Ceramic and glass companies, as well as universities and government laboratories, will be the primary users of a new ASTM standard that allows for the flexural strength determination of components made in a round shape or after finish machining with minimal waste. The standard, ASTM C1684, Test Method for Flexural Strength of Advanced Ceramics at Ambient Temperature-Cylindrical Rod Strength, was developed by Subcommittee C28.01 on Mechanical Properties and Performance, part of ASTM International Committee C28 on Advanced Ceramics.

“Users will now be able to test round-shaped specimens with more confidence and there will be no need to re-machine specimens into rectangular cross section shapes as specified in other ceramic strength standards,” says George Quinn, ceramic engineer, National Institute of Standards and Technology and past chairman of Committee C28. The ASTM standard describes the apparatus, specimen requirements, test procedures, calculations and reporting requirements necessary for the test.

Quinn says that participation from all interested parties in C28.01’s activities is welcome, particularly from microelectronics companies concerned with strength and reliability problems. “The subcommittee is venturing into adopting procedures for miniature test specimens for microelectrical machine systems and even nanoscale-sized structures,” says Quinn.

ASTM International standards can be purchased from Customer Service (phone: 610/832-9585; https://www.astm.org/contact/) or at www.astm.org. For further technical information, contact George Quinn, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Md. (phone: 301/975-5334; george.quinn@nist.gov). Committee C28 meets Jan. 17-18, 2009, in Daytona Beach, Fla. For membership or meeting information, contact Joe Koury, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9804; jkoury@astm.org).

Release #7940