How Cold Weather Plastic Film Testing Guarantees Performance at -40°F

Why Cold Flexibility Matters in Plastic Film Manufacturing

Every winter brings the same mission-critical question: how can we guarantee plastic films will stay tough, flexible, and reliable even when the temperature plunges to -40°F? Most materials can't handle that kind of cold, cracking, splitting, or stiffening just when you need performance. Achilles USA backs every formulation with rigorous cold weather plastic film testing and decades of real-world results. That means PVC and co-extruded films you can trust for cold storage, refrigerated transport, reflective traffic signage, and outdoor industrial uses.

What Is Cold-Flex Testing?

When it comes to engineering film for harsh environments, your product is only as strong as its weakest link. That's why Achilles USA subjects formulations to a comprehensive series of laboratory simulations that replicate extreme winter conditions your application will face during its lifespan. This approach helps manufacturers avoid costly downtime, unexpected field failures, and product recalls due to cold-induced material breakdown.

Which Cold Weather Plastic Film Testing Method Is Right for Your Application?

Every project poses unique challenges. Whether you're designing for a walk-in freezer, a reflective traffic sign, a safety tent, or a heavy-duty vehicle cover, our technical teams work together to select the test regimen that best matches your end use. One of our primary cold-impact applications is reflective traffic signage, where durability at freezing temperatures is critical for visibility and public safety. We offer a broad portfolio of mechanical, physical, and environmental tests to validate suitability and durability, including the industry-leading methods below:

• ASTM D1790: Brittleness Temperature Test (Hammer Test)

  This test determines the lowest temperature at which a plastic film or sheet remains truly flexible under impact. A weighted hammer is dropped from a repeatable height and angle to deliver a sharp impact onto a folded film sample. Multiple samples are tested at a specified temperature to determine if the film fails in a brittle fashion. Results are reported as pass/fail at a single, specific temperature.

  
  

  While the test doesn't determine the absolute lowest usage temperature, it can predict if the film is susceptible to failing at a given temperature when the impact conditions of the application are similar to that of the test. This is the gold standard for qualitative impact testing and by far the most common and demanding cold impact test we use. Think about a rock hitting a reflective traffic sign, dropping a 3-ring binder on a cold day, or driving over a strip curtain with a forklift.

  
  

  Best for: Reflective traffic signage, outdoor industrial applications, cold storage doors, and any environment where sudden impact meets freezing temperatures.

  
  

  

  
  

• ASTM D2136: Low-Temperature Flex Resistance (Bend Test)

  In this test, the film is laid across a hinge such that when the hinge swings closed, the film is bent around the central hinge pin. This method has similar pass/fail criteria to ASTM D1790, but the bending force is not as acute as with the hammer test. It can be used to test repeated usage, though that is not technically within the scope of the method.

  
  

  This test closely simulates real-world conditions such as strip curtains and warehouse doors that repeatedly open and close in sub-zero environments. Passing through strip curtains is a perfect example application where flex resistance matters more than sharp impact.

  
  

  Best for: Strip curtains, flexible doors, and applications requiring repeated bending in freezing conditions.

  
  

• DIN 1876-2: Impact Test on Loop (Drop Test)

  This is an alternative hammer test similar to ASTM D1790, but rather than swinging a hammer, the test drops a weight straight down onto a loop of film. Unlike ASTM D1790, this European standard actually prescribes determining the lowest passing temperature of the film, making it useful for comprehensive cold-weather validation.

  
  

  Best for: Applications requiring documented minimum temperature ratings and compliance with European standards.

  
  

• FTMS 191A 5874: Federal/Military Cold Fold Test (Rollover Test)

  This test involves folding and creasing a film sample in multiple directions using a steel roller, typically at a fixed temperature of +20°F. Results are reported as the percent change in hydrostatic burst pressure after creasing.

  
  

  That makes it one of the few quantitative impact tests we can perform in-house, but the impact force and test temperatures are not as demanding as the other methods. Developed to military specifications, this method shows a film's ability to withstand harsh environments, making it a top choice for defense contractors, transportation fleets, and industrial applications.

  
  

  Best for: Defense contractors, transportation fleets, and applications with legacy federal specifications.

Trusted Data Means Confident Decisions

For Achilles USA, cold-weather plastic film testing isn't just another checkbox; it's about performance. With test results validated to ASTM, DIN, and Federal/Military standards, you know your cold storage curtains, reflective traffic signs, vehicle enclosures, or outdoor protective covers will flex and perform, even when the mercury dips to -40°F. This assurance is why leading manufacturers, logistics companies, construction pros, and transportation agencies keep coming back for customized solutions.

We've also partnered with our suppliers in the past to perform other quantitative tests, such as Izod impact per ASTM D256. So if you want a specific cold impact spec, we can develop and qualify a product, then continue to verify it with in-house methods.

Tell Us About Your Toughest Challenge

If cold-weather failures when it comes to your plastic film solutions have been costing you time and money, let's engineer a better way forward. Achilles USA's team will work with you to create the right film for your most demanding applications, backed by data you can trust and results you can measure.

Learn more on our product capabilities page and contact us for more information!