Tensile Testing of Thin Plastic Sheeting (films and sheets)   ASTM D 882: Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting ISO 527-3: Plastics - Determination of tensile properties - Part 3: Test conditions for films and sheets     ASTM D882 and ISO 527-3 are both international standards used to determine the tensile properties of thin plastic sheeting, films and other thin plastic based materials. These standards cover a wide range of specimen shapes and measurement methods but stick to a basic tensile testing method. Films and sheets are widely used for food, packaging, protective barrier applications, membranes for other materials, automotive etc.   When testing specimen that are thin and subject to stresses at the grips (jaws) it is critical to avoid slippage while making sure not to cause premature failure of the sample at the grips.      Pneumatic grips with ST-S-ELON Extensometer   ASTM D882: 5.1.3 Grips?A set of grips for holding the test specimen..the gripping system must minimize bothslippage and uneven stress distribution.    5.1.3.3 The test specimen shall be held in such a way thatslippage relative to the grips is prevented insofar as possible ... Air-actuated grips have beenfound advantageous, particularly in the case of materials thattend to “neck” into the grips, since pressure is maintained at alltimes...      Standard specimen shapes (ISO 527-3)   Both the ASTM D882 and ISO 527-3 mention the use of extensometers. For very thin specimen a contact extensometer may prove to be difficult as it may slip during testing or cause stress to the specimen.    ISO 527-1: 5.1.5 Strain indicator: Contact extensometers shall comply with ISO 9513:1999, class 1. The accuracy of this class shall be attainedin the strain range over which measurements are being made. Non-contact extensometers may also be used,provided they meet the same accuracy requirements   ISO 527-3: In 5.1.5, when testing thin sheets or film material, the specimen shall not carry the weight of the extensometer       Video: Tensile testing of plastic with extensometer       Tensile test on film specimen with ST-S-ELON Extensometer on ST-1000 UTM