Harmonized and superseded globally by DIN ISO 34-1 (specifically Method A for trouser test pieces). Standard Transition Summary
The new standard requires a self-adjusting pulley system or a motorized X-Y stage to keep the peel angle at exactly 90° regardless of the rubber's elongation. Older versions allowed manual adjustment, which introduced operator error.
As of current industry standards, and replaced.
. A higher value indicates a rubber that is less sensitive to accidental cuts or notches during its service life Current Status din 53507 pdf updated
The fundamental concept it defined is simple but crucial: once an elastomer component has a cut or nick, how much force is required to make that tear continue to propagate? This property is distinct from tensile strength, which measures the force needed to tear a completely intact sample. The test method used a specific "trouser-shaped" test piece (Streifenprobe) and a tensile testing machine to measure this resistance, with results expressed in Newtons per millimeter (N/mm).
Tear propagation resistance measures how well an elastomer resists further tearing once it has already sustained a nick, notch, or cut. It differs fundamentally from (which measures the force needed to rupture a flawless, intact material).
(Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic — Determination of tear strength — Part 1: Trouser, angle and crescent test pieces) 🧬 Understanding Tear Propagation vs. Tensile Strength Harmonized and superseded globally by DIN ISO 34-1
Results are expressed in N/mm (Newton per millimeter).
The standard specifies two major specimen types based on thickness variations: Thickness of Test Piece B: Thickness of DIN 53507 - 1983-03
: The 1974 edition used speeds of 500 or 200 mm/min; the 1983 update standardized this to 100 mm/min . As of current industry standards, and replaced
If you are migrating from the old DIN 53507 to the updated ISO-based standard, note these technical changes:
is the historical German testing standard used to evaluate the tear propagation resistance of elastomers and vulcanized rubber using a trouser-shaped test piece . Understanding this standard is essential for engineers, quality control labs, and polymer manufacturers who require precise metrics on how rubber materials resist tearing after sustaining an initial crack or nick.
: The current active standard is DIN ISO 34-2:2015-12, which specifies methods for determining tear strength of vulcanized or thermoplastic rubber using small test pieces (Delft test pieces).