ASTM D4801-08(2016)
(Specification)Standard Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting in Thickness of 0.25 mm (0.010 in.) and Greater
Standard Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting in Thickness of 0.25 mm (0.010 in.) and Greater
ABSTRACT
This specification covers the requirements for extruded (cast or blown) and compression-molded sheeting made from low-, medium-, and high-density polyethylenes and copolymers in specified thicknesses. Depending on the functional requirements, sheeting conforming to this specification is used in applications such as chemical tank linings, spacers in electrical equipment, thermoforming into such items as trays, pallets, and shipping containers, and as machine-shop stock. This specification allows for reprocessable and recyclable polyethylene plastic materials, provided that any specific requirements as governed by the producer and end user are met. The three types of polyethylene sheeting covered here are: Type I, natural or colored for general purpose; Type II, natural or colored for dielectrics; and Type III, black for weather-resistant applications. Sampled specimens shall be tested for their conformance with physical requirements as follows: dimension (length, width, diameter, and cores); form; tensile strength at yield and nominal strain at break; shrinkage; warpage and twist; and color, appearance, and workmanship.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers requirements for extruded (cast or blown) and compression-molded sheeting made from low-, medium- and high-density polyethylenes and copolymers in thickness of 0.25 mm (0.010 in.) and greater. Depending on the functional requirements, sheeting conforming to this specification is used in applications such as chemical tank linings, spacers in electrical equipment, thermoforming into such items as trays, pallets, and shipping containers, and as machine-shop stock.
1.2 Polyethylene materials, being thermoplastics, are reprocessable and recyclable (see Guides D5033 and D7209). This specification allows for the use of those polyethylene plastic materials, provided that any specific requirements as governed by the producer and end user are met.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 11, of this specification: 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.
Note 1: There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4801 −08 (Reapproved 2016)
Standard Specification for
Polyethylene Sheeting in Thickness of 0.25 mm (0.010 in.)
and Greater
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4801; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
1.1 This specification covers requirements for extruded
tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
(cast or blown) and compression-molded sheeting made from
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
low-,medium-andhigh-densitypolyethylenesandcopolymers
D1204 Test Method for Linear Dimensional Changes of
in thickness of 0.25 mm (0.010 in.) and greater. Depending on
Nonrigid Thermoplastic Sheeting or Film at Elevated
the functional requirements, sheeting conforming to this speci-
Temperature
fication is used in applications such as chemical tank linings,
D1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-
spacers in electrical equipment, thermoforming into such items
Gradient Technique
as trays, pallets, and shipping containers, and as machine-shop
D2103 Specification for Polyethylene Film and Sheeting
stock.
D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
1.2 Polyethylene materials, being thermoplastics, are repro-
D4976 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and
cessable and recyclable (see Guides D5033 and D7209). This
Extrusion Materials
specification allows for the use of those polyethylene plastic
D5033 GuideforDevelopmentofASTMStandardsRelating
materials, provided that any specific requirements as governed
to Recycling and Use of Recycled Plastics (Withdrawn
by the producer and end user are met.
2007)
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as D5947 Test Methods for Physical Dimensions of Solid
Plastics Specimens
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
only. D7209 Guide for Waste Reduction, Resource Recovery, and
Use of Recycled Polymeric Materials and Products (With-
1.4 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the
drawn 2015)
test methods portion, Section 11, of this specification: This
2.2 Military Standard:
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
MIL-STD-105 Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspec-
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
tion by Attributes
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
2.3 Federal Standard:
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
tions prior to use. Fed. Std. No. 406A Plastics: Methods of Testing
(Method 6051, Warpage)
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
3. Terminology
2. Referenced Documents
3.1 Definitions—Unless otherwise indicated, the terminol-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ogy used in this specification is in accordance with Terminol-
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
ogy D883.
4. Classification
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film, Sheeting,
4.1 The polyethylene sheeting in accordance with this
and Molded Products.
specification is classified by special types as follows:
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2016. Published October 2016. Originally
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D4801 – 08. DOI:
10.1520/D4801-08R16.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM www.astm.org.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on AvailablefromStandardizationDocumentsOrderDesk,Bldg.4SectionD,700
the ASTM website. Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D4801 − 08 (2016)
4.1.1 Type I—General purpose, natural and colors. 7.7 Color—The sheeting shall be of the color specified by
4.1.2 Type II—Dielectric, natural and colors. the user.
4.1.3 Type III—Weather-resistant, black.
7.8 Grade—The sheeting shall be of the grade specified by
the user.
5. Ordering Information
7.9 Workmanship—The sheeting shall have a smooth finish
5.1 As appropriate, the following information shall be
and shall be free of cracks, blisters, bubbles, discolorations,
included in the purchase contract.
craze, surface scratches that form definite indentations, and
5.1.1 Title, number, and date of this specification.
other defects that could affect appearance or serviceability.
5.1.2 Classification in accordance with the appropriate cell
7.9.1 Dimensional Defects—The sheeting shall show none
call-out as found in Specification D4976.
of the defects described in Table 2.
5.1.3 Length and width of sheets (see 7.5 and 7.6).
7.9.2 Defects in Color, Appearance, and Workmanship—
5.1.4 Thickness of sheets (see 7.5).
The sheeting shall show none of the defects described in Table
5.1.5 Color (see 7.7).
3.
5.1.6 Requirements for packaging, packing, and marking
(see 13.1).
8. Sampling
6. Materials and Manufacture
8.1 The materials shall be sampled in accordance with the
sampling procedure prescribed in Practice D1898. Adequate
6.1 Materials—The sheeting shall be manufactured from
statistical sampling shall be considered an acceptable alterna-
polyethylene thermoplastic material of the special grade speci-
tive. A lot of material shall be considered as a unit of
fied in 5.1.2. The supplier shall furnish, for the material used,
manufacture as prepared for shipment, and shall be permitted
data for the classification properties.
toconsistofablendoftwoormoreproductionrunsorbatches.
6.2 Manufacture—Sheeting shall be formed by extrusion
and roll polishing, or compression.
9. Testing
7. Detail Requirements
9.1 Test the sheeting for the applicable characteristics listed
in 7.2, 7.3, and 7.4 and Table 1 and Table 2 in accordance with
7.1 Form—The sheeting shall be furnished flat or in rolls in
the test methods specified herein, for each lot submitted for
the dimensions specified.
inspection.
7.2 Tensile Stress at Yield and Nominal Strain at Break—
Sheeting shall conform to the values shown for the appropriate
10. Conditioning
cell classification as found in Specification D4976.
10.1 Condition the test specimens at 23 6 2°C (73.4 6
7.3 Shrinkage—The sheeting, when tested as specified in
3.6°F) for not less than 40 h prior to test in accordance with
11.3, shall conform to the requirements as determined between
SpecificationD4976orasotherwisespecifiedbyagreement.In
the user and the supplier.
cases of disagreement, the tolerances shall be 61°C (61.8°F).
7.4 Warpage and Twist—The sheeting, when tested as
10.2 In addition, for films containing hydrophilic fillers,
specified in 11.4, shall conform to the requirements as deter-
co-monomers, pigments or other modifiers, conditioning and
mined between the user and the supplier.
testing shall be done at 50 6 10 % relative humidity. In cases
7.5 Dimensions—Sheeting shall be supplied in the width,
ofdisagreement,thetoleranceshallbe 65 %relativehumidity.
length (or weight), and thickness as specified between the user
and the supplier, except that is permissible for a maximum of
4 % of the sheet in a shipment to be trimmed 55-mm (2-in.)
undersize or half-size. Such trimmed sheet shall be packed
TABLE 2 Examination of the Sheeting for Defects in Dimensions
separately from full-sized sheet. The thickness shall be tested
Examine Defects
in accordance with 11.5. Thickness tolerances are shown in
Length and width (sheet) not of the length and width specified
Table 1.
varies by more than +3.2, −0 mm
(+ ⁄8,−0in.)
7.6 Length or Weight and Diameter of Rolls—Sheeting in
varies by more than ±13 mm (± ⁄2 in.)
rolls shall be supplied with either the length or weight
from true rectangles
Width (sheeting) not of the width specified
specified, except that one roll in a shipment shall be permitted
varies by more than +13, −0 mm
to have the lesser length or weight required to make the total
(+ ⁄2,−0in.)
length or weight of the shipment equal to the quantity ordered.
Length or weight of rolls not of the length or weight specified
(sheeting) varies by more than +3, −1 %
Specify the diameter of the roll.
Diameter of rolls (sheeting) not of the diameter specified
Cores (sheeting) not having lengths equal to the nominal
width of the sheeting, +13, −0 mm
TABLE 1 Thickness Tolerances
(+ ⁄2,−0in.)
Thickness Tolerance, not having inside diameters as specified
Nominal Thickness, mm (in.)
Percent of Nominal varies by more than +3.2, −0 mm
0.254 to 1.78 (0.010 to 0.070), incl ±10 (+ ⁄8, −0 in.) for a 76-mm (3-in.) diameter
Greater than 1.78 (0.070) ±5 hole unless otherwise specified
D4801 − 08 (2016)
TABLE 3 Examination of Sheeting for Defects in Color,
11.4.2 Precision—No data are available for a precision
Appearance, and Workmanship
statement.
Examine Defects
11.5 Thickness—The thickness of the sheeting covered in
Appearance not uni
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