4.1 The puncture-propagation of tear test measures the resistance of a material to snagging, or more precisely, to dynamic puncture and propagation of that puncture resulting in a tear. Failures due to snagging occur in a variety of end uses, including industrial bags, liners, and tarpaulins. The units reported in this test method are Newtons (tear resistance).
4.2 Experience has shown that for many materials puncture does not contribute significantly to the force value determined, due to the sharpness of the propagating probe used. However, comparing the results of prepunctured test specimens with normal nonpunctured specimens will give an indication of the extent of any puncture resistance in the reported result.
4.3 For many materials, there may be a specification that requires the use of this test method, but with some procedural modifications that take precedence when adhering to the specification. Therefore, it is advisable to refer to that material specification before using this test method. Table 1 of Classification System D4000 lists the current ASTM materials standards.