ISO 9854 Pipe Pendulum impact strength by the Charpy method

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ISO 9854-1: Thermoplastics pipes for the transport of fluids — Determination of Charpy impact properties — Part 1: General test method

ISO 9854-2: Thermoplastics pipes for the transport of fluids — Determination of Charpy impact properties — Part 2: Test conditions for pipes of various materials

ISO 9854 specifying Charpy pendulum impact test to evaluate low-temperature and room-temperature toughness of fluid-transporting thermoplastic pipes. Part 1 defines universal test rules while Part 2 sets customized testing parameters for individual thermoplastic pipe grades (PVC‑U, PE, PP‑R, ABS, PVC‑O, PVC‑HI, etc.). It is a supplementary Charpy test alternative when the reference full-pipe drop-weight impact test (ISO 3127) cannot be implemented for factory QC or material R&D.

Test principle

The principle is a Charpy-type (horizontal simply-supported beam) pendulum impact:

A pipe-derived specimen is conditioned to a specified temperature (typically −20 °C, 0 °C, or 23 °C, depending on material/size and product/part-2 requirements).

The specimen is placed on anvils/supports spanning a defined gap (span L, e.g. 70±0.5 mm or 40±0.5 mm depending on specimen type).

The pendulum striker swings down and delivers a single blow at mid-span (or directly opposite the notch for notched specimens).

The machine measures (or the operator records) the energy absorbed and the failure mode after impact.

Two specific test methods in ISO 9854-1:

Method A — Unnotched specimens (more “go/no-go” toughness screening)

Specimens are cut from the pipe wall (longitudinal strips, or circumferential strips for larger diameters, or short pipe lengths for very small diameters).

Results are typically expressed as percentage of specimens failing (break/crack types observed), rather than a single neat “strength number” for every case.

Typical pendulum impact velocity ~3.8 m/s, striker tip geometry defined (≈30° tip, tip radius 2.0 mm ±0.5 mm), pendulums commonly 15 J / 50 J.

Supports differ by specimen type: whole-pipe “type 1” uses larger supports; strip specimens use standard anvil radii and spans (L = 70 mm or 40 mm depending on type).

Method B — Notched specimens (more quantitative, stress-concentration-controlled)

Pipe specimens are machined and then a machined notch is introduced (notch type A: 45° ±1°, notch-tip radius 0.25 mm ±0.05 mm, located at center ±1 mm).

Two sub-orientations appear: flatwise impact (striking the pipe’s inner/outer face) and edgewise impact (striking the cut edge of the strip), with specimen thickness/wall sizing rules depending on whether eₙ ≤ 6 mm or eₙ > 6 mm.

Impact velocity specified around ~2.9 m/s, and the standard requires that absorbed energy sits between 10%–80% of available pendulum energy (use the highest-energy pendulum meeting this).

Test Specimen Specifications

Method A (unnotched):

Very small pipes (dₙ ≤ 25 mm): short 100 mm ±2 mm pipe lengths (type 1).

dₙ ≥ 25 mm and <75 mm: longitudinal cut strips (type 2: l=50±1, b=6±0.2; or type 3: l=120±2, b=15±0.5), thickness = manufactured wall e.

dₙ ≥ 75 mm and <160 mm: longitudinal strips orcircumferential specimens (type 4: circumferential strip 50×6…).

dₙ ≥160 mm: longitudinal strips orcircumferential specimens up to type 5 (120×15…).

ISO 9854 Pipe Pendulum impact strength by the Charpy method

Method B (notched):

uses longitudinal strips, then notched (typically on the original pipe inner surface or on the machined edge, flatwise/edgewise as defined) with controlled remaining thickness hN:

Type 6: flatwise, eₙ ≤ 6 mm

Type 7: flatwise, eₙ > 6 mm (machined to ~4 mm thick, hN=3.2±0.2)

Type 8: edgewise, eₙ ≤ 6 mm

Type 9: edgewise variants for thicker walls

ISO 9854 Pipe Pendulum impact strength required Testing Machine:

Pendulum impact testing machine	Conforming characteristics; verification/checks aligned with ISO 13802; striker tip ~30°, tip radius 2.0 mm ±0.5 mm; Common energies 15 J / 50 J for Method A (Method B selects pendulum to keep energy in 10–80% range)
Micrometers / gauges	Accuracy 0.02 mm; for notched specimens the micrometer spindle/profile must suit the notch geometry (notch-tip radius check methods referenced to ISO 179-1)
Conditioning system	Thermostatically controlled enclosure orliquid bath at specified Tc (−20/0/23 °C ±2 °C typical); liquid must not attack the plastic
Specimen supports/anvils	Shapes/spans defined per specimen type: spans L = 70±0.5 mm or 40±0.5 mm (some notched layouts use 62±0.5 mm). Anvil radii ~1–2 mm, extended support areas for wider/circumferential specimens. Method A: Special curved anvils for full-pipe ring specimens (Type 1) and flat-cut longitudinal/circumferential strips (Type 2~5); adjustable horizontal anvil fixed point parallel to pendulum swing plane. Method B: Dedicated fixture for flatwise/edgewise notched specimens (Type 6~9) with standardized support span dimensions.

Test procedures of ISO 9854 Plastic Pipe Pendulum Charpy Impact Test:

Pipe production wait: ≥24 h before specimen prep (routine case).

Sample cutting/machining (ISO 2818 style): cut strips/segments, keep struck surfaces/contact surfaces smooth, no chamfer burrs.

Measure dimensions: b and h (Method A) or b and hN (Method B) to 0.02 mm, generally before conditioning.

Conditioning: immerse/store in bath or enclosure at Tc (−20/0/23 °C as specified) for the minimum times per standard; avoid specimen–specimen or specimen–wall contact.

Testing loop: remove specimen → place on correct anvils (correct orientation: e.g. convex upwhere noted) → strike within allowed time window → record energy (if quantitative) + failure mode.

Repeat for the required number of specimens.

Report per Clause 10 (pipe ID, method, specimen type/orientation, Tc & ambient T, pendulum energy, failures %, and for Method B the mean a_cN, SD if required, dominant failure type, etc.).

Industry Application Scope of ISO9854 Test

1 Core applicable pipe materials (specified in ISO9854‑2)

PVC‑U, PVC‑HI, PVC‑O, PVC‑C, ABS, ASA, PP‑H, PP‑B, PP‑R, PP‑RCT, HDPE/MDPE/LLDPE thermoplastic pipes for liquid conveyanceISO.

2 Target industrial fields

Municipal construction: Potable water supply pipe, sewage drainage plastic pipe, rainwater collection pipeline production QC & incoming raw material inspection

Building plumbing: Indoor cold/hot water PP‑R/PE piping factory batch inspection and new material formulation R&D

Agricultural irrigation: Large-diameter PE farm irrigation pipe low-temperature anti-fracture performance verification

Industrial fluid transmission: Chemical medium delivery resistant plastic pipe material toughness development and batch certification

Polymer lab R&D: New modified thermoplastic compound formulation screening, low-temperature brittleness research when ISO3127 full-pipe drop test cannot be realized due to oversized pipe dimension or insufficient sample quantity.

Related Test Standard:

GB/T 18743.1	Thermoplastics pipes—Determination of pendulum impact strength by the Charpy method—Part 1:General test method
GB/T 18743.2	Thermoplastics pipes—Determination of pendulum impact strength by the Charpy method—Part 2: Test condition for pipes of various materials
ISO 179-1	Base Charpy impact definitions, striker/anvil logic, notch type A definition (plastic Charpy framework)
ISO 9854-2	Provides the material-specific test parameters (energy, specimen type, temperature, supports) for PVC-U/PVC-HI/PVC-O/PVC-C/ABS/ASA/PP-H/PP-B/PP-R/PP-RCT/PE, etc.

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.

Q1: What exactly is the ISO 9854 test?

A: ISO 9854 is an international standard that defines how to measure the impact resistance of thermoplastic pipes using a Charpy pendulum impact test. Instead of testing full pipes, you cut specimens from the pipe wall and strike them with a swinging pendulum under controlled temperature and geometry. It comes in two parts:

ISO 9854-1: General test method (the document you have).

ISO 9854-2: Material-specific test parameters (e.g., which pendulum energy, specimen type, and temperature to use for PVC, PE, PP, etc.).

Q2: Why is this test important for pipe materials?

A: Thermoplastic pipes often fail due to brittle fracture under sudden impact, especially at low temperatures or during installation. ISO 9854 helps:

Detect low-temperature brittleness (e.g., pipes buried in cold climates).

Identify manufacturing defects (poor fusion, degradation, improper additives).

Compare different materials or formulations in R&D.

Provide a practical alternative when the full-pipe reference test (ISO 3127 drop-weight) is too costly or impossible for large pipes.

Q3: How does ISO 9854 differ from ISO 3127 (the reference pipe impact test)?

Aspect	ISO 9854	ISO 3127
Test object	Small specimens cut from pipe	Full pipe or pipe section
Impact method	Pendulum (Charpy)	Falling mass (drop-weight)
Status	Not the reference method	Reference method for pipe impact strength
Typical use	R&D, material QC, troubleshooting	Product certification, regulatory compliance

Q4: How do I report results?

A:Method A: Percentage of specimens failing (complete break H, partial break P, non-break N).

Method B: Mean Charpy impact strength (acNin kJ/m²) + standard deviation + dominant failure type.

Report must include: pipe ID, specimen type, method used, conditioning temperature, pendulum energy, ambient temperature, and any anomalies.

Q5: Why is ISO 9854 not the primary reference impact test for finished plastic pipes?

A: ISO 3127 (full-pipe falling mass drop-weight impact test) is the globally recognized reference method for finished pipe certification. ISO 9854 only tests small machined specimens cut from pipe wall instead of intact whole pipe; it is used when full-pipe ISO3127 testing cannot be implemented (oversized pipe, insufficient sample quantity, lab material R&D, batch spot QC, post-failure analysis).

Q6: Four standard failure types defined by ISO9854, how to define each?

A: C (Complete break): Specimen splits into ≥2 separate pieces; Hinge break (H) is statistically grouped into Complete Break for Method A reporting

H (Hinge break): Partial crack, only thin peripheral polymer layer connects two fractured parts with ultra-low stiffness hinge

P (Partial break): Incomplete penetration crack through wall without hinge connection

N (Non-break): No full-wall crack penetration, only specimen deformation or surface stress whitening visible.

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