1. Scope

1.1 This standard provides a classification system for tabulating the properties of unfilled, filled, and reinforced plastic materials suitable for processing into parts.

Note 1The classification system may serve many of the needs of industries using plastic materials. The standard is subject to revision as the need requires; therefore, the latest revision should always be used.

1.2 The classification system and subsequent line callout (specification) is intended to be a means of identifying plastic materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not intended for the selection of materials. Material selection should be made by those having expertise in the plastics field after careful consideration of the design and the performance required of the part, the environment to which it will be exposed, the fabrication process to be employed, the inherent properties of the material not covered in this document, and the economic factors.

1.3 This classification system is based on the premise that plastic materials can be arranged into broad generic families using basic properties to arrange the materials into groups, classes, and grades. A system is thus established which, together with values describing additional requirements, permits as complete a description as desired of the selected material.

1.4 In all cases where the provisions of this classification system would conflict with the referenced ASTM specification for a particular material, the latter shall take precedence.

Note 2When using this classification system the two-letter, three-digit suffix system applies.

Note 3When a material is used to fabricate a part where the requirements are too specific for a broad material callout, it is advisable for the user to consult the supplier to secure callout of the properties to suit the actual conditions to which the part is to be subjected.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D149 Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and Dielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials at Commercial Power Frequencies

D150 Test Methods for AC Loss Characteristics and Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical Insulation

D256 Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance of Plastics

D257 Test Methods for DC Resistance or Conductance of Insulating Materials

D395 Test Methods for Rubber Property--Compression Set

D412 Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers--Tension

D471 Test Method for Rubber Property--Effect of Liquids

D495 Test Method for High-Voltage, Low-Current, Dry Arc Resistance of Solid Electrical Insulation

D569 Method for Measuring the Flow Properties of Thermoplastic Molding Materials

D570 Test Method for Water Absorption of Plastics

D573 Test Method for Rubber--Deterioration in an Air Oven

D575 Test Methods for Rubber Properties in Compression

D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing

D624 Test Method for Tear Strength of Conventional Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers

D635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position

D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics

D648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics Under Flexural Load in the Edgewise Position

D695 Test Method for Compressive Properties of Rigid Plastics

D706 Classification System and Basis for Specifications for Cellulose Acetate Molding and Extrusion Compounds

D707 Classification System and Basis for Specification for Cellulose Acetate Butyrate Molding and Extrusion Compounds

D747 Test Method for Apparent Bending Modulus of Plastics by Means of a Cantilever Beam

D785 Test Method for Rockwell Hardness of Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials

D787 Specification for Ethyl Cellulose Molding and Extrusion Compounds

D788 Classification System for Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) Molding and Extrusion Compounds

D789 Test Methods for Determination of Solution Viscosities of Polyamide (PA)

D790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials

D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement

D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics

D955 Test Method of Measuring Shrinkage from Mold Dimensions of Thermoplastics

D1003 Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics

D1149 Test Methods for Rubber Deterioration--Cracking in an Ozone Controlled Environment

D1203 Test Methods for Volatile Loss From Plastics Using Activated Carbon Methods

D1238 Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer

D1248 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion Materials for Wire and Cable

D1430 Classification System for Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) Plastics

D1434 Test Method for Determining Gas Permeability Characteristics of Plastic Film and Sheeting

D1435 Practice for Outdoor Weathering of Plastics

D1499 Practice for Filtered Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposures of Plastics

D1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-Gradient Technique

D1525 Test Method for Vicat Softening Temperature of Plastics

D1562 Classification System and Basis for Specification for Cellulose Acetate Propionate Molding and Extrusion Compounds

D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics

D1693 Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of Ethylene Plastics

D1784 Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Compounds and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Compounds

D1822 Test Method for Tensile-Impact Energy to Break Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials

D1929 Test Method for Determining Ignition Temperature of Plastics

D2116 Specification for FEP-Fluorocarbon Molding and Extrusion Materials

D2137 Test Methods for Rubber Property--Brittleness Point of Flexible Polymers and Coated Fabrics

D2240 Test Method for Rubber Property--Durometer Hardness

D2287 Specification for Nonrigid Vinyl Chloride Polymer and Copolymer Molding and Extrusion Compounds

D2288 Test Method for Weight Loss of Plasticizers on Heating

D2565 Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outdoor Applications

D2583 Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Rigid Plastics by Means of a Barcol Impressor

D2584 Test Method for Ignition Loss of Cured Reinforced Resins

D2632 Test Method for Rubber Property--Resilience by Vertical Rebound

D2843 Test Method for Density of Smoke from the Burning or Decomposition of Plastics

D2863 Test Method for Measuring the Minimum Oxygen Concentration to Support Candle-Like Combustion of Plastics (Oxygen Index)

D2951 Test Method for Resistance of Types III and IV Polyethylene Plastics to Thermal Stress-Cracking

D3012 Test Method for Thermal-Oxidative Stability of Polypropylene Using a Specimen Rotator Within an Oven

D3159 Specification for Modified ETFE-Fluoropolymer Molding and Extrusion Materials

D3222 Specification for Unmodified Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) (PVDF) Molding Extrusion and Coating Materials

D3275 Classification System for E-CTFE-Fluoroplastic Molding, Extrusion, and Coating Materials

D3307 Specification for Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)-Fluorocarbon Resin Molding and Extrusion Materials

D3350 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fittings Materials

D3418 Test Method for Transition Temperatures and Enthalpies of Fusion and Crystallization of Polymers by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

D3638 Test Method for Comparative Tracking Index of Electrical Insulating Materials

D3713 Test Method for Measuring Response of Solid Plastics to Ignition by a Small Flame

D3763 Test Method for High Speed Puncture Properties of Plastics Using Load and Displacement Sensors

D3801 Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Burning Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical Position

D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics

D3895 Test Method for Oxidative-Induction Time of Polyolefins by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

D3915 Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Compounds for Plastic Pipe and Fittings Used in Pressure Applications

D3935 Specification for Polycarbonate (PC) Unfilled and Reinforced Material

D3965 Classification System and Basis for Specifications for Rigid Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Materials for Pipe and Fittings

D3985 Test Method for Oxygen Gas Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Coulometric Sensor

D4020 Specification for Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Molding and Extrusion Materials

D4066 Classification System for Nylon Injection and Extrusion Materials (PA)

D4067 Classification System for and Basis for Specification for Reinforced and Filled Poly(Phenylene Sulfide) (PPS) Injection Molding and Extrusion Materials Using ASTM Methods

D4101 Specification for Polypropylene Injection and Extrusion Materials

D4181 Classification for Acetal (POM) Molding and Extrusion Materials

D4203 Specification for Styrene-Acrylonitrile (SAN) Injection and Extrusion Materials

D4216 Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) and Related PVC and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Building Products Compounds

D4329 Practice for Fluorescent UV Exposure of Plastics

D4349 Classification System and Basis for Specification for Polyphenylene Ether (PPE) Materials

D4364 Practice for Performing Outdoor Accelerated Weathering Tests of Plastics Using Concentrated Sunlight

D4396 Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Compounds for Plastic Pipe and Fittings Used in Nonpressure Applications

D4474 Classification System for Styrenic Thermoplastic Elastomer Injection Molding and Extrusion Materials (TES)

D4507 Specification for Thermoplastic Polyester (TPES) Materials

D4549 Classification System and Basis for Specification for Polystyrene and Rubber-Modified Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion Materials (PS)

D4617 Classification System for Phenolic Compounds (PF)

D4634 Classification System and Basis for Specification for Styrene-Maleic Anhydride Molding and Extrusion Materials (S/MA)

D4673 Classification System for Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Plastics and Alloys Molding and Extrusion Materials

D4745 Specification for Filled Compounds of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Molding and Extrusion Materials

D4804 Test Method for Determining the Flammability Characteristics of Nonrigid Solid Plastics

D4812 Test Method for Unnotched Cantilever Beam Impact Resistance of Plastics

D4894 Specification for Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Granular Molding and Ram Extrusion Materials

D4895 Specification for Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Resin Produced From Dispersion

D4976 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials

D4986 Test Method for Horizontal Burning Characteristics of Cellular Polymeric Materials

D5021 Specification for Thermoplastic Elastomer-Chlorinated Ethylene Alloy (TECEA)

D5046 Classification for Fully Crosslinked Elastomeric Alloys (FCEAs)

D5048 Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Burning Characteristics and Resistance to Burn-Through of Solid Plastics Using a 125-mm Flame

D5132 Test Method for Horizontal Burning Rate of Polymeric Materials Used in Occupant Compartments of Motor Vehicles

D5138 Classification System and Basis for Specification for Liquid Crystal Polymers Molding and Extrusion Materials (LCP)

D5203 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials from Recycled Post-Consumer (HDPE) Sources

D5204 Classification System for Polyamide-Imide (PAI) Molding and Extrusion Materials

D5205 Classification System and Basis for Specification for Polyetherimide (PEI) Materials

D5279 Test Method for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: In Torsion

D5336 Specification for Polyphthalamide (PPA) Injection Molding Materials

D5420 Test Method for Impact Resistance of Flat, Rigid Plastic Specimen by Means of a Striker Impacted by a Falling Weight (Gardner Impact)

D5476 Classification System for Thermoplastic Polyurethane Materials (TPU)

D5575 Classification System for Copolymers of Vinylidene Fluoride (VDF) with Other Fluorinated Monomers

D5593 Classification for Thermoplastic Elastomers--Olefinic (TEO)

D5628 Test Method for Impact Resistance of Flat, Rigid Plastic Specimens by Means of a Falling Dart (Tup or Falling Mass)

D5630 Test Method for Ash Content in Plastics

D5676 Specification for Recycled Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion Materials

D5857 Specification for Polypropylene Injection and Extrusion Materials Using ISO Protocol and Methodology

D5927 Classification System for Thermoplastic Polyester (TPES) Injection and Extrusion Materials Based on ISO Test Methods

D5990 Classification System for Polyketone Injection Molding and Extrusion Materials (PK)

D6314 Specification for Fluorocarbon Perfluoromethoxy (MFA) Resin Molding and Extrusion Materials

D6338 Classification System for Highly Crosslinked Thermoplastic Vulcanizates (HCTPVs) Based on ASTM Standard Test Methods

D6339 Classification System for and Basis for Specifications for Syndiotactic Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion (SPS)

D6358 Classification System and Basis for Specification for Poly (Phenylene Sulfide) (PPS) Injection Molding and Extrusion Materials Using ISO Methods

D6360 Practice for Enclosed Carbon-Arc Exposures of Plastics

D6394 Specification for Sulfone Plastics (SP)

D6778 Classification System and Basis for Specification for Polyoxymethylene Molding and Extrusion Materials (POM)

D6779 Classification System for and Basis of Specification for Polyamide Molding and Extrusion Materials (PA)

D6835 Classification System for Thermoplastic Elastomer-Ether-Ester Molding and Extrusion Materials (TEEE)

D6869 Test Method for Coulometric and Volumetric Determination of Moisture in Plastics Using the Karl Fischer Reaction (the Reaction of Iodine with Water)

D7209 Guide for Waste Reduction, Resource Recovery, and Use of Recycled Polymeric Materials and Products

E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications

E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

E96/E96M Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials

E104 Practice for Maintaining Constant Relative Humidity by Means of Aqueous Solutions

E119 Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials

E162 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source

E662 Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials

E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter

F372 Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Flexible Barrier Materials Using an Infrared Detection Technique

Federal Standard

Keywords

?classification; classification system; line call-out; plastic; plastic materials;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 01.040.83 (Rubber and plastics industries (Vocabularies)); 83.080.01 (Plastics in general)

DOI: 10.1520/D4000-08

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