ASTM D4000-03a
(Classification)Standard Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
Standard Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
SCOPE
1.1 This standard provides a classification system for tabulating the properties of unfilled, filled, and reinforced plastic materials suitable for processing into parts.
Note 1—The classification system may serve many of the needs of industries using plastic materials. The standard is subject to revision as the need requires; therefore, the latest revision should always be used.
1.2 The classification system and subsequent line callout (specification) is intended to be a means of identifying plastic materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not intended for the selection of materials. Material selection should be made by those having expertise in the plastics field 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 inherent properties of the material not covered in this document, and the economic factors.
1.3 This classification system is based on the premise that plastic materials can be arranged into broad generic families using basic properties to arrange the materials into groups, classes, and grades. A system is thus established which, together with values describing additional requirements, permits as complete a description as desired of the selected material.
1.4 In all cases where the provisions of this classification system would conflict with the referenced ASTM specification for a particular material, the latter shall take precedence.
Note 2—When using this classification system the two-letter, three-digit suffix system applies.
Note 3—When a material is used to fabricate a part where the requirements are too specific for a broad material callout, it is advisable for the user to consult the supplier to secure callout of the properties to suit the actual conditions to which the part is to be subjected.
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.
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
An American National Standard
Designation: D 4000 – 03a
Standard Classification System for
1
Specifying Plastic Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4000; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1 This standard provides a classification system for tabu-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
lating the properties of unfilled, filled, and reinforced plastic
materials suitable for processing into parts.
2. Referenced Documents
2
NOTE 1—The classification system may serve many of the needs of
2.1 ASTM Standards:
industries using plastic materials. The standard is subject to revision as the
D 149 Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and
need requires; therefore, the latest revision should always be used.
Dielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials
1.2 The classification system and subsequent line callout
at Commercial Power Frequencies
(specification) is intended to be a means of identifying plastic
D 150 Test Methods for A-C Loss Characteristics and
materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not
Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical Insu-
intended for the selection of materials. Material selection
lating Materials
should be made by those having expertise in the plastics field
D 256 Test Method for Determining the Izod Pendulum
after careful consideration of the design and the performance
Impact Resistance of Notched Specimens of Plastics
required of the part, the environment to which it will be
D 257 Test Methods for D-C Resistance or Conductance of
exposed, the fabrication process to be employed, the inherent
Insulating Materials
properties of the material not covered in this document, and the
D 395 Test Methods for Rubber Property—Compression
economic factors.
Set
1.3 This classification system is based on the premise that
D 412 Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermo-
plastic materials can be arranged into broad generic families
plastic Rubbers and Thermoplastic Elastomers—Tension
using basic properties to arrange the materials into groups,
D 471 Test Method for Rubber Property—Effect of Liquids
classes, and grades. A system is thus established which,
D 495 Test Method for High-Voltage, Low-Current, Dry
together with values describing additional requirements, per-
Arc Resistance of Solid Electrical Insulation
mits as complete a description as desired of the selected
D 569 Method for Measuring the Flow Properties of Ther-
material.
moplastic Molding Materials
1.4 In all cases where the provisions of this classification
D 570 Test Method for Water Absorption of Plastics
system would conflict with the referenced ASTM specification
D 573 Test Method for Rubber—Deterioration in an Air
for a particular material, the latter shall take precedence.
Oven
D 575 Test Methods for Rubber Properties in Compression
NOTE 2—When using this classification system the two-letter, three-
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
digit suffix system applies.
NOTE 3—When a material is used to fabricate a part where the
D 624 Test Method for Tear Strength of Conventional
requirements are too specific for a broad material callout, it is advisable
Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers
for the user to consult the supplier to secure callout of the properties to suit
D 635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
the actual conditions to which the part is to be subjected.
Time of Burning of Self-Supporting Plastics in a Horizon-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tal Position
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D 638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
D 648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics
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This classification system is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
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Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.94 on Government/ For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Industry Standardization (Section D20.94.01). contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved November 1, 2003. Published January 2004. Originally Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
published as D 4000 – 82. Last previous edition D 4000 – 03. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at
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