This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D575 − 91 (Reapproved 2024)

Standard Test Methods for

Rubber Properties in Compression1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D575; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope approved in 1940. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D575 – 91 (2018).
DOI: 10.1520/D0575-91R24. 2
1.1 These test methods cover two test procedures for For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at www.astm.org/contact. For Annual Book of
determining the compression-deflection characteristics of ASTM Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary
rubber compounds other than those usually classified as hard page on the ASTM website.
rubber and sponge rubber. 3. Summary of Test Methods
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 3.1 These tests constitute one kind of compression stiffness
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information measurement. Deflection is the change in thickness of the
only. specimen upon application of a compressive force. The two
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the different procedures are as follows:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.1.1 Test Method A—Compression Test of Specified
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish Deflection—A compression test in which the force required to
appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and cause a specified deflection is determined.
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to 3.1.2 Test Method B—Compression Test at Specified Force
use. —A compression test in which the specified mass or
1.4 This international standard was developed in compressive force is placed on the specimen and the resulting
accordance with internationally recognized principles on deflection is measured and recorded.
standardization established in the Decision on Principles for
the Development of International Standards, Guides and 4. Significance and Use
Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization 4.1 These test methods are useful in comparing stiffness of
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. rubber materials in compression. They can be used by rubber
technologists to aid in development of materials for
2. Referenced Documents compressive applications.
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
5. Apparatus
D3183 Practice for Rubber—Preparation of Pieces for Test
Purposes from Products 5.1 Compression Testing Machine—A compression testing
D3767 Practice for Rubber—Measurement of Dimensions machine conforming to the requirements of Practices E4, and
D4483 Practice for Evaluating Precision for Test Method having a rate of head travel of 12 6 3 mm/m (0.5 6 0.1
Standards in the Rubber and Carbon Black in./min), may be used for either type of test. Any other type
Manufacturing machine that will meet these requirements may be used. For
Industries example, a platform scale equipped with a yoke over the
platform and a hand-operated screw to apply the force will
E4 Practices for Force Calibration and Verification of
serve if it will conform to the requirements prescribed for
Testing Machines
accuracy and rate of travel. Compression tests at specified
forces may be performed on any machine that applies minor
and major forces gently, without impact, or by placing
1 specified masses gently on the specimen. The machine shall
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D11 on
be equipped to permit measurement of the deflection caused
Rubber and Rubber-like Materials and are the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D11.10 on Physical Testing. by the increase from minor force to major force.
Current edition approved May 1, 2024. Published June 2024. Originally

1
 D575 − 91 (2024)
5.2 Deflection Gage—The deflection shall be shall be cleaned of any dust, bloom, grease, or other foreign
read on a gage of dial type graduated in hundredths of material. Grinding is not required because tests on products
millimetres (or thousands of an inch). are intended to be nondestructive.
5.3 Micrometer—The thickness of the specimen shall be 8. Test Conditions
measured in accordance with Test Method A of Practice 8.1 The temperature of the testing room shall be maintained
D3767. at 23 6 2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F). The specimens to be tested shall be
kept in this room for at least 3 h prior to the time of testing.
Specimens that have compression properties affected by
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
atmospheric moisture shall be conditioned in an atmosphere
controlled to 50 6 6 % relative humidity for at least 24 h.
Test Method A—Compression Test at Specified Deflection
9. Nature of Test
9.1 In this test method the compressive forces are applied
and removed in three successive cycles. The first two cycles
are for the purpose of conditioning the specimen, and the
readings are taken during the third application of force.

10. Procedure
10.1 After measuring the thickness of the test specimen,
FIG. 1 Cutting Tool place the specimen between the platens of the testing machine.
Place sheets of sandpaper3 between the rubber surfaces and the
6. Test Specimens testing machine platens. The sandpaper resists lateral slippage
6.1 The test may be performed either on rubber products or of the rubber at the contact surfaces and should be slightly
on standard test specimens, as specified. larger than the specimen. Omit the sandpaper when the surface
of the specimen is bonded to metal.
NOTE 1—Comparable results are obtained only when tests are made on
specimens of exactly the same size and shape, tested to the same 10.2 Apply the force to produce a deflection rate of 12 6 3
percentage deflection, or tested under the same force.
mm/min (0.5 6 0.1 in./min) until the specified deflection is
6.2 Standard test specimens shall be 28.6 6 0.1 mm (1.129 reached, after which release the force immediately at the same
6 0.005 in.) in diameter (650 mm2 (1.000 in.2) in area) and 12.5 rate. Repeat this loading cycle a second time. Apply the force
6 0.5 mm (0.49 6 0.02 in.) in thickness, from which all molded a third time until the specified deflection is again reached.
surface layers have been removed. Read and record the force required.

7. Preparation of Specimens 10.3 If desired, the machine may be stopped at intervals of 5

% deflection during the third application and the force
7.1 The standard test specimens may be prepared as recorded for each deflection so that a stress-strain curve may
follows: A slab approximately 13 mm (0.51 in.) in thickness be drawn.
may be cut from a product or may be molded from the same
compound used in the preparation of the product and ground 10.4 Deflection percentage shall be based on the thickness
on both sides to obtain smooth parallel surfaces and the of the specimen prior to the first force application.
standard thickness of 12.5 6 0.5 mm (0.49 6 0.02 in.). The 10.5 Report the median of values taken from three
grinding shall be carried out as prescribed in Section 5 of specimens.
Practice D3183 and shall be done without overheating the
rubber. The specimens may then be cut from the slabs by Test Method B—Compression Test at Specified Force
means of a suitable rotating hollow cutting tool similar to that 11. Nature of Test
illustrated in Fig. 1. In cutting the specimen, the die shall be
suitably rotated in a drill press or similar device and lubricated 11.1 This test is intended for rapid testing with a constant
with soapy water so that a smooth-cut surface having square force type of machine, although it can be performed on the
edges is obtained. The cutting pressure shall be kept other machines described in 5.1. Because speed with
sufficiently low to avoid “cupping’’ of the cut surface. reasonable accuracy is desired, a single force application cycle
is used.
NOTE 2—The cutting tool is larger in diameter than the specimen to
allow for cutting pressure.

7.2 When rubber products are subjected to these tests, the

surfaces that will contact the platens of the testing machine

2
 D575 − 91 (2024)
12. Procedure group of materials without documentation that they are
12.1 Apply a specified minor mass or force for a period long applicable to those particular materials and the specific testing
enough to adjust the deflection gage, after which apply the protocols that are included in this test method.
major force for 3 s. Read the deflection on the dial gage at the 14.3 Two separate precision programs were conducted for
end of the 3-s period. The reading shall not include any this test method, one in 1983 and a second in 1989.
deflection caused by the minor force. Calculate the percent 14.3.1 AType 1 (interlaboratory) precision was evaluated in
deflection on the basis of the original thickness of the both programs. Both repeatability and reproducibility are short
specimen. term; a period of a few days separates replicate test results. A
12.2 Report the median of values taken from three test result is the value, as specified by this test method,
specimens. obtained on a single determination(s) or measurement(s) of
the property or parameter in question. The third deflection
13. Report cycle is used for the measurement. For the 1983 program,
three different materials were used; these were tested in three
13.1 Report the following information:
laboratories on two different days.
13.1.1 Deflection expressed as a percentage of the original
thickness of the specimen, 14.4 For the 1989 program seven materials were tested in
13.1.2 Force in kilopascals or pounds-force per square inch, nine laboratories on two separate days.
based on original cross section, 14.4.1 The results of the precision calculations for
13.1.3 Description of sample and type of test specimen, repeatability and reproducibility are given in Tables 1-4, in
including dimensions, ascending order of material average or level, for each of the
materials evaluated. Table 1 and Table 2 are for the 1983
program (No. 1), and Table 3 and Table 4 are for the 1989
3
400 Grit waterproof sandpaper has been found satisfactory. program (No. 2).
TABLE 1 Program 1, 1983 Precision,A
Type 1 Precision—Method A (kPa)B
4
Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may
NOTE 1— be obtained by requesting Research Report RR:D11-1058.
Sr = repeatability standard deviation, in measurement units, r
= repeatability, in measurement units, TABLE 2 Program 1, 1983 Precision,A
(r) = repeatability, (relative) percent, Type 1 Precision—Method B (% DEF)
SR = reproducibility standard deviation, in measurement units, NOTE 1—
R = reproducibility, in measurement units, and (R) = Sr = repeatability standard deviation, in measurement units, r
reproducibility (relative) percent. = repeatability, in measurement units,
(kPa) Within Laboratories Between Laboratories (r)= repeatability, (relative) percent,
Material Average
Sr r (r) SR R (R) SR = reproducibility standard deviation, in measurement units,
Level
R = reproducibility, in measurement units, and (R) =
No. 3 Cl-Butyl 1106 28.2 79.8 7.2 40.4 114 10.3
reproducibility (relative) percent.
No. 2 EPDM 1731 92.8 263 15.2 69.3 196 11.3
No. 1 SBR 1746 41.5 117 6.7 77.3 219 12.5
Pooled (average) 1528 60.9 172 11.3 64.3 182 11.9 Average Within Laboratories Between Laboratories
values Material
A
Level,% Sr r (r) SR R (R)
Three laboratories participating.
B
kPa = psi × 6.89.
No. 1 SBR 36.0 1.11 3.14 8.7 1.38 3.91 10.9
No. 2 EPDM 37.1 1.16 3.28 8.9 2.57 7.27 19.7
No. 3 Cl-Butyl 43.7 0.78 2.20 5.1 2.03 5.74 13.2
Pooled (average) 38.9 1.03 2.91 7.5 2.05 5.80 14.9
values
13.1.4 Description of test method and apparatus, and A
Three laboratories participating.
13.1.5 Date of test.
Precis
14. Precision and Bias4 TABLE 3 Program 2, 1989 i on,A
Type 1 Precision—Method A (kPa)B
14.1 This precision and bias section has been prepared in
accordance with Practice D4483. Refer to Practice D4483 for NOTE 1—
terminology and other statistical calculation details. Sr = repeatability standard deviation, in measurement units, r
= repeatability, in measurement units,
14.2 The precision results in this precision and bias section (r) = repeatability, (relative) percent,
give an estimate of the precision of this test method with the SR = reproducibility standard deviation, in measurement units,
materials (rubbers) used in the particular interlaboratory R = reproducibility, in measurement units, and (R) =
program as described in this section. The precision parameters reproducibility (relative) percent.
should not be used for acceptance/rejection testing of any Average Within Laboratories Between Laboratories

3
 D575 − 91 (2024)
Material Level, value” of r, R, (r), or (R), to be used in decisions about test
kPa Sr r (r) SR R (R)
results. The appropriate value is that value of r or R associated
with a mean level in the precision tables closest to the mean
NR/RSS 836 20.8 58.9 7.0 74.4 211 25.2
CR 1012 14.8 41.9 4.1 72.7 206 20.3
level under consideration at any given time for any given
SBR 1528 18.5 52.4 3.4 59.1 167 11.0 material in routine testing operations.
IIR 1564 18.8 53.2 3.4 120 340 21.7
14.6 Repeatability—The repeatability, r, of this test method
IR 1694 40.4 114 6.8 79.2 224 13.2
EPDM 2218 45.1 128 5.8 179 507 22.8
has been established as the appropriate value tabulated in the
SIR 20 2591 62.0 175 6.8 206 583 22.5 precision tables. Two single test results, obtained under
Pooled (average) 1636 36.2 102 6.3 118.5 335 20.5 normal test method procedures, that differ by more than this
values tabulated r (for any given level) must be considered as derived
A
Nine laboratories participating. BkPa from different or non-identical sample populations.
= psi × 6.89.
14.7 Reproducibility—The reproducibility, R, of this test
method has been established as the appropriate value tabulated
in precision tables. Two single test results obtained in two
14.5 The precision of this test method may be expressed in different laboratories, under normal test method procedures,
the format of the following statements that use an “appropriate that differ by more than the tabulated R (for any given level)

TABLE 4 Program 2, 1989 Precision,A 14.8 Repeatability and reproducibility expressed as a per-
Type 1 Precision—Method B
centage of the mean level, (r) and (R), have equivalent
—
N OTE
1 application statements as above for r and R. For the (r) and (R)
Sr = repeatability standard deviation, in measurement units, statements, the difference in the two single test results is r = repeatability, in
measurement units,
(r) = repeatability, (relative) percent, expressed as a percentage of the arithmetic mean of the two test
SR = reproducibility standard deviation, in measurement units, results.
R = reproducibility, in measurement units, and 14.9 The user of this test method should give greater
(R) = reproducibility (relative) percent.
Average Within Laboratories Between Laboratories
emphasis to Program 2 (1989) precision results. This 1989
Material Level, program was substantially more comprehensive and the results are
Sr r (r) SR R (R)
% more typical of the current status of this test method.
SIR 20 6.89 0.207 0.59 8.5 0.597 1.69 24.5
EPDM 8.90 0.246 0.70 7.8 0.658 1.86 20.9 14.10 Bias—In test method terminology, bias is the difference
IIR 9.42 0.252 0.71 7.6 1.50 4.24 45.0 between an average test value and the reference (or true) test
IR 10.7 0.218 0.62 5.8 0.711 2.01 18.8 property value. Reference values do not exist for this test method
SBR 11.6 0.237 0.67 5.8 1.62 4.59 39.4
since the value (of the test property) is exclusively defined by this
CR 17.3 0.433 1.23 7.1 1.35 3.83 22.2
NR/RSS 20.6 0.561 1.59 7.7 1.66 4.71 22.8
test method. Bias, therefore, cannot be determined.
Pooled (average) 12.4 0.334 0.94 7.6 1.27 3.60 29.1 15. Keywords
values A
Nine laboratories participating.
15.1 compression; compression deflection characteristics;
compression test at specified deflection; compression test at
specified force; compression testing of rubber; compressive
must be considered to have come from different or non- force; constant force; deflection; hysterisis; rubber in compres-
identical sample populations. sion

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