Overview
ISO 10066:1991 is a key international standard developed by ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 45, focusing on flexible cellular polymeric materials. This standard outlines a comprehensive procedure for the determination of creep in compression of soft cellular polymer materials, primarily to support quality assurance in packaging applications. It details the principles, apparatus requirements, specimen preparation, conditioning methods, and test procedures necessary to measure and report the creep behavior of these materials under static compressive stress.
Accurately measuring and controlling creep in flexible cellular polymers is crucial for ensuring product performance, especially in cushioning packaging where excessive deformation can compromise protection. ISO 10066:1991 helps manufacturers and quality professionals ensure that materials meet necessary criteria for durability and reliability.
Key Topics
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Scope and Application
The standard focuses on flexible cellular polymeric materials subjected to static compressive loads, providing a method to quantify deformation (creep) over time. While intended mainly for packaging quality assurance, its use extends to product design decisions where material creep may affect performance.
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Test Principle
Creep is measured as the variation in deformation of a sample under a prescribed static compressive stress, usually below 10 kPa, over time intervals (15 minutes to 72 hours). The test captures both the immediate and long-term compression behavior.
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Specimen Preparation
Test specimens are rectangular parallelepipeds, typically 50 mm by 50 mm in length and width, with thickness between 20 mm and 30 mm. Careful cutting methods avoiding heat or mechanical damage must be employed. Specimens may include surface skin if it forms an integral part of the material.
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Conditioning and Test Environment
Specimens are conditioned for a minimum of 16 hours under controlled temperature and humidity to ensure consistent testing conditions. Typical test conditions are 23°C ± 2°C and 50% ± 5% relative humidity for temperate climates or 27°C ± 2°C and 65% ± 5% humidity for tropical climates.
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Apparatus Requirements
The testing device includes two smooth parallel plates (at least one with automatic alignment) capable of applying and maintaining a uniform static compressive force with minimal variation (
