ASTM D5946-17

Standard Test Method for Corona-Treated Polymer Films Using Water Contact Angle Measurements

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The ability of polymer films to retain inks, coatings, adhesives, etc. is primarily dependent on the character of their surfaces and can be improved by one of several surface-treating techniques. The electrical discharge treatment, such as corona treatment, has been found to increase the wetting tension of a polymer film. The stronger the treatment, the more actively the surface reacts with different polar interfaces. It is therefore possible to relate the contact angle of a polymer film surface to its ability to accept and retain inks, coatings, adhesives, etc., if the ink, coating, or adhesive contains the polar functionalities. Contact angle in itself is not a completely acceptable measure of ink, coating, or adhesive adhesion.  
5.2 The wetting tension of a polymer film belongs to a group of physical parameters for which no standard of accuracy exists. The wetting tension of a polymer cannot be measured directly because solids do not change shape measurably in reaction to surface energy. Many indirect methods have been proposed.5 Different test methods tend to produce different results on identical samples. Practical determination of a solid's surface energy uses this interaction of the solid with test liquids.  
5.3 Although the level of surface treatment of polymer films has been traditionally defined in the industry in terms of dynes/cm (mN/m), these values are derived from a subjective interpretation of the observed test liquid behavior.  
5.4 The following ranges of water contact angle values can be used as a guide for defining the level of surface treatment of polyolefins and many other polymer films with initial low surface energies:    
Marginal or no treatment  
>90°  
Low treatment  
85 to 90°  
Medium treatment  
78 to 84°  
High treatment  
71 to 77°  
Very high treatment  
5.4.1 The suitability of the test for specification acceptance, manufacturing control, and end use of polymer films will have to be established through c...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the contact angle of water droplets on corona-treated polymer film surfaces.  
Note 1: This standard is identical to ISO 15989.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.3 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.  
1.4 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-2017
• ICS: 83.020 - Manufacturing processes in the rubber and plastics industries
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.19 - Film, Sheeting, and Molded Products

Relations

• Referred By: ASTM D2673-14(2022) - Standard Specification for Oriented Polypropylene Film
• Effective Date: 01-May-2017
• Referred By: ASTM F22-21 - Standard Test Method for Hydrophobic Surface Films by the Water-Break Test
• Effective Date: 01-May-2017
• Referred By: ASTM D8380-21 - Standard Test Method for Dry Abrasion Resistance of Hydrophobic and Omniphobic Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-May-2017
• Referred By: ASTM F21-20 - Standard Test Method for Hydrophobic Surface Films by the Atomizer Test
• Effective Date: 01-May-2017
• Referred By: ASTM D6105-04(2019) - Standard Practice for Application of Electrical Discharge Surface Treatment (Activation) of Plastics for Adhesive Bonding
• Effective Date: 01-May-2017
• Referred By: ASTM D8065/D8065M-16 - Standard Classification System and Basis for Specification for Specifying Plastic Films
• Effective Date: 01-May-2017

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: D5946 − 17
Standard Test Method for
Corona-Treated Polymer Films Using Water Contact Angle
1
Measurements
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5946; 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* D724 Test Method for Surface Wettability of Paper (Angle-
3
of-Contact Method) (Withdrawn 2009)
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the contact
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
angle of water droplets on corona-treated polymer film sur-
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
faces.
4
2.2 ISO Standard:
NOTE 1—This standard is identical to ISO 15989.
ISO 15989 Plastics—Film and Sheeting—Measurement of
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
Water-Contact Angle of Corona-Treated Films
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3. Terminology
only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.1.1 staticcontactangle, θ(degrees),n—theanglebetween
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- the substrate surface and the tangent line drawn to the droplet
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- surface at the three-phase point, when a liquid drop is resting
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. on a plane solid surface.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor- 3.1.1.1 Discussion—Contact angle values can be deter-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- mined as follows: (1) by analyzing an image of a droplet using
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the various projection or reflective devices and measuring the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- contact angle directly with a protractor by using tangential
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical alignment of a cursor line or the use of reference alignment
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
procedures (Test Method D724); or (2) by analyzing an image
of a droplet using various projection or reflective devices and
2. Referenced Documents
measuring the height and width on the substrate surface to
2
calculate the contact angle as follows:
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing θ 5 2·arctan H/R (1)
~ !
where:
θ = contact angle,
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
H = height of a droplet’s image, and
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film, Sheeting, and
R = half its width.
Molded Products.
Current edition approved May 1, 2017. Published June 2017. Originally
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as D5946 - 09. DOI:
10.1520/D5946-17.
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 [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM www.astm.org.
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*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 ----------------------
D5946 − 17
ent results on identical samples. Practical determination of a
solid’ssurfaceenergyusesthisinteractionofthesolidwithtest
liquids.
5.3 Althoughthelevelofsurfacetreatmentofpolymerfilms
has been traditionally defined in the industry in terms of
dynes/cm (mN/m), these values are derived from a subjective
interpretation of the observed test liquid behavior.
5.4 The following ranges of water contact angle values can
be used as a guide for defining the level of surface treatment of
polyolefins and many other polymer films with initial low
surface energies:
Marginal or no treatment >90°
Low treatment 85 to 90°
Medium treatment 78 to 84°
High treatment 71 to 77°
3.1.1.2 Discussion—Instrumentation is also available that
Very high treatment <71°
utilizes an image and directly determines the contact angle
5.4.1 The suitability of the test for specification acceptance,
based on the calculation shown for Method (2) o
...

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: D5946 − 09 D5946 − 17
Standard Test Method for
Corona-Treated Polymer Films Using Water Contact Angle
1
Measurements
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5946; 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 test method covers measurement of the contact angle of water droplets on corona-treated polymer film surfaces.
NOTE 1—This test method standard is identical to ISO 15989.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.3 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.
1.4 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:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
3
D724 Test Method for Surface Wettability of Paper (Angle-of-Contact Method) (Withdrawn 2009)
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
4
2.2 ISO Standard:
ISO 15989 Plastics—Film and Sheeting—Measurement of Water-Contact Angle of Corona-Treated Films
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 static contact angle, θ (degrees), n—the angle between the substrate surface and the tangent line drawn to the droplet
surface at the three-phase point, when a liquid drop is resting on a plane solid surface.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film, Sheeting, and Molded
Products.
Current edition approved April 1, 2009May 1, 2017. Published April 2009June 2017. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20042009 as
D5946 - 04.D5946 - 09. DOI: 10.1520/D5946-09.10.1520/D5946-17.
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.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
4
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—
Contact angle values can be determined as follows: (1) by analyzing an image of a droplet using various projection or reflective
devices and measuring the contact angle directly with a protractor by using tangential alignment of a cursor line or the use of
reference alignment procedures (Test Method D724); or (2) by analyzing an image of a droplet using various projection or
reflective devices and measuring the height and width on the substrate surface to calculate the contact angle as follows:
θ5 2·arctan~H/R! (1)
where:
θ = contact angle,
*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 ----------------------
D5946 − 17
H = height of a droplet’s image, and
R = half its width.
3.1.1.2 Discussion—
Instrumentation is also available that utilizes an image and directly determines the contact angle based on the calculation shown
for Method (2) of U.S. Patent No. 5,268,733.
3.1.1.3 Discussion—
Method (1) may be biased due to the subjective nature of visually finding a tangent to the droplet image at the three-phase point;
if Method (1) is to be used, the bias of each operator’s measurements shall be determined. Because Method (2) utilizes measured
dimensions of the droplet, it would be expected to have less bias. Comparative analyses using these various procedures have not
been conducted. Therefore, caution is recommended when comparing data obtained from these different methods.
3.1.1.4 Di
...