AbstractIn flex testing of elastomers, the length of a cut is measured periodically as a function of the number of flexing cycles. In most cases a large number of measurements is accumulated for each test piece which would lead one to believe that the results should have a high degree of precision. This, however, is not the case, mainly because not all of the measurements are used to express the final result. Instead of being a precise test, flex testing is in fact notorious for its irreproducibility. A new method is proposed for computer treatment of flex data in whichallof the flex measurements are fitted to an empirical equation by means of nonlinear regression analysis. From the fitted equation, more precise estimates of rate of growth and growth initiation point can be obtained than is possible using the data treatment procedures proposed by ASTM. Also a new index of flex life is defined which is conveniently scaled from 0–100. This so‐called flex index is a convenient index of overall flex behav
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