ISO 22088-4:2006 specifies a ball or pin impression method for the determination of the environmental stress cracking (ESC) behaviour of plastics by means of a constant-strain test.

The method is applicable to finished products and to test specimens prepared by moulding and/or machining, and can be used for the assessment of the ESC behaviour of a plastic product or material exposed to different environments, as well as for the determination of the ESC behaviour of different plastics materials exposed to a specific environment.

An alternative method for the determination of environmental stress cracking by means of a constant-strain test is specified in ISO 22088-3 and ISO 22088-5. A method for the determination of environmental stress cracking by means of a constant-stress test is specified in ISO 22088-2.