Since the 1950s, plastics have become a major industry, impacting every aspect of our lives, providing improved packaging, creating new textiles, and allowing for the
production of new products and cutting-edge technologies. Plastic is the most widely used material in the world, in part because of its unique ability to be manufactured
to meet very specific functional needs. Its versatility allows it and its composites to be used in everything from automotive parts to doll parts, from beverage bottles to the
refrigerators they are stored in.
The increase in demand has led to the need for stricter acceptance criteria for the mechanical and chemical properties of plastic materials. Because of some of the new
structural uses for these materials, it is critical to understand how they perform under dynamic conditions (i.e. impact). Dynamic failure of a material is different from failure
found when tested at slower, more stable speeds. This is especially true for plastics, because many variables can affect the material. The way the polymers used to make a
particular material are formed/present in the material; whether the resin used is filled or unfilled; color additives; and the molding process can all affect the strength and
durability of the final material, and also the strength and durability of the final product. Testing to ASTM D3763 allows materials engineers and design engineers to test
materials for desired properties such as strength, ductility, toughness, and energy absorption.
