ASTM D6394-21a

Standard Classification System for and Basis for Specification for Sulfone Plastics (SP)

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the classification of sulfone plastics suitable for injection molding and extrusion. It is intended to be a means of calling out sulfone plastics used in the fabrication of end items or parts. Sulfone polymers, being thermoplastic, are reprocessable and recyclable. All of the sulfone polymers which are under this specification contain ether oxygen which is a necessary component of the polymers as in the diphenyl sulfone moiety. Examples of moieties which can be part of the backbone of the repeating unit, in addition to diphenyl sulfone, are diphenyl isopropylidene, and biphenyl. Blends of these polymers can exist as well as co- and ter-polymers. Commercial polymers that are members of this class of thermoplastics include polysulfone (PSU), polyether sulfone (PESU), and polyphenylsulfone (PPSU). Unreinforced sulfone plastics are classified into groups in accordance with their composition. The classes and grades in which these groups are subdivided are shown in this specification. The plastic shall be tested for deflection temperature, Izod impact, and solution viscosity.
SCOPE
1.1 This classification system covers sulfone plastics suitable for injection molding and extrusion. Sulfone polymers, being thermoplastic, are reprocessable and recyclable. This classification system allows for the use of reprocessed or recycled sulfone polymer materials.  
1.2 The properties included in this standard are those required to identify the compositions covered. Other requirements necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications are to be specified by using the suffixes in Section 5. See Guide D5740.  
1.3 This classification system and subsequent line callout (specification) are intended to provide a means of calling out sulfone plastics used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not intended for the selection of materials. Material selection can be made by those having expertise in the plastics field only 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 costs involved, and the inherent properties of the material other than those covered by this standard.  
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 11, of this classification system: 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Note 1: Reference Guide D7209 for information and definitions related to recycled plastics.
Note 2: ISO 24025 is similar in subject matter but not equivalent to this standard.  
1.5 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.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2021
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.15 - Thermoplastic Materials

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:D6394 −21a
Standard Classification System for and Basis for Specification
for
1
Sulfone Plastics (SP)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6394; 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.
1. Scope* 1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This classification system covers sulfone plastics suit-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
able for injection molding and extrusion. Sulfone polymers,
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
being thermoplastic, are reprocessable and recyclable. This
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
classification system allows for the use of reprocessed or
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
recycled sulfone polymer materials.
1.2 The properties included in this standard are those
2. Referenced Documents
required to identify the compositions covered. Other require-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ments necessary to identify particular characteristics important
D256 Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum
to specialized applications are to be specified by using the
Impact Resistance of Plastics
suffixes in Section 5. See Guide D5740.
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
1.3 This classification system and subsequent line callout D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
(specification) are intended to provide a means of calling out D648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics
sulfone plastics used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It Under Flexural Load in the Edgewise Position
isnotintendedfortheselectionofmaterials.Materialselection D790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced
can be made by those having expertise in the plastics field only and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materi-
after careful consideration of the design and the performance als
required of the part, the environment to which it will be D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
exposed, the fabrication process to be employed, the costs tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
involved, and the inherent properties of the material other than D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
those covered by this standard. D1238 Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics
by Extrusion Plastometer
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the
D1600 TerminologyforAbbreviatedTermsRelatingtoPlas-
test method portion, Section 11, of this classification system:
tics
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety
D3641 Practice for Injection Molding Test Specimens of
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
Thermoplastic Molding and Extrusion Materials
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety,
D3801 TestMethodforMeasuringtheComparativeBurning
health, and environmental practices and determine the appli-
Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical Position
cability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
NOTE 1—Reference Guide D7209 for information and definitions D4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materi-
related to recycled plastics.
als
NOTE 2—ISO 24025 is similar in subject matter but not equivalent to
D5630 Test Method for Ash Content in Plastics
this standard.
D5740 Guide for Writing Material Standards in the Classi-
fication Format
1
ThisclassificationsystemisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD20on
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic
2
Materials. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved May 1, 2021. Published May 2021. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2021 as D6394 - 21. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D6394-21A. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D6394−21a
D6869 Test Method for Coulometric and Volumetric Deter- 4. Classification
mination of Moisture in Plastics Using the Karl Fischer
4.1 Unreinfo
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D6394 − 21 D6394 − 21a
Standard Classification System for and Basis for Specification
for
1
Sulfone Plastics (SP)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6394; 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.
1. Scope*
1.1 This classification system covers sulfone plastics suitable for injection molding and extrusion. Sulfone polymers, being
thermoplastic, are reprocessable and recyclable. This classification system allows for the use of reprocessed or recycled sulfone
polymer materials.
1.2 The properties included in this standard are those required to identify the compositions covered. Other requirements necessary
to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications are to be specified by using the suffixes in Section 5. See
Guide D5740.
1.3 This classification system and subsequent line callout (specification) are intended to provide a means of calling out sulfone
plastics used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not intended for the selection of materials. Material selection can be made
by those having expertise in the plastics field only 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 costs involved, and the inherent
properties of the material other than those covered by this standard.
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 11, of this classification system: 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
NOTE 1—Reference Guide D7209 for information and definitions related to recycled plastics.
NOTE 2—ISO 24025 is similar in subject matter but not equivalent to this standard.
1.5 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D256 Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance of Plastics
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
1
This classification system is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic
Materials.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2021May 1, 2021. Published January 2021May 2021. Originally approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 20202021 as
D6394 - 20.D6394 - 21. DOI: 10.1520/D6394-21.10.1520/D6394-21A.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D6394 − 21a
D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
D648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics Under Flexural Load in the Edgewise Position
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
D1238 Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer
D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics
D3641 Practice for Injection Molding Test Specimens of Thermoplastic Molding and Extrusion Materials
D3801 Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Burning Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical Position
D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
D4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
D5630 Test Method for Ash Content in Plastics
D5740 Gu
...