Designation: D 1456 – 86 (Reapproved 1996)

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS

100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Test Method for

Rubber Property—Elongation at Specific Stress1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1456; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope temperature, relative humidity, preconditioning of rubber, and

1.1 This test method covers determination of the elongation so forth. This test method is particularly useful for the
of soft vulcanized rubber compounds under a specified stress. evaluation of compounding materials used for reference pur-
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the poses.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 6. Apparatus
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 6.1 Testing Machine—Tests shall be made on a power-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. driven machine complying with the following requirements:
2. Referenced Documents The machine shall be capable of extending the specimen at a
uniform speed of between 75 and 90 mm/s (15 and 18 ft/min)
2.1 ASTM Standards: until the mass is freely suspended. It shall be equipped with a
D 1349 Practice for Rubber—Standard Temperatures for timing device that automatically starts the instant the mass is
Testing2 freely suspended by the specimen and signals the operator
D 3182 Practice for Rubber—Materials, Equipment, and when the elongation is to be measured. The machine shall have
Procedures for Mixing Standard Compounds and Prepar-
a millimetre scale and an indicating device so that elongation
ing Standard Vulcanized Sheets2
measurements to the nearest millimetre can be made without
D 3183 Practice for Rubber—Preparation of Pieces for Test
parallax. A holder shall be attached to the lower grip so that
Purposes from Products2
masses may be added, preferably by an automatic device, to
3. Terminology obtain the desired stress. The masses shall correspond to
multiples of the force required for 0.01-mm thickness of the
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
specimen and shall be accurate within the force required for
3.1.1 piece—the portion of the sample that is prepared for
0.002-mm thickness of the specimen. The grips that hold the
testing.
specimen in the tester shall be of a type that tightens automati-
3.1.2 specific stress—force divided by the cross-sectional
cally as the applied tension increases and exerts a uniform
area of the original specimen.
pressure across the gripping surfaces. A satisfactory tester,
4. Summary of Test Method including die and thickness gage, is shown in Fig. 1.
4.1 The test method starts with a piece taken from the 6.2 Die—The die shall be capable of cutting straight speci-
sample and includes: (1) the preparation of the specimen and mens with parallel sides, approximately 150 mm (6 in.) long
(2) measurement of the elongation of the specimen subjected to and within 60.02 mm (60.001 in.) of the specified width for
a prescribed stress for a specified period of time. The stress is the specimens (see 7.1) at any point along their length. A
applied by suspension of a known mass which, under gravity, suitable die is shown in Fig. 2. This die consists of six strips of
gives the desired stress. razor-blade steel, sharpened on one edge, and clamped in a
rigid mounting. The blades are approximately 150 mm (6 in.)
5. Significance and Use long, 19 mm (0.75 in.) wide, and 0.25 mm (0.010 in.) thick;
5.1 This test method is useful for determining the variability they are clamped rigidly between metal spacers to produce the
in material and the influence of parameters affecting the desired width of specimen and project approximately 3 mm
stress-strain properties of rubber vulcanizates, for example, (0.12 in.) above the spacers. The blades can easily be replaced
when they become dull or nicked.
6.3 Bench Marker—The bench marker shall have two
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-11 on Rubber parallel knife edges that are ground smooth and true, and that
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D11.10 on Physical Testing. are between 0.05 and 0.08 mm (0.002 and 0.003 in.) in width
Current edition approved March 27, 1986. Published May 1986. Originally
published as D 1456 – 57 T. Last previous edition D 1456 – 81. at the edge and beveled at an angle of not more than 15°. The
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 09.01. distances between the centers of the knife edges shall be 100 6

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 D 1456
6.6 Cutting Support—The cutting surface shall be a smooth,
slightly yielding surface for supporting a portion of the test
piece from which the specimen is to be cut so that the blade of
the die is not damaged during the cutting of the specimen. It is
recommended that the cutting support have three parts: (1) a
solid foundation, such as hardwood or plate glass; (2) a
semihard pad such as vinyl plastic or Masonite;3 and (3) a
smooth cutting surface such as rubber belting, leather belting,
or light cardboard.

7. Test Specimens
7.1 Preparation of Specimen—If the material is too thick or
has an uneven surface that may interfere with the test, the
material shall be buffed and prepared as described in Practices
D 3182 and D 3183. The portion of the test piece from which
the specimen is to be taken shall be buffed in a strip form
before cutting with the die. The width of the specimen depends
upon the testing machine used.
NOTE 1—Example: For machines supplied with masses in increments
of 0.01 lb for each 0.01-mm thickness of specimen, the width of the
specimen shall be 8.90 6 0.02 mm (0.357 6 0.001 in.) when the stress is
a multiple of 0.5 kPa and shall be 6.45 6 0.02 mm (0.254 6 0.001 in.)
when the stress is a multiple of 100 psi. This dimension permits the
following combinations of stresses to be applied with the four sets of
masses supplied with these machines:
Mass Set Stress, MPa Specimen Width, mm

A 0.25 8.90
B 0.50 8.90
C 1.00 8.90
D 2.00 8.90

Similarly, masses in increments of 5 g for each 0.01 mm of specimen

thickness give stresses in multiples of 0.5 MPa when the specimen width
FIG. 1 Strain Testing Machine is 9.80 6 0.02 mm.
7.2 Cutting Specimens—The specimen shall be cut with a
0.10 mm (3.9376 0.004 in.). A suitable bench marker is shown single stroke of the die, if possible, so as to obtain smooth-cut
in Fig. 3. surfaces. To facilitate cutting, the edges of the die may be
6.4 Stamp Pad—The stamp pad shall have a plane unyield- lubricated with water containing a wetting agent and a corro-
ing surface such as hardwood, plate glass, or plastic covered sion inhibitor such as 0.5 % sodium chromate or with silicone
with a pad containing ink of the desired color and quality for mold release emulsion before each specimen is cut. Bench
marking the specimen. The ink shall have no deteriorating marks 100.0 6 0.1 mm apart shall be placed on the straight
effect on the specimen and shall be of a contrasting color to that uniform section of the specimen perpendicular to the longitu-
of the specimen. dinal axis by means of the bench marker and ink. The specimen
6.5 Thickness Gage—The thickness gage shall measure the shall be free of mechanical damage.
average thickness of the specimen between bench marks 7.3 Measuring Specimens—The average thickness of the
accurately to 0.01 mm under a pressure of 22 6 5 kPa (3.26 specimen between bench marks shall be determined to the
0.7 psi). It shall be equipped with a dial indicator having nearest 0.01 mm by means of the thickness gage as described
0.01-mm graduations, where one revolution of the dial corre- in 6.5. The width of the specimen shall be taken as the distance
sponds to 1 mm, and the total range is 2.5 mm. The indicator between the cutting edges of the blades of the die. The
shall be mounted above a specially constructed base equipped cross-sectional area of the specimen shall be calculated by
with a pressure bar 100 mm long and slightly wider than the multiplying the width by the thickness of the specimen.
specimen. The pressure bar is pressed upon the surface of the
specimen by means of an adjustable spring. The bar is attached 8. Procedure
to a ball joint that possesses sufficient freedom of movement to 8.1 Test Temperature—The standard temperature (Note 2)
permit the dial gage to indicate the average thickness of the for testing shall be 23 6 2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F). Condition
specimen. A schematic diagram of the gage is shown in Fig. 4. specimens for at least 3 h. Where this temperature condition
When the knurled disk, D, is turned so that the handle, H, rests cannot be adhered to, the report shall include a statement of the
against the pin, P, the notch, N, in the rod, R, is at the top,
allowing the spring to pull the pressure bar against the
specimen. 3
Masonite is a registered trademark of the Masonite Corp.

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 D 1456

FIG. 2 Die for Cutting Specimens

applied to the specimen shall be as specified in the detail

specifications. Determine the force to be applied by
multiplying the specified stress by the cross-sectional area.
When specimens of the proper width are used in machines
equipped with an automatic device for adding the masses,
measure only the thickness of the specimen to apply the proper
masses. Apply the masses to the holder attached to the lower
grip.
8.3 Measurement of Elongation—Place the specimen in the
grips of the testing machine with the bench marks facing the
operator. Extend the specimen at a uniform speed of between
75 and 90 mm/s (15 and 18 ft/min) until the masses on the
lower grip are freely suspended. Measure the distance between
the bench marks 60 6 3 s after the masses are freely
suspended, and record the value to the nearest 1 mm.
9. Calculations
9.1 Calculate the elongation on the specimen as follows:
Elongation, % 5 E 2 100 (1)

where:
FIG. 3 Bench Marker E 5 the length in millimetres between bench marks when
the specimen is under stress.
actual temperature at the time of test. If the material is affected
by moisture, the specimen shall be conditioned at least 24 h NOTE 3—If a millimetre scale is used, with the zero at 100 mm from the
before testing in an atmosphere in which the relative humidity index for the upper bench mark, the elongation is then given directly on
is maintained at 506 5 %. the scale at the index for the lower bench mark.

NOTE 2—This standard temperature is the same as that prescribed in 10. Characteristics of Piece Tested
Practice D 1349.2 10.1 The median of the values for three specimens shall be
8.2 Determination of Force to Be Applied—The stress taken as the characteristics of the piece of rubber tested, except
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 D 1456

FIG. 4 Base for Thickness Gage

that under the following conditions the median of the values for 11.1.4 Data of vulcanization of the rubber, if known,
five specimens shall be used: 11.1.5 Date of test,
10.1.1 If one or more values do not meet the specified 11.1.6 Temperature of the test room if it is other than as
requirements when testing for compliance with specifications provided for in 5.1, and
and 11.1.7 Type of testing machine used.
10.1.2 If referee tests are being made.
12. Precision
11. Report 12.1 Because of a lack of laboratories willing to participate
11.1 The report shall include the following: in round robin testing, no precision data are available for this
11.1.1 The elongation calculated in accordance with Section standard.
9,
11.1.2 Stress applied to the specimen, 13. Keywords
11.1.3 Width of specimen, 13.1 elongation

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patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

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if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
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