This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what

changes have been made to the previous version. Because

it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.

Designation: D638 − 10 D638 − 14

Standard Test Method for

Tensile Properties of Plastics1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D638; 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*
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the tensile properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics in the form of
standard dumbbell-shaped test specimens when tested under defined conditions of pretreatment, temperature, humidity, and testing
machine speed.
1.2 This test method can be used is applicable for testing materials of any thickness up to 14 mm (0.55 in.). However, for testing
specimens in the form of thin sheeting, including film less than 1.0 mm (0.04 in.) in thickness, Test MethodsASTM standard D882
is the preferred test method. Materials with a thickness greater than 14 mm (0.55 in.) mustshall be reduced by machining.
1.3 This test method includes the option of determining Poisson’s ratio at room temperature.
NOTE 1—This test method standard and ISO 527-1 are technically equivalent.address the same subject matter, but differ in technical content.
NOTE 2—This test method is not intended to cover precise physical procedures. It is recognized that the constant rate of crosshead movement type of
test leaves much to be desired from a theoretical standpoint, that wide differences may exist between rate of crosshead movement and rate of strain
between gage marks on the specimen, and that the testing speeds specified disguise important effects characteristic of materials in the plastic state. Further,

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it is realized that variations in the thicknesses of test specimens, which are permitted by these procedures, produce variations in the surface-volume ratios
of such specimens, and that these variations may influence the test results. Hence, where directly comparable results are desired, all samples should be
of equal thickness. Special additional tests should be used where more precise physical data are needed.

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NOTE 3—This test method may be used for testing phenolic molded resin or laminated materials. However, where these materials are used as electrical
insulation, such materials should be tested in accordance with Test Methods D229 and Test Method D651.
NOTE 4—For tensile properties of resin-matrix composites reinforced with oriented continuous or discontinuous high modulus >20-GPa
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[>3.0 × 10(>3.0 × 106-psi) fibers, tests shall be made in accordance with Test Method D3039/D3039M.
1.4 Test data obtained by this test method are relevant and appropriate for use have been found to be useful in engineering
design. However, it is important to consider the precautions and limitations of this method found in Note 2 and Section 4 before
considering these data for engineering design. ASTM D638-14
1.5 The values/catalog/standards/astm/bc99fb25-38c3-49db-9dbc-b9338bbd4c07/astm-d638-14
stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
D229 Test Methods for Rigid Sheet and Plate Materials Used for Electrical Insulation
D412 Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers—Tension
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D651 Test Method for Test for Tensile Strength of Molded Electrical Insulating Materials (Withdrawn 1989)3
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D1822 Test Method for Tensile-Impact Energy to Break Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials
D3039/D3039M Test Method for Tensile Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials

1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.10 on Mechanical Properties.
Current edition approved May 15, 2010Dec. 15, 2014. Published June 2010March 2015. Originally approved in 1941. Last previous edition approved in 20082010 as
D638 - 08.D638 - 10. DOI: 10.1520/D0638-10.10.1520/D0638-14.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.

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

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 D638 − 14
D4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
D4066 Classification System for Nylon Injection and Extrusion Materials (PA)
D5947 Test Methods for Physical Dimensions of Solid Plastics Specimens
E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
E83 Practice for Verification and Classification of Extensometer Systems
E132 Test Method for Poisson’s Ratio at Room Temperature
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
2.2 ISO Standard:4
ISO 527-1 Determination of Tensile Properties
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Definitions of terms applying to this test method appear in Terminology D883 and Annex A2.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This test method is designed to produce tensile property data for the control and specification of plastic materials. These data
are also useful for qualitative characterization and for research and development.
4.2 This test method is designed to produce tensile property data for the control and specification of plastic materials. These data
are also useful for qualitative characterization and for research and development. For many materials, there may be a specification
that requiresSome material specifications that require the use of this test method, but with some procedural 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 in Classification D4000 lists the ASTM materials standards that currently exist.
4.3 Tensile properties are known to vary with specimen preparation and with speed and environment of testing. Consequently,
where precise comparative results are desired, these factors must be carefully controlled.

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4.4 Tensile properties may vary with specimen preparation and with speed and environment of testing. Consequently, where
precise comparative results are desired, these factors must be carefully controlled.It is realized that a material cannot be tested
without also testing the method of preparation of that material. Hence, when comparative tests of materials per se are desired,
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exercise great care to ensure that all samples are prepared in exactly the same way, unless the test is to include the effects of sample
preparation. Similarly, for referee purposes or comparisons within any given series of specimens, care shall be taken to secure the

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maximum degree of uniformity in details of preparation, treatment, and handling.
4.2.1 It is realized that a material cannot be tested without also testing the method of preparation of that material. Hence, when
comparative tests of materials per se are desired, the greatest care must be exercised to ensure that all samples are prepared in
exactly the same way, unless the test is to include the effects of sample preparation. Similarly, for referee purposes or comparisons
within any given series of specimens, care must be taken ASTM D638-14
to secure the maximum degree of uniformity in details of preparation,
/catalog/standards/astm/bc99fb25-38c3-49db-9dbc-b9338bbd4c07/astm-d638-14
treatment, and handling.
4.5 Tensile properties may provide useful data for plastics engineering design purposes. However, because of the high degree
of sensitivity exhibited by many plastics to rate of straining and environmental conditions, data obtained by this test method cannot
be considered valid for applications involving load-time scales or environments widely different from those of this test method.
In cases of such dissimilarity, no reliable estimation of the limit of usefulness can be made for most plastics. This sensitivity to
rate of straining and environment necessitates testing over a broad load-time scale (including impact and creep) and range of
environmental conditions if tensile properties are to suffice for engineering design purposes.
NOTE 5—Since the existence of a true elastic limit in plastics (as in many other organic materials and in many metals) is debatable, the propriety of
applying the term “elastic modulus” in its quoted, generally accepted definition to describe the “stiffness” or “rigidity” of a plastic has been seriously
questioned. The exact stress-strain characteristics of plastic materials are highly dependent on such factors as rate of application of stress, temperature,
previous history of specimen, etc. However, stress-strain curves for plastics, determined as described in this test method, almost always show a linear
region at low stresses, and a straight line drawn tangent to this portion of the curve permits calculation of an elastic modulus of the usually defined type.
Such a constant is useful if its arbitrary nature and dependence on time, temperature, and similar factors are realized.

5. Apparatus
5.1 Testing Machine—A testing machine of the constant-rate-of-crosshead-movement type and comprising essentially the
following:
5.1.1 Fixed Member—A fixed or essentially stationary member carrying one grip.
5.1.2 Movable Member—A movable member carrying a second grip.
5.1.3 Grips—Grips for holding the test specimen between the fixed member and the movable member of the testing machine
can be either the fixed or self-aligning type.

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 D638 − 14
5.1.3.1 Fixed grips are rigidly attached to the fixed and movable members of the testing machine. When this type of grip is used
take extreme care should be taken to ensure that the test specimen is inserted and clamped so that the long axis of the test specimen
coincides with the direction of pull through the center line of the grip assembly.
5.1.3.2 Self-aligning grips are attached to the fixed and movable members of the testing machine in such a manner that they
will move freely into alignment as soon as any load is applied so that the long axis of the test specimen will coincide with the
direction of the applied pull through the center line of the grip assembly. The specimens should be aligned Align the specimens
as perfectly as possible with the direction of pull so that no rotary motion that may induce slippage will occur in the grips; there
is a limit to the amount of misalignment self-aligning grips will accommodate.
5.1.3.3 The test specimen shall be held in such a way that slippage relative to the grips is prevented insofar as possible. Grip
surfaces that are deeply scored or serrated with a pattern similar to those of a coarse single-cut file, serrations about 2.4 mm (0.09
in.) apart and about 1.6 mm (0.06 in.) deep, have been found satisfactory for most thermoplastics. Finer serrations have been found
to be more satisfactory for harder plastics, such as the thermosetting materials. The serrations should It is important that the
serrations be kept clean and sharp. Breaking Should breaking in the grips may occur at times, occur, even when deep serrations
or abraded specimen surfaces are used;used, other techniques must be used in these cases. shall be used. Other techniques that have
been found useful, particularly with smooth-faced grips, are abrading that portion of the surface of the specimen that will be in
the grips, and interposing thin pieces of abrasive cloth, abrasive paper, or plastic, or rubber-coated fabric, commonly called hospital
sheeting, between the specimen and the grip surface. No. 80 double-sided abrasive paper has been found effective in many cases.
An open-mesh fabric, in which the threads are coated with abrasive, has also been effective. Reducing the cross-sectional area of
the specimen may also be effective. The use of special types of grips is sometimes necessary to eliminate slippage and breakage
in the grips.
5.1.4 Drive Mechanism—A drive mechanism for imparting to the movable member a uniform, controlled velocity to the
movable member with respect to the stationary member, with this velocity member. This velocity is to be regulated as specified
in Section 8.
5.1.5 Load Indicator—A suitable load-indicating mechanism capable of showing the total tensile load carried by the test

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specimen when held by the grips. This mechanism shall be essentially free of inertia lag at the specified rate of testing and shall
indicate the load with an accuracy of 61 % of the indicated value, or better. The accuracy of the testing machine shall be verified
in accordance with Practices E4.
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NOTE 6—Experience has shown that many testing machines now in use are incapable of maintaining accuracy for as long as the periods between
inspection recommended in Practices E4. Hence, it is recommended that each machine be studied individually and verified as often as may be found

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5.1.6 The fixed member, movable member, Preview
necessary. It frequently will be necessary to perform this function daily.
drive mechanism, and grips shall be constructed of such materials and in such
proportions that the total elastic longitudinal strain of the system constituted by these parts does not exceed 1 % of the total
longitudinal strain between the two gage marks on the test specimen at any time during the test and at any load up to the rated
capacity of the machine. ASTM D638-14
5.1.7 Crosshead/catalog/standards/astm/bc99fb25-38c3-49db-9dbc-b9338bbd4c07/astm-d638-14
Extension Indicator—A suitable extension indicating mechanism capable of showing the amount of change in
the separation of the grips, that is, crosshead movement. This mechanism shall be essentially free of inertial lag at the specified
rate of testing and shall indicate the crosshead movement with an accuracy of 610 % of the indicated value.
5.2 Extension Indicator (extensometer)—A suitable instrument shall be used for determining the distance between two
designated points within the gagegauge length of the test specimen as the specimen is stretched. For referee purposes, the
extensometer must be set at the full gage length of the specimen, as shown in Fig. 1. It is desirable, but not essential, that this
instrument automatically record this distance, or any change in it, as a function of the load on the test specimen or of the elapsed
time from the start of the test, or both. If only the latter is obtained, load-time data must also be taken. This instrument shall be
essentially free of inertia at the specified speed of testing. Extensometers shall be classified and their calibration periodically
verified in accordance with Practice E83.
5.2.1 Modulus-of-Elasticity Measurements—For modulus-of-elasticity measurements, an extensometer with a maximum strain
error of 0.0002 mm/mm (in./in.) that automatically and continuously records shall be used. An extensometer classified by Practice
E83 as fulfilling the requirements of a B-2 classification within the range of use for modulus measurements meets this requirement.
5.2.2 Low-Extension Measurements—For elongation-at-yield and low-extension measurements (nominally 20 % or less), the
same above extensometer, attenuated to 20 % extension, may be used. is acceptable. In any case, the extensometer system must
meet at least Class C (Practice E83) requirements, which include a fixed strain error of 0.001 strain or 61.0 % of the indicated
strain, whichever is greater.
5.2.3 High-Extension Measurements—For making measurements at elongations greater than 20 %, measuring techniques with
error no greater than 610 % of the measured value are acceptable.
5.3 Micrometers—Apparatus for measuring the width and thickness of the test specimen shall comply with the requirements of
Test Method D5947.
6. Test Specimens
6.1 Sheet, Plate, and Molded Plastics: