Technical - Tensile strength of plastic and other resin materials as per ASTM D638

ASTM D638 is one of the most common plastic strength specifications and covers the tensile properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics. This test method uses standard "dumbell" or "dogbone" shaped specimens under 14mm of thickness. A universal testing machine (tensile testing machine) is needed to perform this test. If you are going to perform this test, you should read the entire specification from ASTM. This is a quick summary to decide if this test is right for you, and to point out what equipment you need to perform the test.

First off, do not perform this test if you have films or elastomers. If you have film under 1mm in thickness use ASTM D882. 

If you have an elastomer use ASTM D412.
Analysis obtained:
Tensile Strength
Elongation at Yield
Elongation at Break
Nominal Strain at Break (Grip Separation)
Modulus of Elasticity
Secant Modulus
Poisson's Ratio (Requires Transverse Extensometer)

Equipment required:
Universal testing machine (tensile testing machine)
Extensometer
Data Acquisition
Tensile Grips