring strength/elongation critical for quality control. UnitedTest offers universal tensile testers (10-600KN) compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, providing tailored solutions for metals, polymers, medical & industrial materials.

Compression test assesses material resistance to compressive loads, measuring strength/deformation critical for quality validation. UnitedTest offers compression testing machines compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, providing tailored solutions for concrete, plastics, metals and industrial components.

Flexural & Bend tests evaluate material resistance to bending forces, measuring strength, stiffness and ductility for quality assurance. UnitedTest provides flexural testing machines (3-point/4-point bend) compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, offering tailored solutions for composites, plastics, metals and construction materials.

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ISO 37 (Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic -- Determination of tensile stress-strain properties) is the global standard for measuring the tensile mechanical performance of rubber materials. It defines a single core tensile test method to determine key properties like tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus, and yield behavior.

ISO 37 Test Principle and Test Methods:

A standardized specimen is stretched uniaxially at a constant speed until it breaks. The force required and the elongation are continuously measured. From this data, key properties are calculated:

Tensile Strength: The maximum tensile stress applied during the test at rupture.

Elongation at Break: The increase in length at the point of rupture, expressed as a percentage of the original gauge length.

Stress at a Given Elongation (e.g., @100%, @300%): The tensile stress required to stretch the specimen to a specified percentage of its original gauge length.

ISO 37 Rubber tensile test equipment required:

Universal Testing Machine

Complies with ISO 5893 (Class 1 force accuracy); capacity typically 1–5 kN; high‑stroke frame for large elongation (large than 800mm).

Die and Cutter, punching press

A precision die or cutter to prepare dumbbell or ring specimens.

ISO 37 Tensile Test on Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic

Thickness Gauge

The thickness gauge for measuring the thickness of dumb-bell test pieces and the axial thickness of ring test pieces in accordance with that used in method A of ISO 23529.

ISO 37 Tensile Test on Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic

Test specimen information of rubber test ISO 37:

ISO 37 defines two primary specimen types: dumbbell (dog‑bone) and ring. Dumbbells are most widely used.

Dumbbell Specimens: These are the most common. Specific die geometries are defined (e.g., Type 1, Type 2) to create a narrow, parallel-sided gauge section with enlarged ends for gripping.

Ring Specimens: Cut from a flat sheet or a tube. The entire ring is stretched between two pulley grips.

1. Dumbbell Specimens:


	Dimension (mm)	Type 1	Type 1A	Type 2	Type 3	Type 4
A	Overall length	115	100	75	50	35
B	Width of ends	25.0 ± 1	25.0 ± 1	12.5 ± 1	8.5 ± 0.5	6 ± 0.5
C	Length of narrow portion	33 ± 2	20	25 ± 1	16 ± 1	12 ± 0.5
D	Width of narrow portion	6	5 ± 0.1	4 ± 0.1	4 ± 0.1	2 ± 0.1
E	Transition radius outside	14 ± 1	11 ± 1	8 ± 0.5	7.5 ± 0.5	3 ± 0.1
F	Transition radius inside	25 ± 2	25 ± 2	12.5 ± 1	10 ± 0.5	3 ± 0.1
Thickness: 2.0 ± 0.2 mm (typical); measured at 3 points across the parallel section.
Quantity: Minimum 5 specimens per test batch.

2, Ring type sample:


Type A	Internal diameter of 44.6 mm ± 0.2 mm. The median axial thickness and median radial width shall be 4 mm ± 0.2mm.
Type B	Internal diameter of 8 mm ± 0.1 mm. The median axial thickness and median radial width shall be 1 mm ± 0.1mm.
Use for materials where dumbbell preparation is difficult (e.g., very soft rubbers).

General Test Procedures:

Specimen Preparation: Prepare at least three test pieces using the specified die/cutter. Measure the cross-sectional dimensions (thickness and width) of the narrow section.

Mounting: Clamp the specimen in the grips of the testing machine, ensuring it is aligned axially without pre-stress.

Setting Parameters: Set the testing speed. Common speeds are 500 mm/min for dumbbell specimens (Type 1, 1A, 2) and 200 mm/min for (Type 3, 4) ; For Ring sample, speed 500 mm/min for A type, and 100mm/min for B type.

Testing: Start the machine and stretch the specimen until it ruptures. Record the force-extension curve continuously.

Calculation: From the recorded curve and initial dimensions, calculate:

Tensile Strength = Maximum Force / Original Cross-Sectional Area.

Elongation at Break = (Increase in Gauge Length at Break / Original Gauge Length) × 100%.

Stress at Given Elongation = Force at that Elongation / Original Cross-Sectional Area.

Reporting: The median result from the tested specimens is typically reported.

Related standard with ISO 37:

ASTM D412	Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers --Tension; (similar but not identical to ISO 37).
DIN 53504	Testing of rubber - Determination of tensile strength at break, tensile stress at yield, elongation at break and stress values in a tensile test; German national standard (aligned with ISO 37).
JIS K 6251	Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic -- Determination of tensile stress-strain properties
TIS 1847	Rubber vulcanized or thermoplastic.determination of tensile stress.strain properties
UNE 53510	Rubber, vulcanized or themoplastic. Determination of tensile stress-strain properties.

ISO 37 and ASTM D412 are both widely recognized tensile test methods designed to evaluate the stress-strain characteristics of various rubber materials, including natural rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone rubber, and thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). While both standards aim to determine the tensile properties of rubber and elastomers, they differ in their specific methodologies and applications.

ISO 37 , Measure the parameter for:

ISO 37 , ASTM D412 evaluates a material's elasticity and post-test behavior following tensile strain.

Tests have to be conducted on a testing machine at a controlled speed (500 ± 50 mm/min) for a distance of at least 750 mm. ASTM D412 assesses also various tensile properties, such as:

Tensile strength.

Tensile stress at a given elongation.

Ultimate elongation.

Tensile set.

ISO 37 Tensile Test on Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic

ISO 37 , ASTM D412 – APPLICATIONS

The ISO 37 , ASTM D412 standard finds critical applications across diverse industries, like:

Automotive: Rigorous testing ensures the reliability of rubber components in vehicles, from tires to gaskets.

Aerospace: Meeting stringent safety and performance standards for elastomeric materials used in aircraft components like O-rings and gaskets.

Manufacturing and Construction: Selecting dependable elastomeric materials for applications such as conveyor belts, industrial seals, and vibration isolators.

Raw material development: Characterizing new rubber compounds.

Quality control (QC): Incoming material inspection and production batch verification.

Product design: Automotive tires, seals, hoses, belts, gaskets, medical devices, footwear, and industrial rubber parts.

Regulatory compliance: Global market acceptance and CE marking for rubber products.

Why the ISO 37 Tensile Test is Important for the Rubber Material:

The tensile stress-strain test per ISO 37 is critically important because it provides the most fundamental mechanical properties that define a rubber's elastic behavior and structural integrity:

Mechanical Strength Indicator: Tensile strength reveals the material's ultimate load-bearing capacity before failure. A low value can indicate poor curing, degradation, or inadequate formulation.

Elasticity and Ductility Measure: Elongation at break shows how much the material can stretch before failing, which is central to its functionality as an elastomer. It indicates flexibility and toughness.

Modulus/Stiffness Parameter: Stress at a given elongation (e.g., 100% modulus) is a direct measure of stiffness or resistance to deformation under load. This is crucial for predicting how a part will perform under service strain—for instance, whether a seal will maintain sufficient contact pressure.

Quality and Consistency Benchmark: It is a primary, sensitive test for detecting variations in compounding, mixing, curing (vulcanization), and processing. Deviations from expected results signal production issues.

Essential for Design and Selection: Engineers use this data to select the right rubber grade for an application, simulate behavior via FEA, and ensure the material can withstand expected stresses in use.

A single column tensile tester is a sophisticated material testing instrument designed for measuring mechanical properties of various materials under tension, compression, bending, shear, and other loading conditions. As the name suggests, it features a single vertical column supporting a moving crosshead that applies force to test specimens.

Electric sample punching machine is a sample preparation device designed based on the punching principle, specifically developed for preparing standard samples of sheet-like, film-like, and thin plate materials.

An eccentric roller grip is a self‑tightening tensile clamping device that uses an off‑center (eccentric) cam roller to generate increasing clamping force as tensile load rises. It is widely used for soft, thin, high‑elongation materials that tend to slip in standard vise grips.

UnitedTest UT1027 Video extensometer, is a non-contact real-time high-precision strain measurement system, which is based on a separate camera and real-time image processing algorithm, by taking images of the experimental process, analyzing image characteristic changes, dynamically measuring the strain changes of the specimen, accurately and quickly realizing the functions of traditional extensometers.

High Elongation Extensometer is mainly used together with the tensile test machine for the rubber tension testing. It can measure the elongation of the product with high precision and accurately capture the displacement data. With a deformation measurement range typically from 10mm to 800mm.

Q1: What is the main purpose of the ISO 37 test?

A: Its primary purpose is to determine the fundamental tensile properties of vulcanized and thermoplastic rubber: Tensile Strength, Elongation at Break, and Stress at a Given Elongation (Modulus). These values are essential for material specification, quality control, and design engineering.

Q2: Why is measuring "Stress at 100% or 300% Elongation" (Modulus) so important?

A: This "modulus" is a critical indicator of a rubber compound's stiffness or hardness under load. It tells engineers how much force is needed to stretch the material a specific amount. For example, a high 100% modulus indicates a stiffer, harder rubber, which is vital for predicting how a seal will perform under compression or a belt will resist stretching in use.

Q3: Dumbbell vs. Ring specimen: which one should I use?

A:Dumbbell Specimens are the most common. They ensure failure occurs in the narrow gauge section, away from the grip influences, providing consistent results for most materials.

Ring Specimens are often used for materials where cutting a dumbbell is difficult (e.g., thin tubes) or for testing adhesion between layers. The stress state is different, so results are not directly comparable to dumbbell tests.

Q4: How does ISO 37 relate to the ASTM D412 standard?

A: ISO 37 and ASTM D412 are technically very similar and are considered equivalent standards for tensile testing rubber. Both specify dumbbell and ring tests. The main differences are often in minor procedural details, tolerances, and preferred test speeds. Many international companies accept data from either standard.

Q5. What properties does ISO 37 measure?

A:Tensile strength (MPa)

Elongation at break (%)

Modulus (stress at 100%, 300% elongation)

Yield stress and elongation (for TPEs)

Stress‑strain curve

Q6. What if the specimen breaks at the grip?

A: The result is invalid and must be discarded. The test must be repeated with improved gripping or specimen alignment. Only breaks in the narrow parallel section are valid.

Q7. Is ISO 37 suitable for all rubbers?

A: It is suitable for most vulcanized rubbers and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE, TPU, TPV). Very soft, highly extensible, or extremely rigid materials may require modified test conditions.

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