Impact and Puncture testing provides data on how well your product/material can withstand penetrative forces. Due to the vast variety of materials, properties and rate of energy delivered, there are multiple methods that fall under this category of testing. These tests are a necessity for industries including but not limited to auto, medical, and apparel. It is important to know the resistance of puncture of a product to determine if the specimen’s properties are suitable for the industry, it is in. For example, a backpack made of PVC should not be punctured by a sharpened pencil rustling around inside. If it is then the material is not strong enough for the planned end use. This is one of many problems that can be detected with Impact and Puncture Testing here at Vartest.

Vartest now has the following:

Which gives us a brand new instrument to run:

• ASTM D2794 Standard Test Method for Resistance of Organic Coatings to the Effects of Rapid Deformation (Impact)
  
  This test method is used to rapidly deform via impact a coating film and its substrate and for evaluating the effect of such deformation. Due to low reproducibility all testing for this method should be conducted in one laboratory.
  
• ASTM D4226 Standard Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Rigid Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Building Products
  
  We use this test method to determine the amount of energy needed to crack or break PVC (poly vinyl chloride) sheeting, or moulded test samples. The machine releases a freefalling standard weight which strikes an impactor with the specimen. This test could be used for quality control in addition to product research, and development.
  
  There are two configurations for this method:
  
  • Option A: Is used to determine the minimum energy required to cause a failure. I.e., hole, crack, split, shatter, or tear.
    
  • Option B: Is used to determine the minimum energy required to cause a brittle failure.
    
• ASTM D5420 Standard Test Method for Impact Resistance of Flat, Rigid Plastic Specimen by Means of a Striker Impacted by a Falling Weight (Gardner Impact)
  
  We use this test method to determine the respective ranking of materials based on the energy required to crack or break flat, stiff plastic specimen under numerous conditions of impact of a striker impacted by a falling weight.

Vartest also runs:

• ASTM F2878 Standard Test Method For Protective Clothing Material Resistance To Hypodermic Needle Puncture.  Vartest runs all options: 28 Gauge Hypodermic Needle, 25 Gauge Hypodermic Needle, and 21 gauge hypodermic needle.
  
  This test method is used to determine the force required to cause a hypodermic needle to penetrate through protective clothing material. There are three-gauge options for this test: -21, 25-, 28- gauge needles. These are used to evaluate puncture resistance of protective clothing. This test method is not a representation of all conditions. Some conditions not covered are stiffness of backing materials, presence of lubricants, and tension on the specimen.
  
• ASTM D4833-07 Standard Test Method for Index Puncture Resistance of Geomembranes and Related Products
  
  This test method is an index test for determining the puncture resistance of geomembranes and related products. The use of this test is to establish a basis for uniform reporting. This test method is adequate for acceptance testing of commercial shipments of geomembranes and related materials.
  
• ASTM F1342 Perpendicular Puncture Resistance of Protective Clothing
  
  We use this test method to determine the puncture resistance of protective clothing material by measuring the force required to cause a pointed puncture probe to penetrate through the specimen. This test method obtains three protocols:
  
  • Method A:
    • (1) Elastomeric materials
    • (2) Textiles
    • (3) Coated materials
      
  • Method B:
    • (1) Textiles
    • (2) Coated materials
      
  • Method C:
    • Watch this video to get a better understanding on the fixture for this test.
      
• ASTM D2582 Puncture Propagation Tear
  
  The puncture-propagation of tear test measures the resistance of a material to snagging or tear. This test method covers plastic film and thin sheeting that may encounter end-use snagging hazards.
  
• ASTM D751 Resistance Of Coated Fabric to Puncture
  
  We use this test method to test coated fabrics and rubber products made from coated fabrics. These goods are an essential part of commerce and require adequate testing.
  
  To gain a better understanding of what this method entails, peek at a failed test here.
  
• ASTM F1306 Slow Rate Penetration Resistance of Flexible Barrier Films and Laminates
  
  Here at Vartest, this test method is used to the slow rate penetration resistance to a driven probe. The test is performed at room temperature by applying stress at a single velocity until a tear happens. The force, energy, and probe penetration to failure are calculated.
  
• ASTM D5171 Impact Resistance of Plastic Sew-Through Buttons
  
  This test method determines the resistance of a button breaking under impact. A scenario would be ironing your shirt, or placing it at the bottom of a suitcase while packing.