ISO 527-2 specifies the test conditions used to determine tensile properties of moulding and extrusion plastics. It is used alongside ISO 527-1 to run consistent tensile tests for material qualification, incoming inspection, and production QA.
If you are not sure whether ISO 527-2 is the right part of the ISO 527 series for your material form (moulded/extruded vs. film or composites), contact our team and we will help you map the standard to a practical test setup.
ISO 527-2: Plastics — Determination of tensile properties — Part 2: Test conditions for moulding and extrusion plastics
ISO 527-2 is an ISO International Standard that defines test conditions used when running tensile tests on plastics intended for moulding and extrusion. It is commonly referenced when labs need comparable tensile results across materials, lots, or sites.
This part is typically used for rigid and semi-rigid plastics, including unfilled, filled, and certain reinforced grades (for example, short-fibre reinforced compounds), within the scope defined by the document.
Quick definition
ISO 527-2 tells a lab how to set up tensile testing conditions for moulding and extrusion plastics so that tensile property results are produced in a consistent, repeatable way when used with the general principles in ISO 527-1.
What this standard covers
ISO 527-2 is focused on the “test conditions” portion of tensile testing for moulding and extrusion plastics. In practice, it is used to align key setup choices so results like tensile strength and modulus are reported under controlled, comparable conditions.
In scope (typical use cases): Tensile testing of moulded or extruded plastic materials where ISO 527-2 is cited for the test conditions, used together with ISO 527-1.
Not a product specification: ISO 527-2 does not certify materials or set pass/fail requirements on its own; it is generally used as the referenced method/conditions inside material datasheets, procurement requirements, and internal QA plans.
Why this standard matters in testing
Tensile results can shift when specimen geometry, strain measurement approach, and test speed are not aligned. ISO 527-2 is used to reduce that variability for moulding and extrusion plastics so that results are more comparable between:
- incoming resin lots vs. approved baselines
- production runs and process changes
- supplier data vs. internal verification testing
- multi-site labs that need a shared procedure
For equipment selection, the biggest practical impact is how the standard drives requirements for controlled crosshead speed/strain rate control and appropriate strain measurement (extensometry) for the properties being reported.
Common materials, product types, or applications covered
ISO 527-2 is commonly applied to moulding and extrusion plastics used in general engineering and production environments where tensile properties are a routine quality or design input.
Common material categories: Rigid and semi-rigid thermoplastics and thermosets used for moulding and extrusion, including filled and some reinforced compounds (within the standard’s scope).
Common product forms: Moulded test specimens and specimens prepared from extruded forms where ISO 527-2 is the cited part for test conditions (as opposed to thin film/sheet testing or dedicated composites parts).
Common test or verification workflow
Most organizations use ISO 527-2 inside a repeatable tensile testing workflow that supports QA release and material comparison.
Typical workflow: Define the cited edition and required properties → prepare specimens appropriate to the cited part → condition specimens as required by the controlling procedure → run tensile tests with controlled speed and aligned strain measurement → report tensile properties in the format required by internal specs, customer requirements, or material datasheets.
Practical caution: The same UTM can produce different reported values depending on whether strain is taken from crosshead travel or a suitable extensometer. If a datasheet or customer requirement cites ISO 527-2, it is important to align the strain measurement method and reporting expectations to the cited edition and internal test plan.
Equipment commonly used for this standard
ISO 527-2 tensile testing is commonly performed on a universal testing machine configured for plastics tensile work, with grips and strain measurement matched to the specimen form and the properties being reported.
Common equipment: Universal testing machine (electromechanical is common for plastics), appropriate load cell capacity, tensile grips (pneumatic, wedge, or other suitable gripping solutions), and a suitable extensometer or strain measurement system.
Common accessories: Specimen alignment aids, grip face selections matched to plastic type, and temperature conditioning or environmental control when required by the broader test plan.
If you are selecting a UTM frame size, grip type, and extensometer approach for ISO 527-2 work, you can request a detailed quote for a configuration matched to your specimen geometry, expected force range, and reporting needs.
How to read this designation or revision
ISO 527-2 refers to Part 2 of the ISO 527 series (tensile properties of plastics). The suffix “-2” indicates the part focused on test conditions for moulding and extrusion plastics.
Edition and year: The designation is often cited with a year (for example, ISO 527-2:2025). The year matters because equipment setup details and reporting expectations can change between editions.
Status note: Older editions such as ISO 527-2:2012 have been withdrawn and replaced by newer revisions. When matching customer requirements, confirm the exact cited edition on the drawing, purchase specification, or test plan.
Related standards, methods, or frameworks
ISO 527 is a multi-part series. ISO 527-2 is typically used together with other parts depending on specimen type and material form.
Common related references:
- ISO 527-1 (general principles for determining tensile properties of plastics)
- ISO 527-3 (test conditions for films and sheets)
- ISO 527-4 (test conditions for isotropic and orthotropic fibre-reinforced plastic composites)
- ISO 527-5 (test conditions for unidirectional fibre-reinforced plastic composites)
Talk with us about ISO 527-2 tensile testing capacity
If you need help matching ISO 527-2 to the right force capacity, grips, and extensometry for your plastics program, talk with our team about your material type, specimen form, and the edition you are required to follow.