Overview
ISO 1817:2024 - "Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic - Determination of the effect of liquids" specifies standardized methods for evaluating how liquids affect vulcanized and thermoplastic rubber. The eighth edition defines procedures to measure changes in physical properties before and after immersion in service and reference liquids (petroleum derivatives, organic solvents, chemical reagents and specified reference liquids). The standard covers test apparatus, calibration, test liquids, specimen preparation, immersion conditions, measurement procedures and reporting.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope of testing: Methods to determine the rubber’s resistance to liquid action by measuring properties before and after immersion and, where relevant, after drying.
- Measured properties: Change in mass, volume and dimensions; extractable matter; change in hardness; and change in tensile stress–strain properties.
- Five test methods / apparatus types:
- Method A: glass vessel with lid (non‑volatile and volatile liquids below boiling point)
- Method B: sealed vessel to minimize evaporation and ingress of air
- Method C: reflux condenser for highly volatile liquids near boiling point
- Method D: pressure vessel for overpressure tests (above boiling point or flammable liquids)
- Method E: apparatus for testing one surface only
- Test parameters: The standard specifies specimen preparation, conditioning, immersion temperature and duration, liquid replacement, calibration and precision requirements. (Example: method A uses a liquid:test-piece volume ratio of 80 ± 10:1 and an air space of 10 % ± 2 % of vessel volume.)
- Documentation and annexes: Includes reference liquids, calibration schedules and precision guidance.
- Limitations noted: ISO 1817:2024 clarifies that laboratory results do not necessarily directly predict in-service behavior (effects of specimen thickness, oxygen and stress are discussed).
Practical applications and users
ISO 1817:2024 is used to:
- Support material selection for seals, hoses, gaskets and molded rubber components exposed to oils, fuels, solvents and chemicals.
- Provide quality control and batch testing criteria in rubber production.
- Guide R&D and formulation when developing oil- or chemical-resistant rubber compounds.
- Inform third‑party and in‑house testing laboratories conducting standardized chemical resistance tests.
Typical users include rubber manufacturers, automotive and aerospace OEMs, petrochemical and hydraulic equipment suppliers, testing laboratories and regulatory bodies.
Related standards
- ISO 37 - Tensile stress–strain properties of rubber
- ISO 48-2 - Hardness testing of rubber (IRHD)
- ISO 18899 - Guide to calibration of test equipment
- ISO 23529 - Preparation and conditioning of rubber test pieces
- ASTM D5964 - IRM replacement oils guidance
ISO 1817:2024 is a core reference for standardized chemical resistance and liquid‑effect testing of vulcanized and thermoplastic rubber.