October 2015

DIN EN ISO 3386-1

D
ICS 83.100 Supersedes
DIN EN ISO 3386-1:2010-09

Polymeric materials, cellular flexible –

Determination of stress-strain characteristics in compression –
Part 1: Low-density materials (ISO 3386-1:1986 + Amd 1:2010);
English version EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010,
English translation of DIN EN ISO 3386-1:2015-10

Polymere Materialien, weich-elastische Schaumstoffe –

Bestimmung der Druckspannungs-Verformungseigenschaften –
Teil 1: Materialien mit niedriger Dichte (ISO 3386-1:1986 + Amd 1:2010);
Englische Fassung EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010,
Englische Übersetzung von DIN EN ISO 3386-1:2015-10
Matériaux polymères alvéolaires souples –
Détermination de la caractéristique de contrainte-déformation relative en compression –
Partie 1: Matériaux à basse masse volumique (ISO 3386-1:1986 + Amd 1:2010);
Version anglaise EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010,
Traduction anglaise de DIN EN ISO 3386-1:2015-10
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Document comprises 12 pages

Translation by DIN-Sprachendienst.
In case of doubt, the German-language original shall be considered authoritative.

© No part of this translation may be reproduced without prior permission of

DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V., Berlin. Beuth Verlag GmbH, 10772 Berlin, Germany,
has the exclusive right of sale for German Standards (DIN-Normen).
English price group 9
www.din.de !%FG*"
www.beuth.de 09.15 2353607
 DIN EN ISO 3386-1:2015-10

A comma is used as the decimal marker.

National foreword
This document (EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 45
“Rubber and rubber products” in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics” (Secretariat:
NBN, Belgium).

The responsible German body involved in its preparation was the DIN-Normenausschuss Materialprüfung
(DIN Standards Committee Materials Testing), Working Committee NA 062-04-37 AA Prüfung weich-elas-
tischer Schaumstoffe.

DIN EN ISO 3386 consists of the following parts, under the general title Polymeric materials, cellular flexible
— Determination of stress-strain characteristics in compression:

 Part 1: Low-density materials

 Part 2: High-density materials

This standard includes Amendment A1 approved by CEN on 14 April 2010. The start and finish of text intro-
duced or altered by amendment is indicated in the text by tags !".

The DIN Standards corresponding to the International Standards referred to in Clause 2 of this standard are
as follows:

ISO 1923 DIN EN ISO 1923

ISO 2439 DIN EN ISO 2439
ISO 7500-1 DIN EN ISO 7500-1
ISO 23529 DIN ISO 23529

Amendments

This standard differs from DIN EN ISO 3386-1:1998-06 as follows:

a) normative references have been updated (ISO 7500-1 has been added);

b) requirements regarding the measurement accuracy have been modified (Subclause 4.1);
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c) Subclause 5.4 “Conditioning” has been revised.

Compared with DIN EN ISO 3386-1:2010-09, the following correction has been made to the German version
only and therefore does not affect the English text:

a) the NOTE to 3.1 has been corrected and changed to a footnote to read “kPa = 10 3 N/m2 ” (instead of
“kPa = 103 N/m2 ”).

Previous editions

DIN 53577: 1963-03, 1976-01, 1988-12

DIN EN ISO 3386-1: 1998-06, 2010-09

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 DIN EN ISO 3386-1:2015-10

National Annex NA
(informative)

Bibliography

DIN EN ISO 1923, Cellular plastics and rubbers — Determination of linear dimensions

DIN EN ISO 2439, Flexible cellular polymeric materials — Determination of hardness (indentation technique)

DIN EN ISO 7500-1, Metallic materials — Verification of static uniaxial testing machines — Part 1: Tension/
compression testing machines — Verification and calibration of the force-measuring system

DIN ISO 23529, Rubber — General procedures for preparing and conditioning test pieces for physical test
methods
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DIN EN ISO 3386-1:2015-10

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 EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO 3386-1
November 1997
NORME EUROPÉENNE
+ A1
EUROPÄISCHE NORM April 2010

ICS 83.100

English version

Polymeric materials, cellular flexible — Determination of stress-

strain characteristics in compression — Part 1: Low-density
materials (ISO 3386-1:1986 + Amd 1:2010)

Matériaux polymères alvéolaires souples — Détermination Polymere Materialien, weich-elastische Schaumstoffe —

de la caractéristique de contrainte-déformation relative en Bestimmung der Druckspannungs-Verformungseigen-
compression — Partie 1: Matériaux à basse masse schaften — Teil 1: Materialien mit niedriger Dichte
volumique (ISO 3386-1:1986 + Amd 1:2010) (ISO 3386-1:1986 + Amd 1:2010)

EN ISO 3386-1:1997 was approved by CEN on 1997-10-16 and Amendment A1:2010 on 2010-04-14.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Management Centre or to any CEN member.

The European Standards exist in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Management Centre has the same status as the official
versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.
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EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels

© 2010 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
 DIN EN ISO 3386-1:2015-10
EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010 (E)

Contents Page

Foreword to EN ISO 3386-1:1997 ......................................................................................................................3

!Foreword to EN ISO 3386-1:1997/A1:2010 ..................................................................................................3
1 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................4
2 Normative references ............................................................................................................................4
3 Terms and definitions ...........................................................................................................................4
4 Apparatus ...............................................................................................................................................5
4.1 Test machine ..........................................................................................................................................5
4.2 Supporting surface ................................................................................................................................5
4.3 Compression plate.................................................................................................................................5
5 Test pieces .............................................................................................................................................5
5.1 Form and dimensions ...........................................................................................................................5
5.2 Samples showing orientation...............................................................................................................5
5.3 Number of test pieces ...........................................................................................................................5
5.4 Conditioning...........................................................................................................................................5
6 Procedure ...............................................................................................................................................6
7 Expression of results ............................................................................................................................6
7.1 Compression stress/strain characteristic ...........................................................................................6
7.2 Compression stress value ....................................................................................................................7
8 Repeat tests............................................................................................................................................7
9 Test report ..............................................................................................................................................7
Annex ZA (normative) Normative references to international publications with their relevant
European publications ..........................................................................................................................8
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 DIN EN ISO 3386-1:2015-10
EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010 (E)

Foreword to EN ISO 3386-1:1997

International Standard ISO 3386-1:1986 Polymeric materials, cellular flexible — Determination of stress-strain
characteristics in compression — Part 1: Low-density materials, which was prepared by ISO/TC 45 “Rubber
and rubber products” of the International Organization for Standardization, has been adopted by Technical
Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics”, the Secretariat of which is held by IBN, as a European Standard.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by May 1998, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the
latest by May 1998.

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

Endorsement notice

The text of the International Standard ISO 3386-1:1986 was approved by CEN as a European Standard
without any modification.

NOTE Normative references to international publications are listed in Annex ZA (normative).

!Foreword to EN ISO 3386-1:1997/A1:2010

This document (EN ISO 3386-1:1997/A1:2010) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 45
“Rubber and rubber products” in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics” the
secretariat of which is held by NBN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by October 2010, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at
the latest by October 2010.
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Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Endorsement notice

The text of ISO 3386-1:1986/Amd 1:2010 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 3386-1:1997/A1:2010
without any modification."

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 DIN EN ISO 3386-1:2015-10
EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010 (E)

1 Scope
This part of ISO 3386 specifies a method for the determination of the compression stress/strain characteristic
of low-density flexible cellular materials up to 250 kg/m3. lt also indicates a method for the calculation of the
compression stress value of such materials.

The compression stress/strain characteristic is a measure of the load-bearing properties of the material,
though not necessarily of its capacity to sustain a long-term load.

The compression stress/strain characteristic differs from the indentation hardness characteristics (as
determined in accordance with ISO 2439), which are known to be influenced by the thickness and the tensile
properties of the flexible cellular material under test, by the shape of the compression plate and by the shape
and size of the test piece.

ISO 3386/2 specifies a method for high-density materials and differs from part 1 in the following ways :

⎯ it is mainly concerned with materials of density above 250 kg/m3;

⎯ compression stress values have been deleted;

⎯ it does not permit the use of a cylindrical test piece.

2 Normative references
ISO 1923, Cellular materials — Determination of linear dimensions

ISO 2439, Polymeric materials, cellular flexible — Determination of hardness (indentation technique)

!ISO 7500-1, Metallic materials — Verification of static uniaxial testing machines — Part 1: Tension/
compression testing machines — Verification and calibration of the force-measuring system"

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this International Standard the following definitions apply.

3.1
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compression stress/strain characteristic

CC
the stress, expressed in kilopascals1) required to produce a compression, at a constant rate of deformation
during the fourth loading cycle of the test specified below, expressed as a function of the compression

3.2
compression stress value
CV40
the compression stress/strain characteristic for a compression of 40 %

1) 1 kPa = 103 N/m2

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EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010 (E)

4 Apparatus

4.1 Test machine

The test machine shall be capable of compressing the test piece between a support surface (see 4.2) and a
compression plate (see 4.3), which shall have a uniform relative rate of motion in the vertical direction of
(100 ± 20) mm/min.

!The test machine shall be capable of measuring the force with an accuracy corresponding to class 1 of
ISO 7500-1 or with an accuracy of ± 1 N, and also of measuring the test piece thickness under load with an
accuracy of ± 0,25 mm."

4.2 Supporting surface

Unless otherwise specified, the test piece shall be supported an a smooth, flat, horizontal and rigid surface,
larger than the test piece, which may be vented with holes about 6 mm in diameter, and approximately 20 mm
pitch, to allow the escape of air from below the test piece.

4.3 Compression plate

The compression plate shall be of any convenient size and shape, provided that it overlaps the test piece in all
directions. The lower surface shall be plane and smooth, but not polished, and it shall be maintained parallel
to the supporting surface.

5 Test pieces

5.1 Form and dimensions

The test piece shall be a right parallelepiped or a right cylinder with a minimum width or diameter/thickness
ratio of 2 : 1. The preferred thickness of a test piece is (50 ± 1) mm and in any case the thickness shall be not
less than 10 mm. Sheets less than 10 mm thick shall be plied together to reach the preferred thickness range,
provided that a minimum of ten cell diameters are included in the thickness of each ply.

The area of the test piece shall be not less than 2 500 mm2 and shall be such that at no point does the test
piece overlap the compression plate.
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NOTE For specimens with an area close to the lower limit, the compression forces may be very low, and specialized
testing equipment may therefore be required to meet the precision specified in 4.1.

5.2 Samples showing orientation

If the products show an orientation of the cellular structure, the direction in which the indentation is to be
carried out shall be agreed upon between the interested parties. Normally, testing is carried out in that
direction in which the finished product will be stressed under service conditions.

5.3 Number of test pieces

Three test pieces shall be tested.

5.4 Conditioning

!Materials shall not be tested less than 72 h after manufacture unless it can be demonstrated that the mean
results obtained at either 16 h or 48 h after manufacture do not differ by more than ± 10 % from those
obtained after 72 h, in which case testing is permitted at 16 h or 48 h, respectively.

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EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010 (E)

Prior to the test, the test pieces shall be conditioned, undeflected and undistorted, for at least 16 h in one of
the following atmospheres:

⎯ 23 °C ± 2 °C, (50 ± 5) % relative humidity;

⎯ 27 °C ± 2 °C, (65 ± 5) % relative humidity.

This conditioning period can form the final part of or, in the case of testing 16 h after manufacture, the whole
of the period following manufacture.

In the case of quality-control tests, test pieces can be taken a shorter time (down to a minimum of 12 h) after
manufacture and testing carried out after conditioning for a shorter period (down to a minimum of 6 h) in one
of the atmospheres specified above.

Testing shall be carried out at the same temperature and relative humidity as those used for conditioning."

6 Procedure
Measure the dimensions of the test piece using the appropriate procedure specified in ISO 1923 and calculate
the area of the load-bearing face.

Insert the test piece in such a way that the force acts along the centre line of the test machine (4.1) and
compress it at (100 ± 20) mm/min by means of the compression plate (4.3) until a compression of (70 +50 ) %
of the initial test piece thickness is attained or until the compression strain applied equals that specified in the
material specification. Then decompress the test piece at the same rate until the separation between the
compression plate and the base plate is equal to the initial test piece thickness.

Immediately repeat this procedure three times and on the fourth compression cycle read the force, in newtons,
at the specified strain.

NOTE If measurements are required at multiple compression strains on a test piece, it is unnecessary to allow
recovery time or to repeat the pre-loading procedure between the readings at each strain provided that measurements are
taken in order of increasing magnitude of strain.

7 Expression of results
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7.1 Compression stress/strain characteristic

The compression stress/strain characteristic at any required percentage compression, expressed in

kilopascals, is given by the equation

Fxx
CC xx = 1 000
A

where

CCxx is the compression stress/strain characteristic at a compression of xx %;

Fxx is the force, in newtons, recorded in the fourth loading cycle for a compression of xx %;

A is the surface area, in square millimetres, of the test piece.

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EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010 (E)

7.2 Compression stress value

The compression stress value, expressed in kilopascals, is given by the equation

F40
CV40 = 1 000
A

where

CV40 is the compression stress value at a compression of 40 %;

F40 is the force, in newtons, recorded in the fourth loading cycle for 40 % compression;

A is the surface area, in square millimetres, of the test piece.

8 Repeat tests
For repeat tests on the same test piece, a minimum recovery period of 16 h shall be observed.

9 Test report
The test report shall include the following information:

a) reference to this International Standard, i.e. ISO 3386/1;

b) a description of the material;

c) the temperature and humidity at which the test pieces were conditioned;

d) the dimensions of the test piece used and, if applicable, the number of plies;

e) the compression stress/strain characteristics for individual test pieces, and their median, and/or the
compression stress values for individual test pieces, and their median;

f) other relevant information.

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NOTE An example of how to express compression stress/strain characteristics briefly is as follows:

ISO 3386-1 CC25
23 °C, 50 % relative humidity
Individual results
Median kPa

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EN ISO 3386-1:1997 + A1:2010 (E)

Annex ZA
(normative)

Normative references to international publications with

their relevant European publications

This European Standard incorporates, by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications.
These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed
hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to
this European Standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references the
latest edition of the publication referred to applies (including amendments).

Publication Year Title EN/HD Year

ISO 1923 1981 Cellular plastics and rubbers — Determination of EN ISO 1923 1995
linear dimensions
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