FUNDAMENTALS OF EVALUATING THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMER MATERIALS BASED ON INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

This article presents an analytical review of the principal testing methods used to evaluate the mechanical properties of polymer materials. The viscoelastic nature of polymers, along with their sensitivity to strain rate, temperature, and time, plays a critical role in the selection of appropriate mechanical testing methods and in the interpretation of test results. In this study, tensile, flexural, compressive, impact, fatigue, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) tests are systematized in accordance with international ASTM and ISO standards, and their methodological characteristics, advantages, and limitations are examined. An analysis of the scientific literature indicates that evaluating mechanical properties through individual tests often fails to fully reflect the actual in-service behavior of materials. Therefore, the article discusses a comprehensive interpretation of mechanical test results, the influence of testing parameters, and their relationship with structural factors. The generalized conclusions obtained provide a methodological basis for making scientifically grounded decisions in the selection, design, and optimization of polymer materials.