INTERNATIONAL ISO

STANDARD 22088-1

First edition
2006-08-15

Plastics — Determination of resistance to

environmental stress cracking (ESC) —
Part 1:
General guidance
Plastiques — Détermination de la fissuration sous contrainte dans un
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(ESC) —

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Partie 1: Lignes directrices générales

ISO 22088-1:2006
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Reference number
ISO 22088-1:2006(E)

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ISO 22088-1:2006(E)

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Contents Page

Foreword............................................................................................................................................................ iv
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ v
1 Scope ..................................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Normative references ........................................................................................................................... 1
3 Terms and definitions........................................................................................................................... 2
4 Principles of the test............................................................................................................................. 2
5 Applicability of the test method .......................................................................................................... 3
6 Test specimen preparation .................................................................................................................. 3
7 Conditioning and test conditions........................................................................................................ 3
7.1 Conditioning.......................................................................................................................................... 3
7.2 Test temperature................................................................................................................................... 3
7.3 Test medium.......................................................................................................................................... 4
Annex A (informative) Examples of test methods for various plastics ........................................................ 5
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Bibliography ....................................................................................................................................................... 6

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ISO 22088-1:2006(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 22088-1 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 6, Ageing,
chemical and environmental resistance.
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ISO 22088 consists of the following parts, under the general title Plastics — Determination of resistance to
environmental stress cracking (ESC): (standards.iteh.ai)
⎯ Part 1: General guidance
ISO 22088-1:2006
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⎯ Part 2: Constant tensile load method (replacement of ISO 6252:1992)
29212b44f58b/iso-22088-1-2006
⎯ Part 3: Bent strip method (replacement of ISO 4599:1986)

⎯ Part 4: Ball or pin impression method (replacement of ISO 4600:1992)

⎯ Part 5: Constant tensile deformation method (new test method)

⎯ Part 6: Slow strain rate method (new test method)

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 ISO 22088-1:2006(E)

Introduction
When a plastic material is stressed or strained in air below its yield point, stress cracking can occur after a
period of time, which may be very long. These stresses may be internal or external, or a combination of both.
Simultaneous exposure to a chemical environment and stress or strain may result in a dramatic shortening of
the time to failure compared to that in an inert environment. The phenomenon is referred to as environmental
stress cracking (ESC) and is exhibited by many materials, including plastics. The permissible long-term stress
or strain may be reduced considerably by this phenomenon.

It is generally believed that ESC occurs via the following processes:

1) Formation of microvoids in specimens by microscopic stress concentrations after applying stress.

2) Formation and subsequent growth of macrovoids caused by the breakdown of intermolecular bonds
in intervoids that is produced by the action of a chemical environment, and formation of crazes which
are composed of interconnected voids and fibrils.

3) Growth of the crazes caused by the break-down of the fibrils due to the applied stress and contact
with a chemical environment.

4) Finally, a crack starts at the tip of the craze, leading to brittle failure.
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The cracks may penetrate completely through the thickness of the material, separating it into two or more
pieces, or they may be arrested on reaching regions of lower stress or different material morphology.
ISO it22088-1:2006
The determination of ESC is complex because is influenced by many parameters, including:
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⎯ test specimen dimensions; 29212b44f58b/iso-22088-1-2006
⎯ test specimen state (orientation, structure, internal stresses);

⎯ specimen preparation;

⎯ thermal history of specimen;

⎯ stress and strain;

⎯ temperature of test;

⎯ duration of test;

⎯ chemical environment;

⎯ method of application of stress and strain;

⎯ failure criterion.

By keeping all but one parameter constant, the relative influence of the variable parameter on ESC can be
assessed. The main objective of ESC measurements is to determine the relative effect of chemical media
exposure on plastics (test specimens and articles).

The measurements may also be used to evaluate the influence of the moulding conditions upon the quality of
an article when the failure mode corresponds to that obtained in actual service.

It is almost impossible, however, to establish any direct correlation between the results of short-duration ESC
measurements on test specimens and the actual service behaviour of articles, because the behaviour of the
latter is likely to be more complex than that of test specimens.

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 22088-1:2006(E)

Plastics — Determination of resistance to environmental stress

cracking (ESC) —
Part 1:
General guidance

1 Scope

1.1 This part of ISO 22088 provides information and general guidance relevant to the selection of the test
method to be used to determine environmental stress cracking (ESC).

1.2 Part 2 describes a method in which a test specimen is subjected to a constant tensile load, while
immersed in a stress cracking agent at a specified temperature. The time and/or stress at which the specimen
breaks is recorded.

1.3 Part 3 describes a method in which strips of plastic are subjected to a fixed flexural strain and exposed
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to a stress cracking agent for a predetermined period.

1.4 Part 4 describes a method(standards.iteh.ai)

in which a hole of specified diameter is drilled in a specimen and an
oversized steel ball or pin is inserted into the hole while the test specimen is brought into contact with a stress
cracking agent. ISO 22088-1:2006
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1.5 Part 5 describes a method in 29212b44f58b/iso-22088-1-2006
which a constant tensile deformation is applied to a specimen which is
immersed in a stress cracking agent at a temperature selected for testing.

1.6 Part 6 describes a method in which a slowly increasing strain is applied to a specimen immersed in a
stress cracking agent.

1.7 These methods are applicable to thermoplastic materials only.

1.8 These are essentially ranking tests and are not intended to provide data to be used for design or
performance prediction.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.

ISO 150, Raw, refined and boiled linseed oil for paints and varnishes — Specifications and methods of test

ISO 293, Plastics — Compression moulding of test specimens of thermoplastic materials

ISO 294-1, Plastics — Injection moulding of test specimens of thermoplastic materials — Part 1: General
principles, and moulding of multipurpose and bar test specimens

ISO 2818, Plastics — Preparation of test specimens by machining

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ISO 22088-1:2006(E)

3 Terms and definitions

The following terms apply to all parts of ISO 22088 except as otherwise indicated:

3.1
test temperature
temperature at which the test specimens are in contact with the test medium while being stressed

3.2
test period
time during which the test specimens are in contact with the test medium while being stressed

3.3
test medium
liquid, gas, paste, solid or other chemical medium selected for contact with the test specimens during the test

3.4
ESC index
〈general〉 ratio of the value of the failure-indicative property determined in the test medium to that determined
in a reference medium (usually air), measured at the same test temperature after the same test period

3.4.1
ESC index
〈ISO 22088-3〉 ratio of the value of the failure strain determined in the test medium to that determined in the
reference medium (usually air) for the same time of exposure
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3.4.2
ESC index (standards.iteh.ai)
〈ISO 22088-6〉 normalized value of the departure stress that gauges the ESC susceptibility of different
materials to a particular environment ISO 22088-1:2006
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4 Principles of the test

4.1 In Part 2, a test specimen is subjected to a constant tensile load while immersed in a stress cracking
agent at a specified temperature. Three methods may be used. Method A determines the stress required to
produce rupture at 100 h. Method B determines the time to rupture at a specified constant tensile stress. In
method C, the time to rupture for a series of applied stresses is plotted to determine if the time to rupture
meets a specified agreed-upon stress.

4.2 In Part 3, strips of plastic are subjected to a fixed flexural strain and exposed to a stress cracking agent
for a predetermined period. Using a series of forms with decreasing radii, increasingly higher strains are
produced in the outer surface. After a specified exposure to the stress cracking agent, specimens are
removed, inspected and tested for the indicative property, such as tensile strength.

4.3 In Part 4, a hole of specified diameter is drilled in the specimen and an oversized steel ball or pin is
inserted into the hole while the test specimen is brought into contact with a stress cracking agent. After a
specified period of exposure, specimens are inspected and/or tested for the indicative property. In some cases,
a parallel test conducted in air is carried out for comparison purposes.

4.4 In Part 5, a constant tensile deformation is applied to a specimen immersed in a stress cracking agent
at a temperature selected for testing. The ESC of the test material is determined by comparing the amount of
deviation of a defined critical stress determined in the stress cracking medium from that determined in air.

4.5 In Part 6, a slowly increasing strain is applied to a specimen immersed in a stress cracking agent.
Testing is conducted at relatively low strain rates to enhance the effect of the stress cracking medium on the
specimen. Development of crazes causes the strain to be taken up by the crazes so that the stress is reduced
compared to tests conducted in an inert environment.

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 ISO 22088-1:2006(E)

5 Applicability of the test method

5.1 Environmental stress cracking tests are used as quality control tools and in research and development
to evaluate stress crack resistance.

5.2 When selecting a test method, it is important to consider the types of stress and strain a material will
experience in service. Care must be taken when using constant strain test methods, such as the bent strip
method or the pin impression method, as the stress applied to the material will decay with time due to stress
relaxation.

Annex A lists typical plastics that are characterized by each type of environmental stress cracking test.

5.3 Comparisons of materials must be based on identical test conditions for each material. Selection of the
test conditions will depend on the material and the application.

6 Test specimen preparation

Environmental stress cracking of a specimen is influenced not only by the material, but also by the method of
preparation. Materials can only be compared using specimens prepared in a similar manner and in the same
state.

Specimens shall be prepared in accordance with the appropriate International Standard. If no procedure for
specimen preparation is given, specimens shall be machined from sheet or from products by the methods
specified in ISO 2818.iTeh STANDARD PREVIEW
To obtain comparable results, the(standards.iteh.ai)
test specimens used shall have the same dimensions, state and age and
shall have been prepared by the same method of preparation. When cut or machined (ISO 2818) from sheet
or articles, they shall be cut from corresponding places and in corresponding directions. The machined
ISOshall
surfaces and edges of the finished specimens 22088-1:2006
be free of visible flaws, scratches and other imperfections.
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Care shall be taken to handle only the 29212b44f58b/iso-22088-1-2006
ends of the test specimens. If the test specimens are not clean, they
shall be cleaned, before mounting, with a liquid that has no effect on them. Since cleaning can influence the
test results, the cleaning procedure, if used, shall be included in the test report.

Moulded test specimens often have a considerable amount of orientation. If the load is applied parallel to the
direction of injection, the time to rupture may be significantly lower than in the transverse direction. If the
specimens are anisotropic, it may be useful to carry out tests with the load applied in different directions
relative to the direction of injection. If specimens are prepared by moulding, the procedures shall be in
accordance with ISO 293 or ISO 294-1.

7 Conditioning and test conditions

7.1 Conditioning

Unless otherwise agreed between the interested parties, the test specimens shall be conditioned before
testing for at least 24 h at (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 10) % relative humidity.

7.2 Test temperature

The test temperature shall normally be (23 ± 2) °C. If required, other temperatures may be used, preferably
selected from the following:

(40 ± 2) °C, (55 ± 2) °C, (70 ± 2) °C, (85 ± 2) °C, (100 ± 2) °C,

or as agreed upon by the interested parties.

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