This standard specifies general procedures for the preparation, measurement, marking, storage and conditioning of rubber test pieces for use in physical tests specified in other standards, and the preferred conditions to be used during the tests. Special conditions applicable to a particular test or material or simulating a particular climatic environment are not included, nor are special requirements for testing whole products.
This standard also specifies the requirements for the time-interval to be observed between forming and testing of rubber test pieces and products. Such requirements are necessary to obtain reproducible test results and to minimize disagreements between customer and supplier.
2 Identification and record keeping
Records shall be kept of the identity of each test piece so that it is identifiable with the sample supplied and such that all the relevant details of preparation, storage, conditioning and measurement are traceable to each individual test piece.
Each sample or test piece shall be individually identifiable by marking or segregation at each stage of its preparation and testing. Where marking is used as the method of identification, the markings shall be sufficiently durable to ensure that the test piece or sample remains identifiable until discarded. Where grain effects may be significant, the direction of the grain shall be identified on each sample or test piece.
The method of marking shall not affect the properties of the sample or test piece and shall avoid significant surfaces, i.e. surfaces which are to be directly tested (as in e.g. abrasion tests) or surfaces at which a fracture will terminate during the test (as in e.g. tear or tensile tests).
3 Standard laboratory conditions
3.1 Standard laboratory temperature
The standard laboratory temperature shall be either (23 ± 2) °C or (27 ± 2) °C.
If a closer tolerance is required, it shall be ± 1 °C.
