European Committee for Standardization

Plastics - Determination of flexural properties - Incorporates Amendment A1: 2013
 N EN ISO 178

Annotation

This International Standard specifies a method for determining the flexural properties of rigid (see 3.12) and semi-rigid plastics under defined conditions. A standard test specimen is defined, but parameters are included for alternative specimen sizes for use where appropriate. A range of test speeds is included.

The method is used to investigate the flexural behaviour of the test specimens and to determine the flexural strength, flexural modulus and other aspects of the flexural stress/strain relationship under the conditions defined. It applies to a freely supported beam, loaded at midspan (three-point loading test).

The method is suitable for use with the following range of materials:

- thermoplastic moulding, extrusion and casting materials, including filled and reinforced compounds in addition to unfilled types; rigid thermoplastics sheets;

- thermosetting moulding materials, including filled and reinforced compounds; thermosetting sheets.

In agreement with ISO 10350-1[5] and ISO 10350-2[6], this International Standard applies to fibre-reinforced compounds with fibre lengths < 7,5 mm prior to processing. For long-fibre-reinforced materials (laminates) with fibre lengths > 7,5 mm, see ISO 14125[7].

The method is not normally suitable for use with rigid cellular materials or sandwich structures containing cellular material. In such cases, ISO 1209-1[3] and/or ISO 1209-2[4] can be used.

NOTE For certain types of textile-fibre-reinforced plastic, a four-point bending test is preferred. This is described in ISO 14125.