ISO » ISO 527-3

ISO 527-3 Tensile Properties of Films and Sheets

Written by Dan Caesar

ISO 527-3 is an international standard used to determine the tensile properties of plastic film or sheeting. Plastic films are used extensively in the packaging industry and as components of more complex products, such as electric vehicle batteries. Material properties reported for this standard are tensile strength, yield point, and strain.

Film or sheeting is defined to be a plastic test specimen with a thickness less than 1 mm. Plastics with a thickness greater than 1 mm should be tested per ISO 527-2. The equivalent ASTM standard to ISO 527-3 is ASTM D882.

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Separator Film Testing for Electric Vehicle Batteries

Separator films are used in EV battery production to separate the anode and cathode in lithium-ion and other liquid electrolyte batteries. These films are required in high volumes and are extremely critical to product safety. Because testing standards specific to EV batteries have not yet been established, ISO 527-3 is commonly used as a proxy standard to characterize their frictional properties. The most common material used for separator film is polyolefin, a polymer film that is strong enough to withstand the winding operation during assembly as well as uneven plating of lithium on the anode due to extensive use. Safer and stronger separator material more effectively prevents contact between the anode and cathode, while thinner material helps reduce the weight of each battery and improve energy density.

Learn more about battery testing by visiting our EV battery testing content hub.

Recommended Testing Equipment

Because thin film specimens break at relatively low forces, ISO 527-3 testing is often performed on a single column universal testing machine. However, due to the fact that many thin film specimens exhibit high elongation at break, an extra height single column frame or possibly a dual column frame may be required in order to test until break. Instron's 3400 and 6800 Series include a variety of test frames suitable for thin film testing, with the 6800 Series offering many advanced features for those wishing to maximize repeatability and throughput.

ISO 527-3 Test Setup
6800 Series Universal Testing System
Bluehill Universal Software
2580 Series Load Cell
Pneumatic Side-Action Grips

Gripping Solutions

Due to the flexible, delicate nature of thin film specimens, specimen gripping can be a challenge. Pneumatic side action grips are an ideal solution because they provide an adjustable inlet air pressure to ensure that specimens can be clamped sufficiently throughout the test. When using pneumatic grips with the Smart-Close Air Kit, operators can define the inlet clamping pressure in the Bluehill^® Universal test method, replacing the need to manually change the pressure at the air supply’s regulator. The Smart-Close Air Kit not only promotes a safer use of pneumatic grips, but it can make testing more efficient and repeatable.

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For those looking for a non-pneumatic solution for ISO 527-3 testing, Instron recommends self-tightening roller grips. Manually-tightened screw grips are not recommended for thin film testing, because the variability they add to the clamping pressure can negatively impact the repeatability of results and cause a higher frequency of improper gripping (jaw breaks or slippage).

1 kN Model | 2712-041

1 kN Model | 2713-007

SPECIMEN ALIGNMENT

Tensile testing of thin films and foils presents more challenges than the testing of rigid specimens. The majority of thin films and foils used in EV battery manufacturing have a thickness of no more than 15 microns, making it extremely easy to damage them during the specimen insertion process. Correctly aligning such delicate specimens is a major pain point for many testing labs, and the use of a precision specimen loader device is recommended. These devices use a detachable alignment clip and linear rail to guide the specimens into the grips, and are available in multiple sizes to accommodate a wide range of specimen dimensions.

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STRAIN MEASUREMENT

Extensometers enable us to provide the most accurate strain measurement. Non-contacting video extensometry is the best solution for thin film testing, as typical clip-on extensometers weigh down the specimen causing premature failure. Instron's Advanced Video Extensometer (AVE3) can measure strain as accurately as a clip-on extensometer without physically contacting the specimen.

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RESULTS AND THROUGHPUT

Instron's Bluehill Universal testing software makes it easy to report calculations in compliance with the standard. Customers who choose the Plastics method suite will receive a pre-configured test method for ISO 527-3 testing, complete with specific test parameters and calculations to help ensure compliance.

For labs with high-volume testing needs, several modifications to the tensile machine setup can be made to speed up the testing process and increase throughput, up to and including fully automated test systems. Fully automated systems such as Instron's AT3 are designed to incorporate specimen measurement, specimen loading, testing, and removal, and are able to run for hours without operator interaction. These systems help to reduce variability due to human error and can be left running after a shift ends to continue getting results when operators go home.

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6800 Series Premier Testing Systems Brochure

Instron 6800 Series Universal Testing Systems provide unparalleled accuracy and reliability. Built on a patent-pending Operator Protect system architecture with an all-new Smart-Close Air Kit and Collision Mitigation features, the 6800 Series makes materials testing simpler, smarter, and safer than ever before.

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Bluehill Universal Brochure

Bluehill Universal is Instron’s advanced materials testing software, designed for intuitive touch interaction and streamlined workflows. It offers pre-loaded test methods, QuickTest for rapid setup, enhanced data exporting, and Instron Connect for direct service communication. Users of Bluehill 2 and Bluehill 3 can easily upgrade to the latest version for improved performance and usability

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Precision Specimen Loader Data Sheet

The precision specimen loader (catalog no. 2710-240, 241, 242, 243, 244) provides a safe, ergonomic, and convenient way to load thin film specimens into Instron 2712-052 grips. Thin film specimens are small and delicate, making them a challenge for operators to align within the grips. These specimens are often damaged due to operators repeatedly inserting and removing them from the grips in order to achieve correct alignment. This affects throughput and repeatability and increases safety risks to operators spending additional time within the test space.

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3400 Series Universal Testing Systems Brochure

Instron 3400 Series universal testing systems for tensile, compression, bend, and other material property tests.

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2712-04X Series Pneumatic Side-Action Grips

Pneumatic side-action grips offer a versatile gripping solution for a wide range of materials. Rated capacities between 1 and 10 kN.

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2713 Self Tightening Roller Grips

The self-tightening grips are primarily designed for the precision testing of elastomeric and other flexible materials exhibiting a large reduction in cross-section area under load. They provide excellent testing accuracy, positive non-slip gripping action and are quick and simple-to-use. The upper grip is counter balanced so that the specimen can be aligned with the load cell to eliminate non-axial forces.

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AVE 2 Non-Contacting Video Extensometer

The second generation Advanced Video Extensometer (AVE 2) utilizes patented measurement technology in the fastest, most accurate non-contacting strain measurement device commercially available.

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