ASTM D1056 Flexible Cellular Materials, Sponge or Expanded Rubber

Get Certified ASTM D1056 Testing for Sponge and Expanded Rubber

ASTM D1056 testing is used to ensure that flexible cellular rubber products comply with the physical-property requirements of the designated classification. The results apply to material selection, product qualification, manufacturing quality control, and performance testing of sponge and expanded rubber products.

• Evaluates sponge rubber products by applying the applicable physical-property tests to determine whether the material meets the requirements of its specified Type, Class, Suffix, and Grade.
• Evaluates closed-cell expanded rubber products by measuring applicable properties such as density, water absorption, fluid resistance, aging resistance, and low-temperature flexibility to determine their suitability for the specified classification.
• Classifies flexible cellular rubber by type, class, Suffix, and grade so manufacturers and users can identify materials according to their required physical and performance characteristics.
• Evaluates cellular rubber made from natural, synthetic, or reclaimed rubber by determining the applicable physical properties of the resulting sponge or expanded rubber formulation.
• Assesses cellular rubber formulations containing polymers, chemicals, and organic or inorganic additives to determine whether the finished cellular material satisfies the applicable physical-property requirements.
• Determines compliance with specified physical-property requirements by applying the relevant tests for compression-deflection, accelerated aging, immersion, water absorption, density, and low-temperature flex behavior.

What are the Applications of ASTM D1056 Testing?

ASTM D1056 testing helps manufacturers and users identify the class of flexible cellular rubber and determine whether a product has the required physical properties. Results are useful in the selection of materials and in the quality control of products that need flexibility, recovery, environmental exposure resistance, and controlled compression behavior.

• Evaluates flexible sponge rubber products to verify that their physical properties meet the requirements associated with the specified ASTM D1056 classification. 
• Assesses closed-cell expanded rubber products to determine their performance during fluid exposure, water absorption, aging, density, and low-temperature conditions. 
• Supports quality control in rubber manufacturing by comparing physical-property results between formulations, manufacturing processes, and production batches. 
• Assists material selection for sealing, cushioning, insulation, padding, and other flexible cellular rubber applications where controlled physical properties are required. 
• Supports product qualification and specification compliance by determining whether cellular rubber meets the applicable requirements for its type, class, suffix, and grade. 
• Provides performance data for automotive, industrial, construction, appliance, packaging, and general rubber-product applications where flexible cellular rubber performance is important. 

What are Sponge Rubber and Expanded Rubber?

Exposure to oils, fluids, water, heat, and low temperatures can affect the compression characteristics, dimensions, water absorption, and flexibility of flexible cellular rubber. ASTM D1056 provides a standard specification for measuring these properties and testing whether a cellular rubber product meets the requirements.

Why is ASTM D1056 Testing Important?

Flexible cellular rubber, when influenced by heat, oils, fluids, water, or low temperatures, may change in terms of compression characteristics, dimensions, moisture absorption, and flexibility. ASTM D1056 provides the necessary criteria to review these traits and determine if a cellular rubber product can be used within a needed specification. 

What Materials Can Be Tested According to ASTM D1056?

ASTM D1056 covers flexible cellular rubber from natural rubber, synthetic rubber, reclaimed rubber, and combinations of these materials as well as formulations including other polymers, chemicals, and various organic and inorganic components. While ASTM D1056 is used for sponge rubber and expanded rubber, it cannot be used for ebonite cellular rubber or latex foam rubber.

How Does ASTM D1056 Evaluate Flexible Cellular Rubber?

ASTM D1056 is a specification for flexible cellular rubber that performs the physical-property tests necessary for the classification of the material. The compression-deflection characteristics, resistance to accelerated aging, water absorption, oil resistance (open-cell sponge), fluid resistance (closed-cell materials), and low-temperature flex performance can all be determined in laboratories. Results are analyzed against the appropriate requirements for the type, class, suffix, and grade of the material. 

Other ASTM reference documents in this specification are ASTM D1171, D3183, ASTM D471, and D575.

ASTM D1056 Testing Process and Data Collection

Technicians determine the ASTM D1056 classification needed and create representative specimens of the cellular rubber product. They conduct the relevant testing, including compression-deflection, accelerated aging, immersion, water absorption, density, and low-temperature flex testing, and document the data on physical properties. The lab then compares the results to the requirements in the specified material classification to see if it meets the requirements. 

Common Challenges and Troubleshooting

Results may differ with incorrect specimen dimensions, improper specimen preparation, variation in cellular structure, improper conditioning, and inconsistent test conditions. Laboratories can minimize these issues by taking representative samples, applying the appropriate individual test procedure, setting conditioning/exposure conditions, and employing calibrated measurement equipment.