This International Standard specifies a method for determining the Izod 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 is 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.
The 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; rigid thermoplastics sheets;
rigid thermosetting moulding materials, including filled and reinforced compounds; rigid thermosetting sheets,
including laminates;
fibre-reinforced thermosetting and thermoplastic composites incorporating unidirectional or non-unidirectional
reinforcements such as mat, woven fabrics, woven rovings, chopped strands, combination and hybrid
reinforcements, rovings and milled fibres and sheet made from pre-impregnated materials (prepregs);
thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers.
The method is not normally suitable for use with rigid cellular materials and sandwich structures containing
cellular material. Also, notched specimens are not normally used for long-fibre-reinforced composites or
thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers.
The method is suited to the use of specimens which may be either moulded to the chosen dimensions,
machined from the central portion of a standard multipurpose test specimen (see ISO 3167) or machined from
finished or semifinished products such as mouldings, laminates and extruded or cast sheet.
The method specifies preferred dimensions for the test specimen. Tests which are carried out on specimens
of different dimensions or with different notches, or specimens which are prepared under different conditions, may
produce results which are not comparable. Other factors, such as the energy capacity of the apparatus, its impact
velocity and the conditioning of the specimens can also influence the results. Consequently, when comparative
data are required, these factors must be carefully controlled and recorded.
The method should not be used as a source of data for design calculations. Information on the typical
behaviour of a material can be obtained, however, by testing at different temperatures, by varying the notch radius
and/or the thickness and by testing specimens prepared under different conditions.
ISO 180:2000/Amd 1:2006 history
2023ISO 180:2023 Plastics. Determination of Izod impact strength
2019ISO 180:2019 Thermal insulating products for building equipment and industrial installations — Determination of maximum service temperature for preformed pipe insulation
2013ISO 180:2000/Amd 2:2013 Plastics - Determination of Izod impact strength - Amendment 2: Precision data