ASTM D1709

Introducing ASTM D1709 – Industrial Physics

ASTM D1709 is the ASTM international standard test method to measure the impact resistance of plastic films using a free-falling dart.

The ASTM D1709 testing process

When you need to measure the energy required to cause a failure of your thin-film plastic materials, ASTM D1709 is the guiding technical standard for quality assurance.

The ASTM D1709 method can be used on most thin plastic films, paper and composite sheets. It’s the test method used to determine the energy required to cause their failure.

The controlled damage is inflicted by the gravitational impact from a ‘hemispherical impacting head’ – otherwise known as a dart! Darts are dropped from specified heights, carrying different weights. Through this ASTM international process, the idea is to identify the mass of the dart that causes the samples to fail, more than 50% of the time.

Two ways to test ASTM D1790

ASTM D1790 provides two test methods (A & B) to follow:

• ASTM D1709 test method A involves a drop from 66cm with a 38.1mm diameter dart.
• ASTM D1709 test method B uses a drop height of 1.52m and a 50.8mm dart diameter.

Whichever approach you take, ASTM D1709 is colloquially described as a ‘staircase’ method of testing. So what does that mean? With each subsequent drop, the mass of the falling dart is increased or decreased until the proportion of failed tests that satisfy the 50% criteria is reached. A formula relates the number of failures and incremental weight change…and then you have your final impact failure weight.

ASTM D1709 testing devices

So, how can Industrial Physics improve your ASTM D1709 testing?

Our powerful microprocessor technology has taken falling dart testing to new heights!

The total energy that causes thin plastic films, paper and composite sheets to fail has never been easier to establish. Our range of falling dart testers are simple to operate and highly accurate – making them ideal for product development and quality control.

We make three ASTM D1709 / ASTM D4272 and ISO 7765 compliant models for all applications and budgets. Don’t let your standards freefall…choose Industrial Physics!

The Ray-Ran Manual Basic Falling Dart Impact Tester

When you’re checking the energy it takes for flexible materials such as plastic film, paper and composite sheets to fail, you’ll need a falling dart impact tester.

We make several models. This simple, accurate set-up from Ray-Ran is built for safety and complies with the ASTM D1709 Method A & B and ISO7765 part 1. You can add or remove known weights to determine the initial failure of the sample.

The free-falling dart test method is easily and accurately repeatable. Simply secure your test specimen into the unique two-piece clamp system and activate the pneumatic dart release.

• Constant tension sample clamping
• ‘Two hand’ safety operated
• Fail, non-fail test counters
• Low maintenance
• Bench mounted

Click here to find out more.

The Ray-Ran FD-A1 Advanced Falling Dart Tester

(FD-A1)

The powerful microprocessor technology of this robust, floor mounted device is easy to operate and highly accurate – making it ideal for product development and quality control.

The total energy that causes failure of thin flexible materials such as plastic film, paper and composite sheets to fail has never been easier to establish. The FD-A1 uses photoelectric cells to measure the joules needed to break your sample by measuring the kinetic energy lost by the dart.

• Unique constant tension sample clamping
• Safety engineered clamp and dart release
• Conforms to ASTM D1709 Method A&B
• Pneumatically operated
• Floor mounted.

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The Ray-Ran FD A-2 Advanced Floor Mounted Falling Dart Tester

(FD-A2)

Advanced falling dart technology kitted in an industry-leading machine at an affordable price…that’s the Ray-Ran FD A-2. Built for accuracy, safety and ease of use, it’s ideal for all aspects of product development, quality control and meeting ASTM standards, including ASTM D1709 method A & B

The break energy that causes thin flexible materials such as plastic film, paper and composite sheets to fail has never been easier to establish to ASTM standards. Typically, manual testing requires at least sixty drops per sample to gain reliable results! But our microprocessor fitted device reduces much of this wasted time and effort.

• Touch membrane alpha / numeric keypad
• Advanced microprocessor control
• Easy to read liquid crystal display
• Photo electric cell technology
• Pneumatically operated.

Click here to find out more.

Your global test and measurement partner for ASTM D1709