Can the standard impact tests become a true materials evaluation tool?

Abstract

Impact resistance constitutes one of the most popular quality control tools for polymeric materials and plastic finished parts. There are a number of standard impact test methods devoted to evaluate the impact response of polymeric materials (e.g., tensile-impact, Charpy and Izod tests, falling weight, Gardner, etc.). Nevertheless, to the questions: which test to use? how the different toughness measurements are related between each other? straightforward answers cannot be given. The shortcomings of standardized impact tests were recognized long ago: these tests are unable to generate an ‘actual material property’.