ASTM D6040-18(2023)

Standard Guide to Standard Test Methods for Unsintered Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Extruded Film or Tape

ABSTRACT
This guide identifies the standard test methods to use in evaluating unsintered extruded films or tapes manufactured from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The test methods covered here shall be capable of investigating the following material properties: width; thickness; tensile properties (tensile strength and elongation); specificat gravity (relative density); residual extrusion aids or other volatile components; dielectric constant; volume resistivity; dielectric breakdown voltage; and unit weight.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide identifies test methods to use in evaluating unsintered extruded films or tapes manufactured from polytetrafluoroethylene.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units as detailed in IEEE/ASTM SI 10, are to be regarded as standard.  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Note 1: This test method is equivalent to ISO 12086-2:2006 in the measurement of tensile properties, specific gravity, and dielectric constant. These are in ISO 12086-2:2006, sections 8.2.2, 10.6 and 8.1.1. It is not equivalent to ISO 12086-2:2006 in any other measurement or section..  
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: 31-Oct-2023
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.15 - Thermoplastic Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D6040-18 - Standard Guide to Standard Test Methods for Unsintered Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Extruded Film or Tape
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Refers: ASTM D1711-24 - Standard Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2024
• Refers: ASTM D883-24 - Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2024
• Refers: ASTM D883-23 - Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Refers: ASTM D374/D374M-23 - Standard Test Methods for Thickness of Solid Electrical Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2023
• Refers: ASTM D883-22 - Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2022
• Refers: ASTM D1711-22 - Standard Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2022
• Refers: ASTM D374/D374M-16 - Standard Test Methods for Thickness of Solid Electrical Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2016
• Referred By: ASTM D7193-17(2022) - Standard Specification for Unsintered Pigmented Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Extruded Film or Tape
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023
• Referred By: ASTM D6585-17(2022) - Standard Specification for Unsintered Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Extruded Film or Tape
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2023

Overview

ASTM D6040-18(2023) provides comprehensive guidance on the standard test methods for evaluating unsintered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) extruded film or tape. Developed by ASTM International, this guide identifies appropriate test procedures to assess key properties and ensure the reliable performance of PTFE materials used in industrial, electrical, and manufacturing applications. By following the recommendations in ASTM D6040, users can achieve consistent quality control, compliance with international standards, and optimized product performance when working with unsintered PTFE films or tapes.

Key Topics

ASTM D6040-18(2023) covers essential test methods for evaluating the following characteristics of unsintered PTFE extruded films or tapes:

• Width and Thickness: Methods for precise measurement of film or tape dimensions to support specification compliance and manufacturing accuracy.
• Tensile Properties: Assessment of tensile strength and elongation using standardized procedures, critical for determining mechanical performance and durability.
• Specific Gravity (Relative Density): Determination of material density to support evaluation of material consistency and purity.
• Residual Extrusion Aids/Volatile Components: Testing for residual lubricants and other volatiles to ensure material cleanliness and process suitability.
• Dielectric Constant: Measurement of the electrical permittivity to evaluate insulation properties, important in electrical and electronic applications.
• Volume Resistivity: Testing of the electrical resistivity to confirm material suitability for insulating applications.
• Dielectric Breakdown Voltage: Determination of the maximum voltage the material can withstand before electrical failure.
• Unit Weight: Measurement of mass per unit area to support specification requirements and quality control.

Recommended test methods referenced in this guide include ASTM D149, D150, D257, D374, D792, D882, D3776, and terminology standards such as D883 and D1711.

Applications

Unsintered PTFE extruded films and tapes offer hydrophobicity, chemical resistance, and excellent electrical insulation, making them valuable in:

• Electrical Insulation: Used as dielectric barriers, cable wraps, and separators owing to their strong electrical properties and stability.
• Industrial Gaskets and Seals: Leveraged in aggressive chemical environments where PTFE’s inertness and dimensional stability are essential.
• Tape and Film Products: Applied in various industries for their low friction and non-stick characteristics, including aerospace, automotive, and electronics.
• Quality Assurance: Critical in incoming material verification, lot-to-lot consistency assessment, and regulatory compliance thanks to standardized testing.

Following the methods in ASTM D6040 allows manufacturers, suppliers, and end users to ensure that unsintered PTFE films and tapes consistently meet stringent industrial and regulatory demands.

Related Standards

For broader context and further testing detail, ASTM D6040-18(2023) references several important standards:

• ASTM D149 - Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and Dielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials
• ASTM D150 - Test Methods for AC Loss Characteristics and Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical Insulation
• ASTM D257 - Test Methods for DC Resistance or Conductance of Insulating Materials
• ASTM D374 - Test Methods for Thickness of Solid Electrical Insulation
• ASTM D792 - Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity of Plastics by Displacement
• ASTM D882 - Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting
• ASTM D3776 - Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of Fabric
• IEEE/ASTM SI 10 - Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI)
• ISO 12086-2:2006 - Plastics-Fluoropolymer Dispersions and Moulding and Extrusion Materials (equivalent for tensile properties, specific gravity, and dielectric constant)

Adherence to these related standards facilitates international trade, regulatory compliance, and technical benchmarking, ensuring that materials tested per ASTM D6040 remain competitive and fit for purpose in global markets.

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: D6040 − 18 (Reapproved 2023)
Standard Guide to
Standard Test Methods for Unsintered
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Extruded Film or Tape
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6040; 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 D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
1.1 This guide identifies test methods to use in evaluating
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
unsintered extruded films or tapes manufactured from polytet-
Sheeting
rafluoroethylene.
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
1.2 The values stated in SI units as detailed in IEEE/ASTM
D1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
SI 10, are to be regarded as standard.
D3776/D3776M Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the (Weight) of Fabric
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
F335 Terminology Relating to Electrostatic Imaging (With-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- drawn 2017)
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
F412 Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. IEEE/ASTM SI 10 Standard for Use of the International
System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 12086-2:2006 in the
measurement of tensile properties, specific gravity, and dielectric constant. 2.2 ISO Standard:
These are in ISO 12086-2:2006, sections 8.2.2, 10.6 and 8.1.1. It is not
ISO 12086-2:2006 Plastics—Fluoropolymer Dispersions
equivalent to ISO 12086-2:2006 in any other measurement or section.
and Moulding and Extrusion Materials—Part 2: Prepara-
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
tion of Test Specimens and Determination of Properties
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3. Terminology
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1 Definitions:
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1.1 Definitions are in accordance with Test Methods D257
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
and Terminologies D883 and D1711, unless otherwise speci-
fied.
2. Referenced Documents
3.1.2 apparent density, n—the weight per unit volume of a
2.1 ASTM Standards:
material including voids inherent in the material as tested, see
D149 Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and
Terminology F412.
Dielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials
3.1.3 lot, n—one production run, or uniform blend of two or
at Commercial Power Frequencies
more production runs.
D150 Test Methods for AC Loss Characteristics and Permit-
tivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical Insulation 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 film, n—full-width material received as finished film.
D257 Test Methods for DC Resistance or Conductance of
Insulating Materials
3.2.2 tape, n—material that has been slit from the finished
D374/D374M Test Methods for Thickness of Solid Electri-
film.
cal Insulation
4. Test Specimens
4.1 The number of test specimens shall be in accordance
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic Materials.
with the requirements of the individual test methods.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2023. Published November 2023. Originally
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D6040 - 18. DOI:
10.1520/D6040-18R23.
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.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D6040 − 18 (2023)
tape typically exhibits hydrophobic characteristics.
5. Conditioning
NOTE 6—Especially useful for this test, has been the electronic
5.1 Condition the tape for 4 h and conduct tests at the
densimeter, Model ED-120 T.
standard laboratory temperature of 23 6 2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F),
NOTE 7—A volume method (apparent density) may be used providing
that the testing error is held to less than one third of the total allowable
unless otherwise specified in the test methods or required in a
variance. Calculate the density as follows:
specification. Since the tape or film does not absorb water, the
maintenance of constant humidity during testing is not impor-
D 5 W /V (1)
g
tant.
where:
D = apparent density of the specimen, g/cm ,
6. Width
W = weight of specimen, g, and
g
6.1 Determine width measurements using a steel scale
V = volume of specimen, cm .
having divisions at a minimum of 0.5-mm ( ⁄64-in.) intervals.
9.2 Test one specimen for each lot.
6.2 Test at least one specimen from each lot.
10. Residual Extrusion Aids or Other Volatile
6.3 Each test specimen shall be approximately 450 mm (18
Components
in.) in length. Place the specimens on a hard smooth surface.
Measure the width perpendicular to the edge of the steel scale, 10.1 Determine the percentage of volatile material using a
minimum 35-gram sample and test temperature 218 6 5°C
at three approximately equally spaced
...