ASTM E3078/E3078M-23

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3078/E3078M − 23
Standard Practice for
Conditioning of Hard Armor Test Items
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3078/E3078M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope the “other standards and specifications” and for specifying any
requirements that supersede those of this practice.
1.1 This practice applies to the conditioning of hard armor
test items prior to ballistic resistance testing. Hard armor is an 1.5 This practice does not address pass/fail requirements for
item of personal protective equipment that is constructed of test items subjected to these procedures.
rigid materials and is intended to protect the wearer from
1.6 This practice does not address visual inspections or
threats that may include ballistic threats, stabbing,
radiographic inspections of test items that may be required
fragmentation, or blunt impact, or combinations thereof. (Ter-
prior to or following conditioning.
minology E3005.) Hard armor is also referred to as hard armor
NOTE 3—It is recommended that a thorough visual examination of each
plate and plate.
test item prior to and after the exposures be performed to document any
NOTE 1—Ballistic resistance testing is not covered in this practice. change in physical appearance resulting from the exposure.
1.2 This practice describes requirements for subjecting test 1.7 This practice does not address subsequent conditioning
items to conditions intended to assess the capability of the test or testing of test items.
item to withstand environmental conditions that induce re-
1.8 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-
sponses similar to those that might result from conditions
pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The
encountered during use. This practice includes the conditioning
values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equiva-
procedures listed below:
lents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each
1.2.1 Controlled ambient conditioning procedure,
system shall be used independently of the other, and values
1.2.2 Thermal/temperature shock procedure,
from the two systems shall not be combined.
1.2.3 Temperature extremes procedure,
1.8.1 The user of this standard will identify the system of
1.2.4 Weathering procedure,
units to be used, and it is critical to ensure that any cross-
1.2.5 Fluid exposure procedure,
referenced standards maintain consistency of units between
1.2.6 Altitude exposure procedure,
standards.
1.2.7 Vibration conditioning procedure,
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.2.8 Impact Durability pre-conditioning,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.2.9 Impact Durability procedure for torso front and back
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
plates, and
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
1.2.10 Impact Durability procedure for other plates (that is,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
other than torso front and back plates).
1.10 This international standard was developed in accor-
1.3 The user of this practice shall determine which condi-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
tioning procedures apply.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
NOTE 2—This practice may not be applicable to all types of hard armor.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.4 In this practice, “other standards and specifications” and
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
“unless specified elsewhere” refer to documents (for example,
military standards, purchase specifications) that require the use
2. Referenced Documents
of this practice. Purchasers and other users are responsible for
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1141 Practice for Preparation of Substitute Ocean Water
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E54 on Homeland
Security Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E54.04 on
Public Safety Equipment. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2023. Published February 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2017. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as E3078/E3078M – 22. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/E3078_E3078M-23. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E3078/E3078M − 23
E3005 Terminology for Body Armor 7.1.3 The test items shall be subjected to T1 and T2, each
for a minimum of 2 h, not to exceed 2 h and 15 min.
2.2 AATCC Standard:
AATCC TM 169 Weather Resistance of Textiles: Xenon
8. Temperature Extremes Procedure
Lamp Exposures
8.1 Tests shall be performed in accordance with constant
2.3 Military Standard:
temperature exposure procedures of MIL-STD-810G, Method
MIL-STD-810G Test Method Standard for Environmental
501.5, Procedure I (high temperature) and Method 502.5,
Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests
Procedure I (low temperature).
3. Terminology
8.2 One set of test items shall be subjected to high
3.1 The terms and definitions of Terminology E3005 apply temperature, and another set shall be subjected to low tempera-
for the following terms: applique, ballistic resistance,
ture. Ramping of temperature is prohibited.
conditioning, controlled ambient, hard armor plate, in con- 8.2.1 The starting temperature shall be controlled ambient.
junction with armor, shoot pack, soft armor, strike face, and test
8.2.2 One set of test items shall be heated in a chamber
item. operating at 68.3 °C 6 3.0 °C [155 °F 6 5 °F] for a minimum
3.1.1 Within this practice, the definition for controlled
of 6 h, not to exceed 24 h.
ambient from Terminology E3005 applies to any direct or 8.2.3 One set of test items shall be cooled in a chamber
indirect reference to controlled ambient, superseding refer-
operating at –48.3 °C 6 3.0 °C [–55 °F 6 5 °F] for a minimum
enced standards that may have a different definition. of 6 h, not to exceed 24 h.
4. Significance and Use
9. Weathering Procedure
4.1 It is anticipated that this practice will be referenced by
9.1 Weathering of test items shall be performed in accor-
certifiers, purchasers, and other users in order to meet their dance with AATCC Test Method 169 with the modifications
specific needs. Those users will specify which conditioning
listed below:
procedures are applicable. 9.1.1 The test apparatus shall be equipped with an automatic
light monitor and shall be capable of automatically controlling
5. Test Items
irradiance, temperature, and humidity.
9.1.2 The test items shall be positioned with the strike face
5.1 The test items are individual hard armor plates.
toward the light source.
5.2 The quantity and size of test items to be conditioned and
9.1.3 The weathering cycle shall be a total of 180 min,
other relevant test item details are specified in other standards
consisting of the following in order: 40 min of light, 20 min of
or specifications.
light with water spray on the test item, 60 min of light, and
5.3 Unless otherwise specified, test items shall be stored in
60 min of darkness. The cycle shall be repeated until the total
controlled ambient conditions following conditioning proce-
energy exposure is equal to 100 kJ/m , and the weathering
dures.
cycle shall be terminated at that point.
9.1.4 The spectral irradiance level shall be 0.55 W ⁄m /nm
6. Controlled Ambient Conditioning Procedure
6 0.01 W ⁄m /nm bandpass at 340 nm.
6.1 Test items shall be subjected to controlled ambient 9.1.5 The temperatures and RH shall be as specified in Table
1.
conditions for at least 24 h.
9.2 After the required exposure period, the test items shall
7. Temperature Shock Procedure
be removed from the apparatus.
7.1 Tests shall be performed in accordance with MIL-STD-
810G, Method 503.5, Procedure I-A, with the following 10. Fluid Exposure Procedure
modifications:
10.1 MIL-STD-810G, Procedure II, Method 504.1 and Pro-
7.1.1 The extreme temperatures shall be T1: –31.7 °C 6
cedure I, Method 512.5 shall be used with modifications as
3.0 °C [–25 °F 6 5 °F] and T2: 48.9 °C 6 3.0 °C [120 °F 6
described below:
5 °F].
10.1.1 Test items shall be subjected to conditioning in
7.1.2 Test items shall be subjected to temperature condition-
fluids, with each fluid at a temperature between 16 °C and
ing steps as follows: (1) controlled ambient, (2) T1, (3) T2, and
26 °C [60 °F and 80 °F].
(4) controlled ambient. Transfer of test items from one condi-
tion to another shall be accomplished in less than one minute.
Ramping of temperature is prohibited.
TABLE 1 Temperatures for Weathering Procedure
Dark Cycle Light Cycle
Black Panel 38 °C ± 3 °C 77 °C ± 3 °C
Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
[100 °F ± 5 °F] [171 °F ± 5 °F]
(AATCC), P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2215, http://
www.aatcc.org.
Relative Humidity $95 % 50 % ± 5 %
Available from U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of
(This does not apply to light
Documents, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20401-0001, http:// cycle with water spray.)
www.access.gpo.gov.
E3078/E3078M − 23
10.1.2 Each test item shall be subjected to only one fluid. exceed 11 min. Following conditioning, the test item shall be
The type of fluid used shall be documented. wiped clean and weighed to the nearest 5 g [0.01 lb].
10.1.3 Fluid conditioning equipment shall consist of a fluid
NOTE 10—The test item is required to be completely submerged.
container of sufficient size to allow at least one test item of the
10.2 Following each exposure in which the test item is not
largest size to rest horizontally. Test items shall not be stacked
required to be wiped clean, the test items shall be positioned
atop each other during conditioning but may be placed side-
vertically to drip dry for at least 5 min.
by-side.
10.1.4 A “20-lb weight” shall be placed on each test item to
NOTE 11—Other standards or specifications will give the time interval
between removal from the fluid and any subsequent procedure.
prevent floating while in fluid.
10.1.5 Test items shall be conditioned in containers of fluid
11. Altitude Exposure Procedure
using one of the methods described below:
10.1.5.1 30w lubricating oil of commercial grade SE or
11.1 The test items shall be placed in an air pressure
better. The test item shall be placed strike face down in a
chamber to simulate changes in altitude.
container that is then filled with enough fluid to cover the strike
11.2 The change rate of the air pressure shall simulate a
face. The test item shall remain in the fluid for 2 h, not to
change in altitude of 460 m ⁄min to 610 m/min [1500 ft ⁄min to
exceed 2 h and 15 min.
2000 ft/min].
NOTE 4—The test item is not required to be completely submerged.
11.3 The temperature(s) in the chamber shall be specified by
10.1.5.2 10w-40 lubricating oil of commercial grade SE or
the user of this practice.
better. The test item shall be weighed to the nearest 5 g
11.4 The initial air pressure shall be zero gauge pressure.
[0.01 lb] prior to fluid conditioning. The test item shall be
11.5 The air pressure shall be decreased to 18.8 kPa or
placed in a container that is filled with enough fluid for the test
2.7 PSIA [5.6 in. Hg] to simulate an ascent to 12 200 m
item to be completely immersed. The test item shall be
[40 000 ft] altitude and shall be maintained for 1 h 6 5 min.
immersed for 10 min, not to exceed 11 min. Following
conditioning, the test item shall be wiped clean and weighed to
11.6 The air pressure shall be increased to 57.2 kPa or
the nearest 5 g [0.01 lb].
8.3 PSIA [16.9 in. Hg] to simulate a descent to 4600 m
[15 000 m] altitude and shall be maintained for 1 h 6 5 min.
NOTE 5—The test item is required to be completely submerged.
11.7 The air pressure shall be changed to initial air pressure
10.1.5.3 Vehicle Fuel—The test item shall be placed strike
and maintained for 30 min 6 5 min, and the test items shall be
face down in a container that is then filled with enough fluid to
removed from the chamber.
cover the strike face. The test item shall remain in the fluid for
2 h, not to exceed 2 h and 15 min.
12. Vibration Conditioning Procedure
NOTE 6—Examples of vehicle fuels that may be used include gasoline,
12.1 Tests shall be performed in accordance with MIL-
diesel, F-24, and JP-8.
NOTE 7—The test item is not required to be completely submerged.
STD-810G, Method 514.6, Procedure II for Loose Cargo with
the following modifications:
10.1.5.4 Vehicle Fuel—The test item shall be weighed to the
12.1.1 The test item shall be placed strike face down in a
nearest 5 g [0.01 lb] prior to fluid conditioning. The test item
wooden box. The box shall be rectangular having width and
shall be placed in a container that is filled with enough fluid for
length 25 mm to 38 mm [1.0 in. to 1.5 in.] larger than the
the test item to be completely immersed. The test item shall be
maximum width and maximum length of the test item. The box
immersed for 10 min, not to exceed 11 min. Following
shall have a lid attached to prevent the test item from flipping
conditioning, the test item shall be wiped clean and weighed to
over. The internal height of the box shall be approximately
the nearest 5 g [0.01 lb].
89 mm [3.5 in.].
NOTE 8—The test item is required to be completely submerged.
NOTE 12—The box has a bottom, sides, and a lid.
10.1.5.5 Salt Water—The test item shall be placed in a
12.1.2 The test item shall be positioned with the top and
container that is filled with enough fluid for the test item to be
bottom edges parallel to the x-axis.
completely immersed. The salt water shall have a concentra-
12.1.3 Vibration shall be caused by motion in the x and y
tion of 4.6 % sodium chloride (NaCl), and the test item shall be
plane (that is, circular motion around the z-axis. Refer to Fig.
immersed for 2 h, not to exceed 2 h and 15 min. An alternative
1 to show positioning of test item in box (drawing not to scale;
to salt water is Substitute Ocean Water, prepared in accordance
top and front of box not shown).
with Practice D1141.
12.1.4 The wooden box
...