DIN ISO 3384-1:2015-12

This standard has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 45 "Rubber and rubber products" (secretariat: DSM, Malaysia), Subcommittee SC 2 "Testing and analysis" (secretariat: SIS, Sweden) in collaboration with DIN Standards Committee Materials Testing (NMP), the responsible Working Committee NA 062-04-34 AA "Prüfung der physikalischen Eigenschaften von Kautschuk und Elastomeren" ("Test procedures for physical properties of rubber"). This part of ISO 3384 specifies two methods for determining the decrease in counterforce exerted by a test piece of vulcanized or thermoplastic rubber which has been compressed to a constant deformation and maintained thus at a predetermined test temperature. The counterforce can be determined either by means of a continuous-measurement system or by a discontinuous-measurement one. Two forms of test piece are permitted: cylindrical test pieces and rings. Different shapes and sizes of test piece give different results, and comparison of results should be limited to test pieces of similar size and shape. The use of ring test pieces is particularly suitable for the determination of stress relaxation in liquid environments. This part of ISO 3384 deals only with testing at constant ambient or elevated temperature. Testing at temperatures below standard laboratory temperature is not specified. The methods have been used for low-temperature testing, but their reliability under these conditions is not proven.