Designation: D1938 − 14

Standard Test Method for

Tear-Propagation Resistance (Trouser Tear) of Plastic Film
and Thin Sheeting by a Single-Tear Method1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1938; 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.

1. Scope* D4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materi-

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the force als
necessary to propagate a tear in plastic film and thin sheeting D5947 Test Methods for Physical Dimensions of Solid
(thickness of 1 mm (0.04 in.) or less) by a single-tear method. Plastics Specimens
The method is not applicable for film or sheeting material D6988 Guide for Determination of Thickness of Plastic Film
where brittle failures occur during testing. Test Specimens
E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
NOTE 1—Film has been arbitrarily defined as sheeting having nominal E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
thickness not greater than 0.25 mm (0.010 in.).
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1.2 Constant-Rate-of-Grip Separation Test— This test 2.2 ISO Standard:
method employs a constant rate of separation of the grips ISO 6383-1 Film and Sheeting—Determination of Tear Re-
holding the test specimen. sistance Part 1 Trouser Tear Method3
1.2.1 Specimen extension may be measured in this test
method by grip separation. 3. Terminology
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as 3.1 Definitions: For definitions of terms used in this test
standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for method, refer to Terminology D883.
information only.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4.1 The force to propagate a tear across a film or sheeting
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- specimen is measured using a constant-rate-of-grip separation
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- machine as described in Test Methods D882 and is calculated
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. from the load-time chart.
NOTE 2—This standard is similar to ISO 6383-1, but is not considered 5. Significance and Use
technically equivalent. The specimen size for ISO 6383-1 is larger, and the
method specifies different test speeds. 5.1 This test method is of value in rating the tear-
propagation resistance of various plastic films and thin sheeting
2. Referenced Documents of comparable thickness. For highly extensible film or sheeting
the deformation energy of the specimen legs is significantly
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
greater than the tearing energy. The tear-propagation resistance
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
in slightly extensible or non-extensible film or sheeting is
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
distinguished from the tear-propagation resistance in highly
Sheeting
extensible film or sheeting by the load-time or load-
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
displacement data, (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). The tear-propagation
force for slightly extensible or non-extensible material is
1
determined from the average tear force versus the initial and
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film, Sheeting, and
peak force for a highly extensible material.
Molded Products. 5.2 This test method shall be used for specification accep-
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2014. Published December 2014. Originally
approved in 1962. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D1938 – 08. DOI:
tance testing only after it has been demonstrated that the data
10.1520/D1938-14. for the particular material are acceptably reproducible.
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
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.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

1
 D1938 − 14

FIG. 1 Load-Time Chart for Low-Extensible Film

FIG. 3 Single-Tear 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.
6.1.3.2 Self-aligning grips are attached to the fixed and
movable member 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 shall be aligned with the
FIG. 2 Load-Time Chart for Highly Extensible Film direction of pull so that no rotary motion that may induce
slippage will occur in the grips.
NOTE 3—Grips lined with thin rubber have successfully been used.
5.3 The data obtained by this test method furnish informa- Grips may be of the self-tightening type. In cases where specimens
tion for ranking the tear-propagation resistance of plastic films frequently fail at the edge of the grips, the radius of curvature of the edges
and sheeting of similar composition. Actual use performance of the grips may be increased slightly at the point where they come in
contact with the specimen.
may not necessarily correlate with data from this test method.
Sets of data from specimens of dissimilar thickness are usually 6.1.4 Drive Mechanism—A drive mechanism capable of
not comparable. separating the movable member (grip) from the stationary
member (grip) at a controlled velocity of 250 mm (10 in.) 6
5.4 Before proceeding with this test method, reference
5 % ⁄min.
should be made to the specification of the material being tested.
6.1.5 Load Indicator—A suitable load-indicating mecha-
Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or
nism capable of showing the total tensile load carried by the
testing parameters, or combination thereof, covered in the
test specimen held by the grips. The testing machine shall be
relevant ASTM material specification shall take precedence
essentially free from inertia lag at the specified rate of testing
over those mentioned in this test method. If there are no
and shall indicate the load with an accuracy of 61 %. The
relevant ASTM material specifications, then the default condi-
accuracy of the testing machine shall be verified in accordance
tions apply. Table 1 of Classification Systems D4000 lists the
with Practices E4.
ASTM materials standards that currently exist.
6.1.6 Crosshead Extension Indicator—A suitable extension-
6. Apparatus indicating mechanism capable of showing the amount of
change in the separation of the grips (crosshead movement).
6.1 Testing Machine—A testing machine of the constant
rate-of crosshead-movement type and comprising essentially 6.2 Thickness—A micrometer as prescribed in Test Methods
the following: D5947 and D6988, or an equivalent measuring device, reading
6.1.1 Fixed Member—A fixed or essentially stationary to 0.0025 mm (0.0001 in.) or less. The pressure exerted by the
member carrying one grip. gage on the specimen being measured shall not distort or
6.1.2 Movable Member—A movable member carrying a deform the specimen. For thin films, ≤0.025 mm (0.001 in.), or
second grip. films which exhibit visual deformation during measurement, a
6.1.3 Grips—Preferably, a set of self-aligning grips for maximum pressure of 70 kPa (10 psi) is recommended. For
holding the test specimen between the fixed member and the thicker or stiffer films and thin sheeting, the pressure shall be
movable member of the testing machine. The grips should between 160 and 185 kPa (23 and 27 psi).
minimize both slippage and uneven stress distribution. 6.3 Die—A die having the dimensions shown in Fig. 3 shall
6.1.3.1 Fixed grips are rigidly attached to the fixed and be used to cut all specimens. The cutting edge of the die shall
movable members of the testing machine. Fixed grips are to be have a 5° negative rake, and shall be kept sharp and free from
used only if alignment can be verified when the test specimen nicks to avoid leaving ragged edges on the specimen. The

2
 D1938 − 14
sample shall rest on a smooth, slightly yielding surface that TABLE 1 Tear Propagation Resistance (Trouser Tear) Machine
will not injure the die blade. Care shall be taken that the cut Direction (Values Expressed in Units of Grams-Force)
edges of the specimen are parallel and perpendicular to the Material Average Sr A SRB rC RD
samples longitudinal and transverse directions. Polystyrene 5.04 1.54 3.47 4.32 9.72
Polyester 32.75 7.08 7.08 19.81 19.81
Polypropylene 70.77 20.52 38.05 57.45 106.6
7. Test Specimens HDPE No. 2 127.3 48.04 56.49 134.59 158.2
7.1 The specimens shall conform to the dimensions shown LDPE—LD 228.3 33.98 33.98 95.14 95.14
104
in Fig. 3 and shall not vary by more than 0.5 % from these LLDPE 337.1 30.95 42.74 86.66 119.7
dimensions. HDPE No. 1 482.9 49.04 106.0 137.3 296.9
A
NOTE 4—The thickness of the test specimens shall be uniform to within S r = within-laboratory standard deviation for the material stated. It is obtained by
pooling the standard deviations of the test results from each laboratory, as follows:
5 % of the thickness over the length of the unslit portion of the specimen. Sr = [(^(S1) 2 + (S2) 2 ... + (Sn) 2)/n]1/2
B
7.2 Measure the thickness of the specimen below the slit SR = between-laboratories standard deviation for the material stated. It is a
pooling of the amounts by which the average of the test results for each laboratory
(see Fig. 3) in several places and record it in millimetres to the deviate from the overall average for that material.
nearest 0.0025 mm (0.0001 in.). C
r = within-laboratory repeatability limit = 2.8 × Sr.
D
R = between-laboratories reproducibility limit = 2.8 × SR.
7.3 Cut enough specimens to provide a minimum of five
tear-propagation force determinations each in the machine
direction and in the transverse direction of the material being
tested. 10.2 For thin films and sheeting that have load-time data
characterized by Fig. 2, obtain and report the initial force to
NOTE 5—This is required because the properties of anisotropic speci- continue the propagation of the slit, the maximum force, and
mens vary with direction.
the extension at maximum force. Report both the initial load,
8. Conditioning the maximum load, and extension at maximum load.
8.1 Conditioning—Condition the test specimens at 23 6 10.3 For each series of tests, report the mean of all values
2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F) and 50 6 10 % relative humidity for not obtained to three significant figures and as the mean value of
less than 40 h prior to test in accordance with Procedure A of the particular property.
Practice D618 unless otherwise specified by agreement or the 10.4 Calculate the estimated standard deviation and report
relevant ASTM material specification. In cases of load to three significant figures and extension to two significant
disagreement, the tolerances shall be 61°C (61.8°F) and figures.
65 % relative humidity.
8.2 Test Conditions—Conduct the tests at 23 6 2°C (73.4 6 11. Report
3.6°F) and 50 6 10 % relative humidity unless otherwise 11.1 Report the following information:
specified by agreement or the relevant ASTM material speci- 11.1.1 Complete identification of the material tested, includ-
fication. In cases of disagreement, the tolerances shall be 61°C ing type, source, manufacturer’s code number, form, principal
(61.8°F) and 6 5 % relative humidity. dimensions, previous history, orientation of samples with
respect to principal directions of the material, etc.,
9. Procedure 11.1.2 Average thickness of test specimens,
9.1 Secure Tongue A (see Fig. 3) in one grip and Tongue B 11.1.3 Number of samples tested,
in the other grip of the constant-rate-of-grip separation-testing 11.1.4 Date of test, and
machine, using an initial grip separation of 50 mm (2 in.). 11.1.5 Mean of the five average tear-propagation
Align the specimen so that its major axis coincides with an determinations, usually in newtons (or pounds-force), for the
imaginary line joining the centers of the grips. materials described in 10.1; and the mean of the five initial
9.2 Using a grip-separation speed of 250 mm (10 in.)/min, tear-propagation forces, the mean of the five maximum tear-
start the instrument, and record the load versus extension. propagation forces, in newtons (or pounds-force), and the
extension to maximum force, in mm (in.) for materials de-
9.3 Continue the test until the tear has propagated through scribed in 10.2. In each case, report the standard deviation of
the entire unslit 25-mm (1-in.) portion. the data. In the cases where the specimens tear to one side, note
9.4 If the tear deviates from the center line to such an extent this together with the values obtained.
as to reach one of the edges of the specimen, note the deviation
in the report. 12. Precision and Bias
9.5 Test not less than five specimens in each of the principal 12.1 Precision:
film or sheeting directions. 12.1.1 Table 1 and Table 2 are based on a round robin4
conducted between 1986 and 1990 in accordance with Practice
10. Calculation E691 – 87, involving seven materials tested by seven labora-
10.1 For thin films and sheeting that have load-time charts tories. For each material, all the samples were prepared at one
characterized by Fig. 1, calculate the average tear propagation
force by averaging the load over a 25.4 mm (1 in.) interval, 4
Supporting data on precision are available from ASTM Headquarters. Request
disregarding the initial and final portions of the curve. RR:D20-1177.

3
 D1938 − 14
TABLE 2 Tear Propagation Resistance (Trouser Tear) Transverse in Practice E691 to generate data specific to their materials and
Direction (Values Expressed in Units of Grams-Force) laboratories (or between specific laboratories). The principles
Material Average Sr A SR B rC RD of 12.1.2 – 12.1.2.3 would then be valid for such data. )
Polystyrene 3.86 0.46 3.08 1.28 8.63 12.1.2 Concept of r and R in Table 1 and Table 2—If S r and
Polyester 32.47 1.74 3.68 4.86 10.31
LDPE—LD 278.6 12.21 30.29 34.18 84.40 SR have been calculated from a large enough body of data and
104 for test results that were averages from testing five specimens
Polypropylene 326.2 49.67 124.9 139.1 349.7 for each test result, then:
LLDPE 372.5 26.69 31.68 74.74 88.70
HDPE No. 2 452.6 24.68 31.28 69.10 87.59 12.1.2.1 Repeatability—Two results obtained within one
HDPE No. 1 549.7 64.10 105.4 179.5 295.0 laboratory shall be judged not equivalent if they differ by more
A
S r = within-laboratory standard deviation for the material stated. It is obtained by than the “r” value for the material. “r” is the interval repre-
pooling the standard deviations of the test results from each laboratory, as follows: senting the critical difference between the two test results for
Sr = [(^(S1) 2 + (S2) 2 ... + (Sn) 2)/n]1/2
B
SR = between-laboratories standard deviation for the material stated. It is a the same material, obtained by the same operator using the
pooling of the amounts by which the average of the test results for each laboratory same equipment on the same day in the same laboratory.
deviate from the overall average for that material.
C
r = within-laboratory repeatability limit = 2.8 × Sr.
12.1.2.2 Reproducibility—Two test results obtained by dif-
D
R = between-laboratories reproducibility limit = 2.8 × SR. ferent laboratories shall be judged not equivalent if they differ
by more than “R” value for that material. “ R” is the interval
representing the critical difference between two test results for
source, and randomized sections of film were sent to each of the same material, obtained by different operators using differ-
the laboratories which prepared the test specimens and tested ent equipment in different laboratories.
them. Each test result was the average of five determinations. 12.1.2.3 Any judgment in accordance with 12.1.2.1 or
Each laboratory obtained two test results for each material. 12.1.2.2 would have an approximate 95 % (0.95) probability of
(Warning—The explanation of r and R (12.1.2 – 12.1.2.3) are being correct.
only intended to present a meaningful way of considering the
approximate precision of this test method. The data in Table 1 12.2 Bias—There are no recognized standards to estimate
and Table 2 should not be applied to acceptance or rejection of the bias of this test method.
materials, as these data apply only to the materials tested in the
round robin and are unlikely to be rigorously representative of 13. Keywords
other lots, formulations, conditions, materials, or laboratories. 13.1 plastic film; single tear; tear; tear-propagation; thin
Users of this test method should apply the principles outlined sheeting; trouser

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee D20 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (D1938 - 08)
that may impact the use of this standard. (December 1, 2014)

(1) Corrected a figure reference in 7.1. (3) Removed permissive language found in Section 6.
(2) Corrected a decimal error for a metric conversion in 6.2.

ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or [email protected] (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org). Permission rights to photocopy the standard may also be secured from the Copyright Clearance Center, 222
Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, Tel: (978) 646-2600; http://www.copyright.com/