ISO 37 is an International Standard that defines a tensile stress–strain test method for vulcanized and thermoplastic rubber. It is widely used to generate strength and elongation values for material qualification, compound comparisons, and incoming QA checks.
If you need help mapping your rubber product form (sheet, molded part, extrudate) to practical specimen preparation and grip selection, you can talk with our team about your lab setup and the edition you need to follow.
ISO 37: Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of tensile stress-strain properties
This standard is used to determine tensile stress–strain properties of vulcanized and thermoplastic rubbers using a tensile test. It supports reporting key mechanical properties used in specifications, datasheets, and product release criteria.
Results are commonly used for comparison between compounds, process conditions, or suppliers, and for verifying that a rubber material meets internal or customer-defined acceptance limits.
Quick Definition
Document type: Test method.
What it measures: Tensile strength, elongation at break, and stress/elongation values at defined points on the stress–strain curve (including yield-related values for certain thermoplastic rubbers where applicable).
Typical output: A stress–strain curve and reported tensile properties used for qualification, comparison, and conformance checks.
What This Standard Covers
ISO 37 covers tensile testing of rubber materials to determine stress–strain behavior under uniaxial tension. It is intended for vulcanized rubber compounds as well as thermoplastic rubbers.
Because rubber can undergo large strains, practical execution usually focuses on stable gripping, appropriate strain measurement, and consistent specimen preparation so the reported curve is repeatable and comparable.
Why This Standard Matters in Testing
Tensile stress–strain properties are frequently used as gatekeeping metrics for rubber materials: they help determine whether a compound is suitable for a given application and whether production lots remain within control limits.
For buyers and lab managers, ISO 37 often drives equipment configuration decisions such as load range, grip style, extensometer approach, and whether long-travel strain measurement is needed for high-elongation materials.
Common Materials, Product Types, or Applications Covered
ISO 37 is commonly applied to vulcanized and thermoplastic rubber used in industrial and consumer products where tensile strength and elongation are part of the qualification or release criteria.
Common examples: Rubber sheets and calendered goods, molded rubber components, extruded rubber profiles, and rubber compounds evaluated during R&D or supplier qualification.
Common Test or Verification Workflow
A typical ISO 37 workflow starts with preparing standardized tensile specimens from the rubber material, conditioning as required by your lab procedure or purchase specification, then running a controlled tensile test to generate a stress–strain curve.
Common workflow steps: Specimen cutting/molding → dimensional measurement → tensile test run → calculate/report tensile strength and elongation metrics → compare to acceptance criteria or baseline data.
Equipment Commonly Used for This Standard
ISO 37 testing is typically performed on a universal testing machine configured for elastomer tension, with grips and strain measurement matched to high-elongation behavior and specimen geometry.
Common equipment: Electromechanical universal testing machine, appropriate load cell capacity for rubber tensile forces, elastomer-appropriate grips (to reduce slip and jaw-break), and an extensometer solution suitable for large strain (contacting long-travel or non-contact video).
Specimen preparation and dimensional measurement also matter in day-to-day throughput, so many labs pair the tensile frame with a reliable specimen cutting approach and simple gauges for thickness/width measurements.
If you are selecting a frame capacity, grip style, and extensometer travel for elastomer work, you can request a detailed quote for a system configuration aligned with your specimen type and elongation range.
How to Read This Designation or Revision
ISO standards are commonly cited in the format “ISO 37:YYYY”, where the year identifies the published edition being used. In controlled quality systems, matching the cited edition is important because requirements and reporting expectations can change between editions.
Revision sensitivity: Test setup and reporting details can depend on the exact cited edition and any customer or regulatory add-ons that reference ISO 37.
Related Standards, Methods, or Frameworks
Many organizations pair ISO 37 tensile results with other elastomer test methods (for example, hardness, tear resistance, or aging) to build a more complete material qualification profile.
In global supply chains, a purchaser may specify a different tensile standard for rubber in some regions; when that happens, it is best to treat the method as a separate requirement and align acceptance criteria to the exact cited document.
Get help quoting an ISO 37-capable tensile setup
When you share your rubber type, specimen geometry, and target elongation range, we can help scope a practical ISO 37-ready configuration (frame/load cell, grips, and extensometer approach) for your workflow. To compare options, request pricing for an equipment package matched to your testing needs.