Methods of measuring statistical test sensitivity (signal-to-noise ratio) were published by John Mandel in 1964 and incorporated into ASTM D6600 in 2000, mainly to provide a means of determining the optimal test conditions (such as conditioning time, temperature, frequency and strain) for effective rubber process analyzer (RPA) testing.
This paper will review some of the statistical studies performed on measuring statistical test sensitivity (STS) for the moving die rheometer (MDR) and the RPA testing applications reported in the literature, as well as reviewing RPA ASTM precision statements gathered and published in the last 20 years.