Drop Dart Testers

The Drop Dart Impact Test evaluates the impact resistance of thin plastic films and sheets by subjecting them to the impact of a calibrated dart dropped in free fall from a specified height. Unlike the pendulum test, which measures the rapid flexural strength of rigid specimens, the Drop Dart test is specifically designed for flexible materials such as flexible packaging (PE, PP, PET, and multilayer food films), agricultural films (greenhouses, mulch, silos), industrial films (construction, geomembranes), medical packaging for sterile devices, and protective films for metals, glass, and composites. The most common statistical method involves determining the “50% failure energy” (F₅₀), i.e., the kinetic energy value at which 50% of the samples are perforated. This parameter is directly correlated with the film’s performance under real-world conditions: puncture resistance, packaging handling, and transport safety.