ABSTRACT
Testing is done by industry to satisfy product specications and for public protection using standardized tests for stress-strain relationships, ex life, tensile strength, etc. e U.S. tests are overseen by the ASTM through a committee arrangement. For instance, Committee D-1 oversees tests related to coatings while Committee D-20 oversees tests on plastics. New tests are continuously being developed, submitted to the appropriate ASTM committee, and, after adequate verication through round robin testing, nally accepted as standard tests. ese tests are published by the ASTM. Each ASTM test is specied by a unique combination of letters and numbers, along with exacting specications regarding data gathering, instrument design, and test conditions, making it possible for laboratories throughout the world to reproduce the test and hopefully the test results if requested to do so. e Izod test, a common impact test, has the ASTM number D256-56(1961). e latter number, 1961, is the year the test was rst accepted. e ASTM publication gives instructions for the Izod test specifying test material shape and size, exact specications for the test equipment, detailed description of the test procedure, and how results should be reported. Most tests developed by one testing society have analogous tests or more often utilize the same tests so that they may have ASTM, ISO, and other standardized society identication symbols.
