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INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 604

Third edition
2002-03-01

Plastics — Determination of compressive

properties
Plastiques — Détermination des propriétés en compression

Reference number
ISO 604:2002(E)

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ISO 604:2002(E)

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ISO 604:2002(E)

Contents

Foreword.....................................................................................................................................................................iv
1 Scope .............................................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Normative references .................................................................................................................................... 2
3 Terms and definitions ................................................................................................................................... 2
4 Principle.......................................................................................................................................................... 4
5 Apparatus ....................................................................................................................................................... 5
6 Test specimens.............................................................................................................................................. 6
7 Number of test specimens............................................................................................................................ 8
8 Conditioning of test specimens ................................................................................................................... 8
9 Test procedure............................................................................................................................................... 9
10 Calculation and expression of results....................................................................................................... 11
11 Precision....................................................................................................................................................... 13
12 Test report .................................................................................................................................................... 13
Annex A (normative) Small test specimens ........................................................................................................... 14
Annex B (informative) Limits of buckling ............................................................................................................... 15
Annex C (normative) Compliance correction......................................................................................................... 17
Bibliography .............................................................................................................................................................. 18

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ISO 604:2002(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO
member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted
by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 604 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 2, Mechanical properties.

This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 604:1993), which has been technically revised.

 a method of correcting for curvature at the beginning of the stress/strain curve is given (see 10.2.2);

 a method of correcting for the compliance of the test machine is given (see annex C).

Annexes A and C form a normative part of this International Standard. Annex B is for information only.

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 604:2002(E)

Plastics — Determination of compressive properties

1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method for determining the compressive properties of plastics under defined
conditions. A standard test specimen is defined but its length may be adjusted to prevent buckling under load from
affecting the results. A range of test speeds is included.

The method is used to investigate the compressive behaviour of the test specimens and for determining the
compressive strength, compressive modulus and other aspects of the compressive stress/strain relationship under
the conditions defined.

The method applies to the following range of materials:

 rigid and semi-rigid [1] thermoplastic moulding and extrusion materials, including compounds filled and
reinforced by e.g. short fibres, small rods, plates or granules in addition to unfilled types; rigid and semi-rigid
thermoplastic sheet;

 rigid and semi-rigid thermoset moulding materials, including filled and reinforced compounds; rigid and semi-
rigid thermoset sheet;

 thermotropic liquid-crystal polymers.

In agreement with ISO 10350-1 and ISO 10350-2, this International Standard applies to fibre-reinforced
compounds with fibre lengths u 7,5 mm prior to processing.

The method is not normally suitable for use with materials reinforced by textile fibres (see references [2] and [5]),
fibre-reinforced plastic composites and laminates (see [5]), rigid cellular materials (see [3]) or sandwich structures
containing cellular material or rubber (see [4]).

The method is performed using specimens which may be moulded to the chosen dimensions, machined from the
central portion of a standard multipurpose test specimen (see ISO 3167) or machined from finished or semi-
finished products such as mouldings or extruded or cast sheet.

The method specifies preferred dimensions for the test specimen. Tests which are carried out on specimens of
different dimensions, or on specimens which are prepared under different conditions, may produce results which
are not comparable. Other factors, such as the test speed and the conditioning of the specimens, can also
influence the results. Consequently, when comparable data are required, these factors must be carefully controlled
and recorded.

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ISO 604:2002(E)

2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this International Standard. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these
publications do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this International Standard are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For
undated references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC
maintain registers of currently valid International Standards.

ISO 291:1997, Plastics — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing

ISO 293:1986, Plastics — Compression moulding test specimens of thermoplastic materials

ISO 294-1:1996, Plastics — Injection moulding of test specimens of thermoplastic materials — Part 1: General
principles, and moulding of multipurpose and bar test specimens

ISO 295:—1), Plastics — Compression moulding of test specimens of thermosetting materials

ISO 2602:1980, Statistical interpretation of test results — Estimation of the mean — Confidence interval

ISO 2818:1994, Plastics — Preparation of test specimens by machining

ISO 3167:—2), Plastics — Multipurpose test specimens

ISO 5893:—3), Rubber and plastics test equipment — Tensile, flexural and compression types (constant rate of
traverse) — Specification

ISO 10724-1:1998, Plastics — Injection moulding of test specimens of thermosetting powder moulding compounds
(PMCs) — Part 1: General principles and moulding of multipurpose test specimens

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this International Standard, the following terms and definitions apply (see also Figure 1).

3.1
gauge length
L0
initial distance between the gauge marks on the central part of the test specimen

NOTE It is expressed in millimetres (mm).

3.2
test speed
v
rate of approach of the plates of the test machine during the test

NOTE It is expressed in millimetres per minute (mm/min).

3.3
compressive stress
s
compressive load, per unit area of original cross-section, carried by the test specimen

NOTE 1 It is expressed in megapascals (MPa).

1) To be published. (Revision of ISO 295:1991)

2) To be published. (Revision of ISO 3167:1993)
3) To be published. (Revision of ISO 5893:1993)

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ISO 604:2002(E)

NOTE 2 In compression tests, the stresses σ and strains ε are negative. The negative sign, however, is generally omitted. If
this generates confusion, e.g. in comparing tensile and compressive properties, the negative sign may be added for the latter.
This is unnecessary for the nominal compressive strain εc.

3.3.1
compressive stress at yield
σy
first stress at which an increase in strain (see 3.4) occurs without an increase in stress (see Figure 1, curve a, and
note 2 to 3.3)

NOTE 1 It is expressed in megapascals (MPa).

NOTE 2 It may be less than the maximum attainable stress.

3.3.2
compressive strength
σM
maximum compressive stress sustained by the test specimen during a compressive test (see Figure 1 and note 2
to 3.3)

NOTE It is expressed in megapascals (MPa).

3.3.3
compressive stress at break (rupture)
σB
compressive stress at break of the test specimen (see Figure 1 and note 2 to 3.3)

NOTE It is expressed in megapascals (MPa).

3.3.4
compressive stress at x % strain
σx
stress at which the strain reaches a specified value x % (see 3.5)

NOTE 1 It is expressed in megapascals (MPa).

NOTE 2 The compressive stress at x % strain may be measured, e.g., if the stress/strain curve does not exhibit a yield point
(see Figure 1, curve b, and note 2 to 3.3). In this case, x is taken from the relevant product standard or agreed upon by the
interested parties. In any case, x will have to be lower than the strain at compressive strength.

3.4
compressive strain
ε
decrease in length per unit original gauge length L0 [see 10.2, equation (6), and note 2 to 3.3]

NOTE It is expressed as a dimensionless ratio or percentage (%).

3.5
nominal compressive strain
εc
decrease in length per unit original length L of the test specimen [see 10.2, equation (8)]

NOTE It is expressed as a dimensionless ratio or percentage (%).

3.5.1
nominal compressive yield strain
εcy
strain corresponding to the compressive stress at yield σy (see 3.3.1)

NOTE It is expressed as a dimensionless ratio or percentage (%).

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ISO 604:2002(E)

3.5.2
nominal compressive strain at compressive strength
εcM
strain corresponding to the compressive strength σM (see 3.3.2)
NOTE It is expressed as a dimensionless ratio or percentage (%).

3.5.3
nominal compressive strain at break
εcB
strain at break of the test specimen
NOTE It is expressed as a dimensionless ratio or percentage (%).

3.6
compressive modulus
Ec
ratio of the stress difference (σ2 – σ1) to the corresponding strain difference values (ε2 = 0,002 5 minus
ε1 = 0,000 5) [see 10.3, equation (9)]
NOTE 1 It is expressed in megapascals (MPa).

NOTE 2 The compression modulus is calculated on the basis of the compressive strain ε only (see 3.4).

NOTE 3 With computer-aided equipment, the determination of the modulus Ec using two distinct stress/strain points may be
replaced by a linear regression procedure applied to the part of the curve between these points.

4 Principle
The test specimen is compressed along its major axis at constant speed until the specimen fractures or until the
load or the decrease in length reaches a predetermined value. The load sustained by the specimen is measured
during this procedure.

Figure 1 — Typical stress/strain curves

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