Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance Tester
Measures ESC resistance of plastic and polymer materials by testing notched samples under temperature, chemical environment, and stress conditions using methylene chloride.
Catching cracks that tensile and impact tests miss
Polyethylene parts can pass every mechanical test and still crack months later when stress and a chemical act together — detergents, oils or residual moulding stress. The ESCR test reproduces that: notched specimens are bent into a holder to a fixed strain and immersed in a temperature-controlled reagent bath, then checked for the first cracks over time. The result (often F50, the time at which half the specimens crack) is used to qualify PE pipe, cable-jacket and blow-moulding grades to ASTM D1693.
- Tests under chemical environment (methylene chloride)
- Notched sample testing
- Temperature-controlled bath
- Complete accessory set included
- 1-year warranty
Standards
- ASTM D1693 — Environmental stress-cracking of ethylene plastics
- TS EN ISO 60811-406 — Electric & optical cables — polymer test methods
Frequently Asked Questions
What is environmental stress cracking?
Brittle cracking of a plastic under a stress well below its normal strength, caused by the combined action of stress and a surface-active chemical environment.
How is the ASTM D1693 test done?
Notched strips are bent into a U-shaped holder, immersed in the specified reagent at a controlled temperature and inspected at intervals; the time to cracking is recorded.
What does F50 mean?
The time at which 50% of the specimens have cracked — the usual way ESCR results are reported and compared with a specification.
What is supplied with the tester?
A temperature-controlled bath and a complete accessory set for notching and bending specimens.
| Test Method | Notched sample, constant stress in chemical bath |
|---|---|
| Reagent | Methylene chloride |
| Calibration Interval | Every 6 months |
| Warranty | 2 years |