Impact Testi — IEC 62133-2 / ISO 179 / ASTM D256 · Plastics Testing

What Is Impact?

Impact test is a test in which damage, breakage or safety behavior is evaluated by applying a sudden impact to the sample from a defined mass and height. The order and acceptance criteria vary depending on the application area: for battery cells it is an abuse test, for plastics and glass it is a mechanical strength test.

Purpose of Impact

The purpose is to determine the product's resistance to impacts that may occur during use or an accident; In battery application, it is to evaluate the risk of internal short circuit and thermal events as a result of impact.

Which Products Is Impact Applied To?

Battery cells and modules (abuse tested)
Plastic sheet and injection parts
Automotive exterior trim and glass components
Furniture surface and structural elements
Packaging and protective enclosures

In Which Sectors Is Impact Used?

PlasticsAutomotivePackagingConsumer Products

Standards Related to Impact

IEC 62133-2Safety in portable lithium cells and batteries test
UL 2580Safety in electric vehicle batteries test
ISO 179-1
ISO 180
ASTM D256
ISO 6603-2

Impact Conditions

Battery application: Mass and fall height defined in the standard; A rod is placed on the cell and a blow is applied.
Polymer application: Pendulum (Charpy/Izod) or falling weight arrangement
Specimen temperature: Room temperature or lower temperature according to specification
Safety: Battery tests are carried out in an explosion-proof cabinet

Equipment for Impact

Falling weight impact device
Pendulum impact test machine
Explosion-proof test cell (battery)
Temperature and voltage recording
High-speed camera

Sample Requirements for Impact

In the battery experiment, the sample is fully charged and disposable.
Polymer samples must be sized and conditioned in accordance with the standard
The number of samples is determined according to the applied standard
Impact location must be defined in the specification

Duration of Impact

The moment of impact lasts seconds. In battery experiments, a working day is planned along with the observation period.

Impact Procedure

1The sample is identified and the initial state is recorded.
2The mechanism to be applied (pendulum, falling weight or battery pulse) is established.
3Mass and drop height are set according to the standard.
4The blow is applied; force, temperature or absorbed energy are recorded.
5In the battery experiment, temperature and voltage are monitored throughout the observation period.
6The damage type and result are evaluated.

Impact Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance criteria vary depending on the application area. The typical criterion in battery tests is the absence of fire and explosion; In polymer and glass tests, the minimum impact strength or fracture type is defined in the specification.

Evaluation of Results

In battery application, temperature increase, voltage drop and gas release are evaluated. Material application is based on the energy absorbed and the type of fracture.

Impact Report

Standard and layout applied
Mass, height or pendulum capacity
Sample description and impact location
Measured energy or temperature/voltage records
Damage type and observations

Accreditation

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

UN 38.3 (battery transport)
UNECE R100
Material product standards

Plastics Testing — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Impact test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Plastics testing determines the mechanical, thermal and burning behaviour of a polymer material. Unlike metals, plastics are VISCOELASTIC: their behaviour depends on loading rate, temperature and moisture. The same material therefore gives different results under different conditions, and the test conditions are an inseparable part of the result.

The practical consequence of viscoelasticity is this: a plastic part continues to deform over time under a constant load (creep) and the stress it carries at constant deformation falls over time (stress relaxation). A screwed joint loosens, a clamp loses its clamping force, a shelf sags over time. A short-term tensile test does not show this behaviour; a long-term test or an accelerated model is needed.

Thermal behaviour is the second main axis. Melt flow rate indicates the processability of the material and lot-to-lot consistency; heat deflection temperature and the Vicat softening point give a rough limit for service temperature. Thermal analysis (DSC, TGA, DMA) reveals the identity of the material: glass transition temperature, melting behaviour, crystallinity, filler content and decomposition temperature.

Burning behaviour is the third axis and ties directly into product standards. The UL 94 class and the limiting oxygen index are written into the material data sheet; a particular class is required for the housing of an electrical appliance, while a different classification system applies to a construction product.

Ageing is the most frequently skipped part of the field. Plastics degrade under UV, heat, moisture and oxygen: colour changes, the surface cracks, impact strength falls. For a part intended for outdoor use, what matters is not its values on day one but its values after ageing. Xenon arc and fluorescent UV equipment accelerate this degradation and allow comparison.

The output of this family is usually written into the material data sheet, and product standards refer to that sheet. But there can be a difference between the data sheet value and the behaviour of the actual part: orientation formed during moulding, weld lines and internal stresses make the part behave differently from the specimen.

The use of recycled content has added a new question to the field. Recycled resin varies from lot to lot; mechanical properties, colour and burning behaviour can shift between batches. For a manufacturer using recycled material, incoming material control is therefore not a choice but a necessity.

Method groups in this field

Mechanical
Tension, compression, bending, Charpy and Izod impact, hardness (Shore), creep and environmental stress cracking.
Thermal
Melt flow index (MFI), heat deflection temperature (HDT), Vicat softening temperature, linear thermal expansion.
Thermal analysis
Transition temperatures and crystallinity by DSC, composition and decomposition by TGA, dynamic mechanical behaviour by DMA.
Burning
UL 94 classification, limiting oxygen index (LOI), glow wire and needle flame tests.
Ageing
Accelerated ageing by xenon arc and fluorescent UV, hot air ageing, humidity and condensation.
Physical
Density, water absorption, ash content, gas and water vapour permeability of films and sheets.

Commonly confused in this field

A plastics result without a stated test rate and temperature cannot be interpreted; viscoelastic behaviour depends on these parameters.
A specimen result does not transfer directly to the actual part; moulding orientation and weld lines are decisive.
HDT and Vicat values are NOT service temperatures; they are a rough indication of an upper limit and do not apply under load.
The UL 94 class depends on thickness; a different wall thickness requires re-verification.
For moisture-absorbing polymers (such as polyamide), results are misleading unless conditioning is carried out.
ASTM D638 and ISO 527 results are not directly equivalent; the specimen geometries and rate definitions differ.

Which decisions these results support

Material selection and supplier approval
Meeting the flammability and thermal requirements of the product standard
Verifying the use of recycled content and lot control
Moulding process control and lot consistency
Demonstrating ageing resistance for outdoor use

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About Impact

Which impact test does this page describe?

The document lists impact testing in multiple families: battery abuse, plastics, automotive exterior trim, glass and furniture. That's why the page covers every context; Which layout to apply is determined by your product and specification.