JIS K 7124-1

Plastic films are widely used in food packaging, medical packaging, industrial packaging, agricultural films, and consumer products. During transportation, handling, and storage, these materials experience sudden impacts that can lead to punctures or tears. JIS K 7124-1 provides a standardized method for evaluating the dart impact resistance of film by determining the energy required to cause failure using a free-falling dart. Manufacturers rely on JIS K 7124-1 testing to optimize material formulations, verify production quality, and ensure reliable packaging performance.

The FDT-01 Falling Dart Impact Tester from Cell Instruments is designed to perform JIS K 7124-1, ASTM D1709, ISO 7765-1, and GB/T 9639.1 compliant testing. It delivers repeatable, automated measurements that help laboratories, quality engineers, and packaging manufacturers accurately evaluate film toughness.

What is JIS K 7124-1?

JIS K 7124-1 is the Japanese Industrial Standard for determining the impact resistance of plastic film and sheeting using the free-falling dart method. The standard adopts the staircase testing procedure to identify the dart mass that causes specimen failure in approximately 50% of impacts.

Rather than measuring tensile strength or puncture resistance under slow loading conditions, JIS K 7124-1 evaluates how films respond to sudden dynamic impacts, closely simulating accidental drops and handling damage encountered during real-world distribution.

The standard is widely used for evaluating:

• Polyethylene (PE) films
• Polypropylene (PP) films
• PET films
• PVC films
• Multilayer barrier films
• Laminated packaging materials
• Flexible packaging structures
• Plastic sheeting up to approximately 1 mm thick

Why is JIS K 7124-1 Important?

Impact damage remains one of the leading causes of packaging failure throughout the supply chain. Testing according to JIS K 7124-1 enables manufacturers to quantify material toughness before products reach customers.

Key benefits include:

• Improved package reliability during shipping and handling
• Optimized material selection without unnecessary increases in film thickness
• Consistent production quality across manufacturing batches
• Objective supplier qualification based on standardized data
• Reduced product damage and customer complaints
• Compliance with international quality requirements

For packaging engineers, JIS K 7124-1 provides valuable data for balancing packaging performance with production cost.

Understanding the Dart Drop Test Principle

The dart drop test measures the resistance of plastic film to impact from a freely falling hemispherical dart.

During testing:

1. A specimen is securely clamped.
2. A dart with a specified diameter and weight is suspended.
3. The dart falls vertically under gravity.
4. The specimen either fails or survives the impact.
5. Multiple drops are conducted using the staircase method.
6. The tester automatically calculates the 50% failure impact level.

Unlike static puncture tests, the dart drop test evaluates high-speed impact events, making it particularly useful for flexible packaging applications.

How JIS K 7124-1 Testing is Performed

A typical JIS K 7124-1 testing procedure includes the following steps.

Sample Preparation

Film specimens are cut to dimensions larger than 150 × 150 mm to ensure proper clamping and eliminate edge effects.

Sample Mounting

The specimen is secured using pneumatic clamps that maintain uniform tension without introducing wrinkles or distortion.

Method Selection

The operator selects the appropriate staircase procedure and configures the initial dart weight.

Dart Release

An electromagnetic release mechanism ensures the dart falls vertically with excellent repeatability.

Failure Evaluation

Each impact is classified as:

• Failure
• Non-failure

The software automatically adjusts the dart weight according to the staircase procedure.

Result Calculation

After the required number of impacts, the system calculates:

• 50% failure weight (g)
• Impact energy (J)
• Test statistics

The automatic calculation eliminates manual computation errors while improving testing efficiency.

FDT-01 Falling Dart Tester for JIS K 7124-1

The FDT-01 Falling Dart Impact Tester has been engineered specifically for laboratories requiring accurate JIS K 7124-1 compliance.

Its industrial-grade automation simplifies operation while producing highly repeatable results.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Specification
Test Method	Method A / Optional Method B
Test Range	Method A: 50–2000 g; Method B: 300–2000 g
Dart Diameter	Method A: 38 ±1 mm; Method B: 50 ±1 mm
Impact Height	660 mm / 1500 mm
Resolution	0.1 g (0.1 J)
Specimen Clamp	Pneumatic
Gas Supply	0.6 MPa
Specimen Size	>150 ×150 mm
Power Supply	AC 110–220 V
Control	PLC + 7-inch Touchscreen

Applications of JIS K 7124-1 Testing

The dart impact resistance of film is critical across numerous industries.

Advantages of Automated Falling Dart Tester Systems

Compared with manual testing procedures, an automated falling dart tester offers significant operational benefits.

Manual Testing	Automated FDT-01 Falling Dart Tester
Manual calculations	Automatic computation
Greater operator variation	Highly repeatable results
Slower workflow	Faster testing
Higher risk of recording errors	Automatic data storage
Limited reporting	Optional software export

Automation improves productivity while maintaining consistent compliance with JIS K 7124-1.

Related International Standards

Many organizations require testing according to equivalent international standards.

Standard	Description
JIS K 7124-1	Japanese free-falling dart impact test
ASTM D1709	Impact resistance of plastic film by free-falling dart
ISO 7765-1	Plastics film and sheeting—staircase methods
GB/T 9639.1	Chinese equivalent standard

The FDT-01 supports laboratories serving global customers by meeting multiple international standards with one instrument.

Why Choose Cell Instruments?

Cell Instruments specializes in mechanical property testing solutions for flexible packaging, medical packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, paper packaging, and industrial materials.

Beyond standard instruments, we provide:

• Customized fixtures
• Multi-station testing systems
• Automated testing solutions
• Industry-specific configurations
• Technical application support
• Professional installation and training

Our testing solutions are designed to help laboratories improve accuracy, efficiency, and compliance while meeting evolving quality requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials can be tested according to JIS K 7124-1?

The method is suitable for plastic films, multilayer laminates, composite films, flexible packaging materials, and thin plastic sheeting with thicknesses generally up to 1 mm.

What is the purpose of the staircase method?

The staircase method efficiently determines the dart mass corresponding to approximately 50% specimen failure, reducing the number of samples needed while maintaining statistical reliability.

Is JIS K 7124-1 equivalent to ISO 7765-1?

Yes. JIS K 7124-1 is technically aligned with ISO 7765-1, making it suitable for laboratories serving both Japanese and international markets.

Which industries commonly perform dart impact testing?

Packaging manufacturers, medical packaging companies, pharmaceutical suppliers, plastics processors, film manufacturers, quality control laboratories, and research institutions routinely perform JIS K 7124-1 testing.

The FDT-01 Falling Dart Impact Tester determines the impact resistance of plastic films and flexible packaging materials using the free-falling dart method specified by JIS K 7124-1, ASTM D1709, ISO 7765-1, and GB/T 9639.1. Featuring PLC control, an intuitive touchscreen interface, pneumatic specimen clamping, electromagnetic dart release, and automatic result calculation, the system delivers accurate, repeatable measurements for quality control, product development, material comparison, and standards-compliant laboratory testing.