ASTM D1004-13
Standard Test Method for Tear Resistance (Graves Tear) of Plastic Film and Sheeting

Standard No.

ASTM D1004-13

Release Date

2013

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM D1004-21

Latest

ASTM D1004-21

Scope

5.1 Tear resistance of plastic film or sheeting is a complex function of its ultimate resistance to rupture. The specimen geometry and speed of testing in this test method are controlled to produce tearing in a small area of stress concentration at rates far below those usually encountered in service. Experience has shown the test to have its best reliability for materials which do not have brittle failure or do not elongate greater than two hundred percent during testing.

5.2 The data from this test method furnish comparative information for ranking the tearing resistance of plastic specimens of similar composition. Actual use performance in tearing of some plastics may not necessarily correlate with data from this test method.

5.3 The resistance to tear of plastic film and sheeting, while partly dependent upon thickness, has no simple correlation with specimen thickness. Hence, tearing forces measured in newtons (or pounds-force) cannot be normalized over a wide range of specimen thickness without producing misleading data as to the actual tearing resistance of the material. Data from this test method are comparable only from specimens, which vary by no more than ±108201;% from the nominal or average thickness of all specimens tested. Therefore, the tearing resistance is expressed in maximum newtons (or pounds-force) of force to tear the specimen.

5.4 The tear resistance of plastic film may be a specification that requires the use of this test method, but with some procedural modifications that take precedence when adhering to the specification. Therefore, it is advisable to refer to that material specification before using this test method. Table 1 of Classification System D4000 lists the ASTM materials standards that currently exist.

1.1 This test method² covers the determination of the tear resistance of flexible plastic film and sheeting at very low rates of loading, 51 mm (2 in.)/min. and is designed to measure the force to initiate tearing. The specimen geometry of this test method produces a stress concentration in a small area of the specimen. The maximum stress, usually found near the onset of tearing, is recorded as the tear resistance in newtons (or pounds-force). The method is not applicable for film or sheeting material where brittle failures occur during testing or where maximum extension is greater than 101.6 mm (4 in.).

1.1.1 Although resistance to tear can be expressed in newtons per microns, (pounds-force per mil) of specimen thickness, this is only advisable where correlation for the particular material being tested has been established. In most cases, comparison between films of dissimilar thickness is not valid.

Note 1—Film has been arbitrarily defined as sheeting having nominal thickness not greater than 0.25 mm (0.010 in.).

1.2 Constant-Rate-of-Grip Separation Test—This test method employs a constant rate of separation of the grips holding the test specimen.

1.2.1 Specimen extension may be measured in this t......

ASTM D1004-13 Referenced Document

• ASTM D4000 Standard Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
• ASTM D5947 Standard Test Methods for Physical Dimensions of Solid Plastics Specimens
• ASTM D618 Standard Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
• ASTM D6988 Standard Guide for Determination of Thickness of Plastic Film Test Specimens
• ASTM D882 Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting
• ASTM D883 Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics
• ASTM E4 Standard Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
• ASTM E691 Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

ASTM D1004-13 history

• 2021 ASTM D1004-21 Standard Test Method for Tear Resistance (Graves Tear) of Plastic Film and Sheeting
• 2013 ASTM D1004-13 Standard Test Method for Tear Resistance (Graves Tear) of Plastic Film and Sheeting
• 2009 ASTM D1004-09 Standard Test Method for Tear Resistance (Graves Tear) of Plastic Film and Sheeting
• 2008 ASTM D1004-08 Standard Test Method for Tear Resistance (Graves Tear) of Plastic Film and Sheeting
• 2007 ASTM D1004-07 Standard Test Method for Tear Resistance (Graves Tear) of Plastic Film and Sheeting
• 2003 ASTM D1004-03 Standard Test Method for Initial Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Sheeting
• 1994 ASTM D1004-94a(2003) Standard Test Method for Initial Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Sheeting
• 1994 ASTM D1004-94a Standard Test Method for Initial Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Sheeting