ASTM D3111-19

Standard Practice for Flexibility Determination of Hot-Melt Adhesives by Mandrel Bend Test

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The “Mandrel Bend” test is simple and fast. It requires little investment in equipment and little operator training. The prime purpose is to determine whether a hot-melt adhesive meets flexibility requirements. This test is also useful for comparing flexibility of several adhesives. It can be used to design adhesives by comparing the flexibility of various formulations to meet specific end use parameters. The adhesive flexibility can be determined at temperatures other than ambient by conditioning the test apparatus and test specimens at the desired temperature and performing the test under these temperature conditions.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the determination of the flexibility of a hot-melt adhesive in sheet form under specific test conditions. This is a working practice. Its results are useful for comparing adhesives, not for absolute characterization of adhesives.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2019
• ICS: 83.180 - Adhesives
• Technical Committee: D10 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: D10.14 - Tape and Labels

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D3111-10(2018) - Standard Test Method for Flexibility Determination of Hot-Melt Adhesives by Mandrel Bend Test Method
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Refers: ASTM E171/E171M-11(2020) - Standard Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020
• Refers: ASTM E171/E171M-11(2015) - Standard Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Referred By: ASTM D4280-18 - Standard Specification for Extended Life Type, Nonplowable, Raised Retroreflective Pavement Markers
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Referred By: ASTM D6152/D6152M-12(2018) - Standard Specification for SEBS-Modified Mopping Asphalt Used in Roofing
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Referred By: ASTM D6465-99(2016) - Standard Guide for Selecting Aerospace and General Purpose Adhesives and Sealants
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Referred By: ASTM D4338-97(2021) - Standard Test Method for Flexibility Determination of Supported Adhesive Films by Mandrel Bend
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Referred By: ASTM D4383-21 - Standard Specification for Plowable, Raised Retroreflective Pavement Markers
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D3111 − 19
Standard Practice for
Flexibility Determination of Hot-Melt Adhesives by Mandrel
1
Bend Test
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3111; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.2.1 flexibility, n—that property of a material by virtue of
which it may be flexed or bowed repeatedly without undergo-
1.1 This practice covers the determination of the flexibility
ing rupture.
of a hot-melt adhesive in sheet form under specific test
conditions. This is a working practice. Its results are useful for
4. Summary of Practice
comparing adhesives, not for absolute characterization of
4.1 Test strips of a hot-melt adhesive, properly sized and
adhesives.
conditioned, are bent 180° over a mandrel (rod). Using a fresh
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
specimen for each test, the test is repeated with smaller
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
diameter mandrels until the adhesive fails on bending. The
only.
flexibilityoftheadhesiveisthesmallestdiametermandrelover
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
which four out of five test specimens do not break.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5. Significance and Use
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
5.1 The “Mandrel Bend” test is simple and fast. It requires
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
little investment in equipment and little operator training. The
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
prime purpose is to determine whether a hot-melt adhesive
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
meets flexibility requirements. This test is also useful for
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
comparing flexibility of several adhesives. It can be used to
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
design adhesives by comparing the flexibility of various
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
formulations to meet specific end use parameters.The adhesive
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
flexibility can be determined at temperatures other than ambi-
ent by conditioning the test apparatus and test specimens at the
2. Referenced Documents
desired temperature and performing the test under these
2
temperature conditions.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D907 Terminology of Adhesives
6. Apparatus
E171/E171M Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible
Barrier Packaging
6.1 The test apparatus consists of a series of different
diameter cylindrical rods or mandrels supported at each end.
3. Terminology
Thereshallbeenoughspacetopermitplacementoftheflatside
of a test specimen tangentially at right angles to the longitu-
3.1 Definitions—Many of the terms found in this practice
dinal axis of the test mandrel. Individual requirements deter-
are defined in Terminology D907.
mine the diameter and lengths of the rods needed. For most
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1 1 1
tests, 3.2 mm (; ⁄8 in.), 6.4 mm (; ⁄4 in.), and 12.8 mm (; ⁄2
in.) diameter by 75 to 150-mm (;3 to 6-in.) long rods made of
brass or stainless steel are satisfactory. Fig. 1 describes two
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Packaging
simple test frames, one with fixed mandrels and the other
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.14 on Tape and Labels.
designed to take any diameter mandrel.
Current edition approved April 1, 2019. Published June 2019. Originally
approvedin1972.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2018asD3111–10(2018).DOI:
7. Test Specimen
10.1520/D3111-19.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
7.1 The test specimen dimensions can be varied depending
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
on the end use requirements of the hot-melt adhesive. Fig. 2
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. describes a recommended specimen size. It is 10 mm (;0.4
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D3111−19
NOTE 1—(Recess to fit test frame) Figures in parentheses are approximate.
FIG. 1 Test Mandrel (Various Diameters) for Test
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D3111 − 10 (Reapproved 2018) D3111 − 19
Standard Test Method Practice for
Flexibility Determination of Hot-Melt Adhesives by Mandrel
1
Bend Test Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3111; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the flexibility of a hot-melt adhesive in sheet form under specific test
conditions. This is a working test. Its results are useful for comparing adhesives, not for absolute characterization of adhesives.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D907 Terminology of Adhesives
E171/E171M Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Many of the terms found in this test method are defined in Terminology D907.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 flexibility, n—that property of a material by virtue of which it may be flexed or bowed repeatedly without undergoing
rupture.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 Test strips of a hot-melt adhesive properly sized and conditioned, are bent 180° over a mandrel (rod). Using a fresh specimen
for each test, the test is repeated with smaller diameter mandrels until the adhesive fails on bending. The flexibility of the adhesive
is the smallest diameter mandrel over which four out of five test specimens do not break.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The “Mandrel Bend” test is simple and fast. It requires little investment in equipment and little operator training. The prime
purpose is to determine whether a hot-melt adhesive meets flexibility requirements. This test is also useful for comparing flexibility
of several adhesives. It can be used to design adhesives by comparing the flexibility of various formulations to meet specific end
use parameters. The adhesive flexibility can be determined at temperatures other than ambient by conditioning the test apparatus
and test specimens at the desired temperature and performing the test under these temperature conditions.
6. Apparatus
6.1 The test apparatus consists of a series of different diameter cylindrical rods or mandrels supported at each end. There shall
be enough space to permit placement of the flat side of a test specimen tangentially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the
1
This test method practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.14 on Tape and Labels.
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2018April 1, 2019. Published January 2019June 2019. Originally approved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 20102018 as
D3111 – 10.D3111–10(2018). DOI: 10.1520/D3111-10R18.10.1520/D3111-19.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D3111 − 19
1
test mandrel. Individual requirements determine the diameter and lengths of the rods needed. For most tests, 3.2 mm (; ⁄8 in.),
1 1
6.4 mm (; ⁄4 in.), and 12.8 mm (; ⁄2 in.) diameter by 75 to 150-mm (;3 to 6-in.) long rods made of brass or stainless steel are
satisfactory. Fig. 1 describes two simple test frames, one with fixed mandrels and the other designed to take any diameter mandrel.
7. Test Specimen
7.1 The test specimen dimensions ca
...