ASTM D2842-01

Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Rigid Cellular Plastics

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the water absorption of rigid cellular plastics by measuring the change in buoyant force resulting from immersion under a 5.1-cm (2-in.) head of water for the specified immersion period for 96 h is standard.
1.2 This test method describes two procedures that may be used to measure the change in buoyant force. Procedure A should be used for materials that either experience rapid water absorption or that show an increase in volume during the exposure period, or both. Materials that do not exhibit either of these characteristics should be evaluated by Procedure B.
1.3 For specific applications, immersion periods varying from the normal 96-h test requirement shall be agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchaser.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
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.  
Note 1—This test method and ISO 2896 are technically equivalent.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Nov-2001
• ICS: 83.100 - Cellular materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.22 - Cellular Materials - Plastics and Elastomers

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D2842-97 - Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Rigid Cellular Plastics
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Replaced By: ASTM D2842-06 - Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Rigid Cellular Plastics
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2006
• Referred By: ASTM C1696-20 - Standard Guide for Industrial Thermal Insulation Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D3576-20 - Standard Test Method for Cell Size of Rigid Cellular Plastics
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E861-13(2021) - Standard Practice for Evaluating Thermal Insulation Materials for Use in Solar Collectors
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D6226-21 - Standard Test Method for Open Cell Content of Rigid Cellular Plastics
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E1974-19 - Standard Specification for Shelter, Electrical Equipment S-250/G
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM E1975-22 - Standard Specification for Shelter, Electrical, Equipment S-280/G
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM C1029-20 - Standard Specification for Spray-Applied Rigid Cellular Polyurethane Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F561-19 - Standard Practice for Retrieval and Analysis of Medical Devices, and Associated Tissues and Fluids
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D7425/D7425M-13(2019) - Standard Specification for Spray Polyurethane Foam Used for Roofing Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Nov-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D2842–01
Standard Test Method for
1
Water Absorption of Rigid Cellular Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2842; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the water 3.1 Definitions—There are no terms in this test method that
absorption of rigid cellular plastics by measuring the change in are new or other than dictionary definitions.
buoyant force resulting from immersion under a 5.1-cm (2-in.)
4. Summary of Test Method
head of water for the specified immersion period of 96 h.
1.2 This test method describes two procedures that may be 4.1 The buoyant force of an object less dense than water is
equal to the weight of water it displaces when submerged, less
used to measure the change in buoyant force. Procedure A
should be used for materials that either experience rapid water the dry weight of the object. Water absorbed into the object
lowers the buoyant force by increasing the weight of the
absorption or that show an increase in volume during the
exposure period, or both. Materials that do not exhibit either of sample. By knowing the volume and initial dry weight of the
sample, the initial buoyant force can be calculated or the initial
these characteristics should be evaluated by Procedure B.
1.3 For specific applications, immersion periods varying buoyant force can be determined by direct measurement. The
final buoyant force at the end of the immersion period is
from the normal 96-h test requirement shall be agreed upon
between the manufacturer and the purchaser. measured with an underwater weighing assembly. The differ-
encebetweentheinitialandfinalbuoyantforceistheweightof
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. the water absorbed per unit of specimen volume.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5. Significance and Use
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5.1 Thepurposeofthistestmethodistoprovideameansfor
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
comparing relative water absorption tendencies between dif-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
ferent cellular plastics. It is intended for use in specifications,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
product evaluation, and quality control. It is applicable to
NOTE 1—This test method and ISO 2896 are technically equivalent.
specific end-use design requirements only to the extent that the
end-use conditions are similar to the immersion period (nor-
2. Referenced Documents
mally 96 h) and 5.1-cm (2-in.) head requirements of the test
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
method.
D 3576 Test Method for Cell Size of Rigid Cellular Plastics
E96 Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Mate- NOTE 2—Studies by ASTM Subcommittee D20.22 show that some
cellular plastics, particularly those with open cells or natural interstices,
rials
continue to absorb additional significant amounts of water beyond the
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
96-h immersion period. It was also found that water absorption of some
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
cellular plastics is significantly higher when exposed to a greater pressure
2.2 ISO Standard:
head, as might be encountered in certain underwater installations.
ISO 2896 Cellular Plastics, Rigid—Determination of Water
3 5.2 This test method provides a means for measuring
Absorption
absorption as a result of direct contact exposure to free water.
Results by this test method cannot be used to compare the
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics resistance of cellular plastics to water vapor transmission and
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.22 on Cellular Materials-
subsequent condensation within the cells. To determine resis-
Plastics and Elastomers.
tance to water vapor transmission, see Test MethodsE96.
Current edition approved November 10, 2001. Published January 2002. Origi-
5.3 Water absorption testing is subject to several important
nally published as D 2842 – 69. Last previous edition D 2842 – 97.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
variables, which if not considered, prohibit sufficient agree-
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
ment among testing laboratories. Development of this test
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
method has taken into account the most serious of the possible
the ASTM webs
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