Designation: D 747 – 99 An American National Standard

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS

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Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Test Method for

Apparent Bending Modulus of Plastics by Means of a
Cantilever Beam1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 747; 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.

1. Scope * 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the appar- 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
ent bending modulus2 of plastics by means of a cantilever 3.1.1 apparent bending modulus—an apparent modulus of
beam. It is well suited for determining relative flexibility of elasticity obtained in flexure, using a cantilever beam testing
materials over a wide range. It is particularly useful for apparatus, where the deformation involved is not purely elastic
materials too flexible to be tested by Test Methods D 790. but contains both elastic and plastic components.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information 4. Significance and Use
only. 4.1 This test method provides a means of deriving the
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the apparent bending modulus of a material by measuring force
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the and angle of bend of a cantilever beam. The mathematical
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- derivation assumes small deflections and purely elastic behav-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- ior. Under actual test conditions, the deformation has both
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. elastic and plastic components. This test method does not
distinguish or separate these, and hence a true elastic modulus
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent for this standard.
is not calculable. Instead, an apparent value is obtained and is
2. Referenced Documents defined as the apparent bending modulus of the material. The
2.1 ASTM Standards: tangent modulus obtained by Test Methods D 790 is preferred,
D 374 Test Methods for Thickness of Solid Electrical Insu- when the material can be tested by the Test Methods D 790 test
lation3 procedure.
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical 4.2 Because of deviations from purely elastic behavior,
Insulating Materials for Testing4 changes in span length, width, and depth of the specimen will
D 790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced affect the value of the apparent bending modulus obtained;
and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materi- therefore, values obtained from specimens of different dimen-
als4 sions may not necessarily be comparable.
D 4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Mate- 4.3 Rate of loading is controlled only to the extent that the
rials5 rate of angular change of the rotating jaw is fixed at 58 to
D 4066 Specification for Nylon Injection and Extrusion 66°/min. Actual rate of stressing will be affected by span
Materials5 length, width, depth of the specimen, and weight of the
E 177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in pendulum.
ASTM Test Methods6 4.4 For many materials, there may be a specification that
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to requires the use of this test method, but with some procedural
Determine the Precision of a Test Method6 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 Classi-
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics fication System D 4000 lists the ASTM materials standards that
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.10 on Mechanical Properties. currently exist.
Current edition approved March 10, 1999. Published June 1999. Originally
published as D 747 – 43 T. Last previous edition D 747 – 93. NOTE 2—A discussion of the theory of obtaining a purely elastic
2
This property was designated stiffness in versions of this test method issued bending modulus, using a cantilever beam testing apparatus, can be found
prior to 1984. in Appendix X1. The results obtained under actual test conditions will be
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.01. the apparent bending modulus.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.
6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

1
 D 747
5. Apparatus shall be calibrated such that:
5.1 The apparatus for the apparent bending modulus test, as Load scale reading 5 100 WL sin u/ M (2)
shown in Fig. 1, shall be the cantilever beam bending type,
consisting essentially of the following: where:
5.1.1 Vise—A specimen vise, V, to which the pointer M 5 bending moment at a load scale reading of 100.
indicator I2 is attached, and which is capable of uniform Thus,
clockwise rotation about the point O at a nominal rate of 60° of Mw 5 ~M 3 load scale reading!/100 (3)
arc/min.
where:
5.1.2 Weighing System—A pendulum weighing system, in-
Mw 5 actual bending moment.
cluding an angular deflection scale, pointer indicator I1, bend-
5.1.4 Angular Deflection Scale—The angular deflection
ing plate Q for contacting the free end of the specimen, and a
scale shall be calibrated in degrees of arc and shall indicate the
series of detachable weights. This system shall be pivoted for
angle through which the rotating vise has been turned relative
nearly frictionless rotation about the point O. The total applied
to the pendulum system. This is the difference between the
bending moment, MW, consists of the effective moment of the
angle through which the vise has been turned and the angle
pendulum and the bending plate, A1, plus the moments of the
through which the load pendulum has been deflected, and is
added calibrated weights, A2. Thus,
designated as angle f.
MW 5 WL sin u (1) 5.1.5 Depth Measuring Devices—Suitable micrometers, or
where: thickness gages, reading to 0.0025 mm (0.0001 in.) or less,
Mw 5 actual bending moment at the angle u, shall be used for measuring the depth of the test specimens.
W 5 total applied load, N (or lbf), The pressure exerted by the gage on the specimen being
L 5 length of the pendulum arm, m (or in.), and measured shall be between 159 and 186 kPa (23 and 27 psi).
u 5 angle through which the pendulum rotates. Method A of Test Methods D 374 may be used. Alternatively,
the apparatus and procedure of Method C of Test Methods
NOTE 3—Auxiliary weights for the test apparatus7 are calibrated and
D 374 may be used provided the load on the spindle is
marked directly with the values for M, the bending moment at a load
reading of 100. Since Mw depends on the geometry of the testing machine, increased so that the exerted pressure is between 159 and 186
these weights are not interchangeable between machines of different kPa (23 and 27 psi).
capacities. 5.1.6 Width-Measuring Devices—Suitable scales or other
5.1.3 Load Scale—A fixed scale that measures the load as a width measuring devices reading to 0.025 mm (0.001 in.) or
function of the deflection, u, of the load pendulum system. It less shall be used for measuring the width of the test specimen.

7
6. Test Specimens
This apparatus can be obtained from Tinius Olsen Testing Machine Co., Inc.,
Easton Road., Willow Grove, PA 19090. 6.1 Test specimens may be molded or cut from molded,
calendered, or cast sheets of the material to be tested. They
shall have a rectangular cross section and shall be cut with their
longitudinal axes parallel to the direction of the principal axis
of anisotropy, unless anisotropy effects are specifically to be
evaluated. The width and depth of the specimen to be tested, as
well as the span length, will depend upon the apparent bending
modulus of the material and the capacity of the testing
machine. Specimens shall have an even surface. If they exhibit
a surface tackiness, they shall be dusted lightly with talc before
being tested.
6.2 Specimen width shall be between 5.0 and 25.4 mm (0.25
and 1.00 in.), provided the material does not extend over the
width of the anvil. Width shall be measured to the nearest 0.025
mm (0.001 in.).
6.3 The minimum specimen depth shall be 0.5 mm (0.020
in.) and shall be measured to the nearest 0.0025 cm (0.0001
in.).
NOTE 4—A minimum specimen depth requirement is included since a
large percentage error can result in the final apparent bending modulus
value because of small errors in the depth measurement. The reason for
this large dependence of apparent bending modulus on depth errors is
because the depth is to the third power in the formula.
6.4 The span-to-depth ratio shall be greater than 15 to 1.
Large span-to-depth ratios may be limited by the sensitivity of
the load-measuring and deflectometer equipment.
FIG. 1 Mechanical System of Test Apparatus 6.5 The number of specimens tested shall be at least five.

2
 D 747
7. Conditioning
7.1 Conditioning—Condition the test specimens at 23 6
2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F) and 50 6 5 % relative humidity for not less
than 40 h prior to test in accordance with Procedure A of
Practice D 618, for those tests where conditioning is required.
In cases of disagreement, the tolerances shall be 61°C
(61.8°F) and 62 % relative humidity.
7.1.1 Note that for some hygroscopic materials, such as
nylons, the material specifications (for example, Specification
D 4066) call for testing “dry as-molded specimens.” Such
requirements take precedence over the above routine precon-
ditioning to 50 % relative humidity and require sealing the
specimens in water vapor-impermeable containers as soon as
molded and not removing them until ready for testing.
7.2 Test Conditions—Conduct tests in the standard labora-
tory atmosphere of 23 6 2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F) and 50 6 5 %
relative humidity, unless otherwise specified in the test meth- FIG. 2 Ideal Curve
ods or in this test method. In cases of disagreement, the
tolerances shall be 61°C (61.8°F) and 62 % relative humid-
ity.
7.3 Specimens to be tested at temperatures above or below
normal shall be conditioned at the test temperature at least 2 h
prior to testing, unless shorter equilibration time has been
proven. The test apparatus itself should be conditioned 2 h
before testing.
7.4 Lubrication of Test Apparatus— For operations at tem-
peratures below 0°C (32°F) it may be necessary to remove all
the lubricant from the gear box, bearings, etc., of the apparatus
and replace it with kerosine or silicone oil.
8. Procedure
8.1 Place the test apparatus on an approximately level
surface. Add necessary weights to the pendulum and, if
necessary, adjust the load scale to indicate zero. Set the
bending pin or plate to the proper bending span as determined FIG. 3 Typical Curve for Nonrigid Material
in 5.4. Start the motor and keep it running throughout the tests
to minimize friction effects in the weighing system. cant figures, as follows:
8.2 For maximum precision choose the value of M so that,
E b 5 ~4S/wd 3! 3 @~M 3 load scale reading!/100 f# (4)
at an angle of 3°, the load scale reading is between 5 and 10.
If this value is not known, determine it by trial and error using where:
the standard procedure. After obtaining M, test five specimens. Eb 5 apparent bending modulus, Pa (or psi),
8.3 Firmly clamp the test specimen in the vise with the S 5 span length, length measured from the center of
centerline approximately parallel to the face of the dial plate. rotation of the pendulum weighing system and the
By turning the hand crank, apply sufficient load to the specimen vise to the contacting edge of the bending
specimen to show a 1 % load reading and then set the angle plate, m (or in.),
pointer to zero. Record this point and plot it as part of the data. w 5 specimen width, m (or in.),
8.4 Hold down the motor engaging lever and take subse- d 5 specimen depth, m (or in.),
quent load scale readings at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15°. Do not retest M 5 total bending moment value of the pendulum system,
any specimen. N·m (or lbf·in.), based on the moment of the basic
pendulum system, a1, plus the moments indicated on
9. Calculation the calibrated weight or weights, a2, and
9.1 Plot the data on coordinate paper with the load scale f 5 reading on angular deflection scale converted to
reading as ordinate and the angular deflection as abscissa. radians (Table 1).
9.2 Draw the steepest straight line through at least three
consecutive points on the plot (see Fig. 2, Fig. 3, and Fig. 4). 10. Report
If this line does not pass through the origin, translate it parallel 10.1 Report the following information:
to itself until it passes through the origin. Use the data obtained 10.1.1 Complete identification of the material tested, includ-
from this line in the equation given in 9.3. ing type, source, manufacturer’s code number, form, surface,
9.3 Calculate the apparent bending modulus to three signifi- width of the test specimens, span, and directionality,

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 D 747
10.1.5 Date of test.

11. Precision and Bias 8

11.1 Table 2 is based on a round-robin test conducted in
1981, in accordance with Practice E 691, involving four
materials tested by seven laboratories. Each “test result” was
the average of five individual determinations. Each laboratory
obtained two test results for each material.
NOTE 5—Caution: The following explanations of r and R (11.2-11.2.3)
are intended only to present a meaningful way of considering the
approximate precision of this test method. The data given in Table 2
should not be applied rigorously to the acceptance or rejection of
materials, as those data are specific to the round robin and may not be
representative of other lots, conditions, materials, or laboratories. Users of
this test method should apply the principles outlined in Practice E 691 to
generate data specific to their laboratory and materials, or between specific
laboratories. The principles of 11.2-11.2.3 would then be valid for such
NOTE 1—If this type of curve is obtained, data should be taken at data.
intervals of 5° until it is evident that the maximum slope has been 11.2 Concept of r and R in Table 1—If Sr and SR have been
obtained. (This type of curve may be obtained on a specimen that is
calculated from a large enough body of data, and for test results
warped or rough on the surface.)
FIG. 4 Curve for Imperfect Specimen
that were averages from testing five specimens for each test
result, then:
TABLE 1 Conversion Table: Degrees to RadiansA
11.2.1 Repeatability—Two test results obtained within one
laboratory shall be judged not equivalent if they differ by more
Degrees Radians
than the r value for that material. The r value is the interval
3 0.0523
6 0.1047
representing the critical difference between two test results for
9 0.1571 the same material, obtained by the same operator using the
12 0.2094 same equipment on the same day in the same laboratory.
15 0.2618
18 0.3141
11.2.2 Reproducibility—Two test results obtained by differ-
20 0.3491 ent laboratories shall be judged not equivalent if they differ by
25 0.4363 more than the R value for that material. The R value is the
30 0.5236
35 0.6109
interval representing the critical difference between two test
40 0.6981 results for the same material, obtained by different operators
45 0.7854 using different equipment in different laboratories.
50 0.8726
55 0.9599
11.2.3 The judgments in 11.2.1 and 11.2.2 will have an
60 1.0472 approximately 95 % (0.95) probability of being correct.
A
1 radian 5 57° 18 min 1° 5 0.01745 radians. 11.3 Bias—No statement may be made about the bias of this
test method, as there is no standard reference material or
reference test method that is applicable.
10.1.2 Average apparent bending modulus and the nominal
specimen depth used, 12. Keywords
10.1.3 All observed and recorded data on which the calcu-
lations are based, 12.1 apparent bending modulus; bending movement; canti-
10.1.4 Test temperature, and lever beam; stiffness

8
Supporting data are available from ASTM Headquarters. Request RR:D20-
1109.

TABLE 2 Apparent Bending Modulus

Values Expressed in Units of MPa (103 psi)
Material Mean SrA SRB rC RD
PE 124 (18) 3.44 (0.50) 7.45 (1.08) 9.7 (1.4) 21 (3.1)
PP 1850 (269) 53.4 (7.75) 109 (15.86) 150 (22) 310 (45)
Acetal 2600 (377) 99.6 (14.45) 187 (27.15) 280 (41) 530 (77)
Acrylic 2930 (425) 94.9 (13.76 ) 144 (20.83) 270 (39) 410 (59)
A
Sr is the within-laboratory standard deviation for the indicated material. It is obtained by pooling the within-laboratory standard deviations of the test results from all of
the participating laboratories: S r 5 @@~S1!2 1 ~S2!2 ... 1 ~Sn!2# /n#1/2
B
SR is the between-laboratory reproducibility, expressed as standard deviation: SR 5 $S r2 1 S L2%1/2 where SL is the standard deviation of laboratory means.
C
r is the within-laboratory critical interval between two test results 5 2.83 Sr.
D
R is the between-laboratory critical interval between two test results 5 2.8 3 SR.

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 D 747

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. THEORY OF OPERATION OF THE CANTILEVER BEAM TEST APPARATUS

X1.1 The mechanical system of the cantilever beam test P̄P̄8 5 MwS2/3EI 5 @~WL sin u!S2#/3EI (X1.1)
apparatus is described in Section 5 of this test method (Fig. 1).
where:
X1.2 At the start of a test, the specimen is mounted as P̄P̄8 5 deflection of point, P, m (or in.),
shown in Fig. X1.1(a). The load indicator I1 reads zero on the W 5 applied load, N (or lbf),
load scale, and the indicator I2 reads zero on the angular L 5 length of load pendulum arm to which weights are
deflection scale. During the test, the specimen vise, V, is attached, m (or in.),
u 5 angular deflection of load pendulum system, deg,
rotated about the point O, bending the specimen through the
Mw 5 actual bending moment at the angle u,
angle f against the plate Q as shown in Fig. X1.1(b). The point S 5 span length of specimen, m (or in.),
P on the specimen has been deflected to P8, and the amount of E 5 modulus of elasticity in flexure, N/m2 (or psi), and
deflection for small angles is given approximately by: I 5 moment of inertia of specimen cross section, which
is wd3/12 where w is the specimen width and d is
the specimen depth, m (or in.).
The angle, f, through which the specimen bends, (Fig.
X1.1(b)), which is registered by the angular deflection scale A
and converted to radians, is given by:
f 5 P̄P̄8/S 5 M wS/3EI (X1.2)
3
Rearranging Eq X1.2 and substituting wd /12 for I gives:
E 5 MwS/3If 5 ~4S/wd3! 3 ~M/f! (X1.3)

Since the load scale is calibrated such that

Mw 5 ~M 3 load scale reading!/100,

Eq X1.3 may be written:

E 5 ~4S/wd3! 3 @~M 3 load scale reading!/100 f# (X1.4)
FIG. X1.1 Positions of Test Specimen

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

This section identifies the location of selected changes to this test method. For the convenience of the user,
Committee D-20 has highlighted those changes that may impact the use of this test method. This section may
also include descriptions of the changes or reasons for the changes, or both.

D 747 - 99: precision and bias statement placed in appropriate format, and
(1) Changes to scope, ISO equivalency statement added, keywords added.

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