Standard Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers—Tension

5.1 All materials and products covered by these test methods must withstand tensile forces for adequate performance in certain applications. These test methods allow for the measurement of such tensile properties. However, tensile properties alone may not directly relate to the total end use performance of the product because of the wide range of potential performance requirements in actual use.

5.2 Tensile properties depend both on the material and the conditions of test (extension rate, temperature, humidity, specimen geometry, pretest conditioning, etc.); therefore materials should be compared only when tested under the same conditions.

5.3 Temperature and rate of extension may have substantial effects on tensile properties and therefore should be controlled. These effects will vary depending on the type of material being tested.

5.4 Tensile set represents residual deformation which is partly permanent and partly recoverable after stretching and retraction. For this reason, the periods of extension and recovery (and other conditions of test) must be controlled to obtain comparable results.