DIN ISO 815-2 is a low-temperature compression set standard for vulcanized and thermoplastic rubber. It is used to evaluate how well an elastomer recovers after being held under a defined compressive deformation while cold—an important indicator for sealing performance in cold climates and refrigerated service.
If you need help aligning your temperature range, method choice, and reporting expectations to an exact cited edition, talk with our team about your material and application before you lock in a test setup.
DIN ISO 815-2: Elastomere oder thermoplastische Elastomere – Bestimmung des Druckverformungsrestes – Teil 2: Bei niedrigen Temperaturen
DIN ISO 815-2 describes standardized approaches for measuring compression set at low temperatures. It is commonly specified when a rubber component must maintain sealing force after cold soak and release.
The standard includes two test methods. One method follows the general compression-set approach used for higher temperatures, while the other method uses a defined measuring device that can track thickness during recovery at the test temperature.
Quick Definition
What it measures: Permanent (or slow-recovering) thickness loss after a rubber specimen is compressed, conditioned at a low temperature for a set time, then allowed to recover and measured at the test temperature.
Why low-temperature is different: Cold effects such as stiffening and crystallization can dominate recovery behavior, so measurements are taken at the low test temperature rather than after warming.
What This Standard Covers
DIN ISO 815-2 covers compression set determination for vulcanized rubbers and thermoplastic rubbers (thermoplastic elastomers) under low-temperature conditions.
Method structure (high level): A specimen is compressed to a defined deformation, held at a specified low temperature for a specified time, then released and evaluated based on thickness recovery at the test temperature. Method 2 additionally relies on a defined measuring device to record thickness during recovery, and results are not intended to correlate directly between the two methods.
Why This Standard Matters in Testing
Compression set at low temperature is often used to screen elastomer formulations and to qualify sealing materials where maintaining contact stress is critical after cold exposure. It can also support incoming material checks, supplier comparisons, and validation work for products expected to see sub-ambient service temperatures.
Because low-temperature recovery behavior can be sensitive to method choice and temperature control, the standard is frequently used to make results comparable across labs when the same method, conditioning, and measurement approach are followed.
Common Materials, Product Types, or Applications Covered
DIN ISO 815-2 is most commonly applied to elastomeric materials used where compressive sealing force matters at low temperature.
Common examples: O-rings and seals, gasket materials, rubber packings, elastomeric isolators, and other molded or extruded rubber components used in cold environments (outdoor equipment, refrigerated systems, transport, and energy-related hardware).
Common Test or Verification Workflow
DIN ISO 815-2 typically fits into a lab workflow where compression set is used as a material performance check at a defined low temperature.
Common workflow steps (typical): Prepare and condition test pieces → measure initial thickness → compress to the required deformation in a compression device → hold at the specified low temperature for the specified time → release compression → measure thickness recovery at the test temperature (and, for the instrumented method, record recovery behavior using the specified measuring device) → calculate and report compression set.
Equipment Commonly Used for This Standard
Equipment selection is driven by tight temperature control, stable compression spacing, and repeatable thickness measurement at the low test temperature.
Common equipment: Compression set fixtures (plates and spacers appropriate to the specimen form), a low-temperature cabinet or environmental chamber capable of maintaining the specified test temperature, and a thickness measurement system suitable for measurements at the test temperature.
Method 2 considerations: The method that records thickness during recovery requires the specified recovery-measurement device and an approach that can measure/record thickness while maintaining the low-temperature condition. This can influence fixture choice, sensor integration, and chamber feedthrough needs.
If you are configuring a low-temperature chamber, compression jigs, and measurement hardware as a complete package, you can request pricing for an ISO 815-2-ready setup matched to your specimen size and temperature range.
How to Read This Designation or Revision
DIN ISO 815-2 indicates the German adoption of ISO 815-2 (Part 2 of the ISO 815 compression set series), focused on low-temperature testing.
Edition example: DIN ISO 815-2:2022-04 is a DIN publication of ISO 815-2:2019 and replaces the prior DIN ISO 815-2:2016-09 edition. When a customer specification cites this standard, the year/month suffix matters because equipment, method options, and reporting expectations can depend on the exact edition named.
Related Standards, Methods, or Frameworks
DIN ISO 815-2 is part of the ISO 815 series for compression set. For compression set at ambient or elevated temperatures, specifications often reference ISO 815-1 (Part 1).
In multi-property elastomer qualification programs, compression set results are commonly reviewed alongside hardness, tensile, aging, and low-temperature flexibility requirements defined elsewhere in the product specification.
Get help selecting equipment for DIN ISO 815-2
If you need a quote for a low-temperature compression set workflow (fixtures, chamber, and measurement approach) aligned to your cited edition and specimen form, request a detailed quote and share your temperature, dwell time, and sample geometry.