Overview
EN ISO 7214:2012 - Cellular plastics - Polyethylene - Methods of test (ISO 7214:2012) specifies standardized laboratory methods for testing flexible and semi-rigid cellular polyethylene (PE) products. The standard covers specimen preparation, conditioning, test atmosphere and measurement procedures, and defines both mandatory tests for general characterization and optional tests for application‑specific properties. It also allows testing of ethylene copolymers or PE blends when their behaviour is comparable to polyethylene (see ISO 1872-1, ISO 4613-1).
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and applicability
- Applies to flexible and semi-rigid cellular plastics made from polyethylene; may be used for similar ethylene copolymers or blends.
- Specimen preparation and measurement
- Specimens must be representative, with clean edges and planar faces; dimensional measurement follows ISO 1923.
- Conditioning and atmosphere
- Standard conditioning and test atmosphere are specified (e.g., 23 ± 2 °C and 50 ± 10 % RH) to ensure comparable results.
- Mandatory tests (Clause 7) - essential for material characterization:
- Apparent density (ISO 845)
- Compressive stress (ISO 3386‑1) - measured at specified deformations (10 %, 25 %, 50 %)
- Compression set (ISO 1856)
- Tensile strength and elongation (ISO 1798)
- Dimensional stability at elevated temperature (Methods A and B; ISO 7850 / ISO 2796)
- Water absorption (ISO 2896 or modified procedure for thin specimens)
- Burning characteristics (horizontal burning tests)
- Optional tests (Clause 8) - for specific applications:
- Dynamic cushioning, compressive creep, thermal conductivity, water‑vapour transmission, dynamic stiffness, cell count, tear strength, permanent set after repeated compression.
- Reporting
- Test report content and required results are specified (Clause 9).
Applications and users
- Manufacturers of PE foam (packaging, cushioning, thermal insulation, seals) use EN ISO 7214:2012 for quality control and product development.
- Test laboratories and certification bodies adopt the methods for compliant, comparable test data.
- Product designers and specifiers rely on standardized property data (density, compressive behaviour, thermal conductivity, water uptake, dimensional stability) to select materials for packaging, automotive interiors, building insulation, sports equipment and more.
- Procurement and regulatory teams reference the standard to define material acceptance criteria and ensure performance consistency across suppliers.
Related standards
Normative references cited in EN ISO 7214:2012 include:
EN ISO 7214:2012 is the authoritative reference for reliable, repeatable testing of cellular polyethylene and should be used alongside these related ISO test methods.
