ASTM D4549-15(2021)
(Specification)Standard Classification System and Basis for Specification for Polystyrene and Rubber-Modified Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion Materials (PS)
Standard Classification System and Basis for Specification for Polystyrene and Rubber-Modified Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion Materials (PS)
ABSTRACT
This specification, which covers polystyrene materials, both crystal and rubber modified suitable for molding and extrusion, is intended to be a means of calling out plastic materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. Polystyrene materials are classified according to classes after being grouped as crystal, rubber modified, and others. The materials are further classified according to grades after being grouped as general-purpose, other medium impact, high impact, super-high-impact, and others. The materials shall conform to the prescribed injection molded properties and natural colors.
SCOPE
1.1 This classification system covers polystyrene materials, both crystal and rubber modified, suitable for molding and extrusion.
1.2 This classification system and subsequent line callout (specification) are intended to be a means of calling out plastic materials 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 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 other than those covered by this specification, and the economics.
1.3 The properties included in this specification are those required to identify the compositions covered. Other requirements necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications are to be specified using the suffixes as given in Section 5.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
Note 1: This standard combines elements from ISO 1622-1-2 and ISO 2897-1-2, but is not equivalent to either ISO 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
Relations
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:D4549 −15 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Classification System and Basis for Specification for
Polystyrene and Rubber-Modified Polystyrene Molding and
Extrusion Materials (PS)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4549; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This classification system covers polystyrene materials, 2.1 ASTM Standards:
both crystal and rubber modified, suitable for molding and D256 Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum
extrusion. Impact Resistance of Plastics
D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
1.2 This classification system and subsequent line callout
D648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics
(specification) are intended to be a means of calling out plastic
Under Flexural Load in the Edgewise Position
materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not
D790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced
intended for the selection of materials. Material selection can
and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materi-
be made by those having expertise in the plastics field after
als
careful consideration of the design and the performance
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
required of the part, the environment to which it will be
tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
exposed, the fabrication process to be employed, the inherent
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
properties of the material other than those covered by this
D1238 Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics
specification, and the economics.
by Extrusion Plastometer
1.3 The properties included in this specification are those
D1525 Test Method for Vicat Softening Temperature of
required to identify the compositions covered. Other require-
Plastics
ments necessary to identify particular characteristics important
D1600 Terminology forAbbreviatedTerms Relating to Plas-
to specialized applications are to be specified using the suffixes
tics
as given in Section 5.
D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
D4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materi-
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this als
D5630 Test Method for Ash Content in Plastics
standard.
NOTE 1—This standard combines elements from ISO 1622-1-2 and ISO
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
2897-1-2, but is not equivalent to either ISO standard.
Determine Conformance with Specifications
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
ManualonPresentationofDataandControlChartAnalysis,
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 8th Edition, Catalog Number: MNL7-8TH-EB
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
2.2 ISO Standards:
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- ISO 1622-1-2 Polystyrene (PS) Molding and Extrusion
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Materials—Part 1: Designation System and Basis for
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. Specifications
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Materials. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved July 1, 2021. Published July 2021. Originally approved the ASTM website.
in 1985. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D4549 – 15. DOI: 10.1520/ Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
D4549-15R21. 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
D4549−15 (2021)
NOTE 4—This part of the system uses the type and percentages of
ISO 1622-2 Polystyrene (PS) Molding and Extrusion
additive to designate the modification of the basic material. Percentage of
Materials—Part 2: Preparation of Test Specimens and
additives can be shown on the supplier’s Technical Data Sheet unless it is
Determination of Properties
proprietary. If necessary, additional requirements shall be indicated by the
ISO 2897-1 Impact-Resistant Polystyrene (PS-I) Molding
use of the suffix part of the system, as given in Section 5.
and Extrusion Materials—Part 1: Designation System and
NOTE 5—Determine ash content of filled or reinforced materials using
Basis for Specifications
Test Method D5630 where applicable.
ISO 2897-2 Impact-Resistant Polystyrene (PS-I) Molding
4.2.2 Table A, Detail Requirements—An identifying number
and Extrusion Materials—Part 2: Preparation of Test
is made up of the letter A and five digits comprising the cell
Specimens and Determination of Properties
numbers for the new requirements in the designated order as
3. Terminology
they appear in Table A.
3.1 Definitions—The terminology used in this classification
4.2.2.1 Although the values listed are necessary to include
system is in accordance with Terminologies D883 and D1600.
the range of properties available in existing materials, not
every possible combination of the properties exists or can be
4. Classification
obtained.
4.1 Polystyrene materials are classified into groups in ac-
cordance with classes and grades as shown in the basic
NOTE 6—An example of a reinforced polystyrene of this classification
property table (Table PS). Injection molded properties are the
system is as follows: The designation PS0110G15A12332 would indicate
preferred standard and are used for the basis of call out the following material requirements from Table A:
examples.
0110 = Polystyrene, crystal, from Table PS,
NOTE 2—Since compression molded properties have been removed
G15 = Glass-reinforced at 15 % nominal (see 4.2.1),
from the standard with this publication, refer to previous publications of
A = Table A for property requirements,
this standard, if interested in these properties.
1 = Tensile strength, 50 MPa, min,
NOTE 3—An example of this classification system for PS0111 is as 2 = Flexural modulus, 4200 MPa, min,
3 = Izod impact, 40 J/m, min,
follows: The designation PS0111 would indicate: PS = polystyrene as
3 = Deflection temperature, 102°C, min, and
found in Terminology D1600, 01 (group) = crystal polystyrene, 1 (class)
2 = Specific gravity, 1.2, min.
= general-purpose, and 1 (grade) = minimum-grade requirements as found
If no properties are specified, the designation would be
in Table PS.
PS0110G15-A00000.
4.1.1 To facilitate the incorporation of future or special
4.3 Table B has been incorporated into this specification to
materials, the “other/unspecified” category (0) for group, class,
facilitate the classification of special materials where Table PS
and grade is shown in Table PS. The basic properties are
or TableAdoes not reflect the required properties. Tables shall
obtained from Tables A or B as they apply (see 4.3).
be used in the same manner as Table A.
4.2 Reinforced and filled polystyrene materials are classi-
fied in accordance with Table PS and Table A. Table PS
NOTE 7—An example of a special material using this classification
system is as follows: The designation PS0110B76013 indicates the
specifies unreinforced material and TableAthe properties after
following, with the material requirements from Table B:
addition of reinforcements or lubricants at the normal levels
PS0110 = Polystyrene, crystal, from Table PS,
indicated (see 4.2.1).
B = Cell Table B for property requirements,
4.2.1 Reinforcements and Additive Materials—A single let-
7 = Tensile strength, 70 MPa, min,
ter will be used for the major reinforcement or combination, or
6 = Tensile modulus, 2700 MPa, min,
0 = Unspecified Izod impact
both, along with two digits that indicate the percentage of
I = Vicat softening temperature, 85°C, min, and
addition by mass with the tolerances tabulated as follows:
3 = Flow rate, 3.0, min.
Symbol Material Tolerance
(Based on Total Mass)
C Carbon and graphite ±2%
fiber-reinforced
G Glass ± 2 %
M Mineral-reinforced ± 2 %
L Lubricants Depends upon material and
process to be specified
R Combination of ±2%
reinforcement
or fillers, or both
TABLE PS Polystyrene Materials, Detail Requirements, Natural Color Only
Melt Flow Rate, Vicat Softening
Izod Impact, (12.7 Tensile Strength at Tensile Modulus,
ASTM D1238, Con- Point, ASTM
by 3.2 mm) ASTM Yield, ASTM D638, ASTM D638, min,
Descrip-
dition 200/5.0 g/10 D1525, Rate B, °C,
Group Description Class Description Grade B C, D D
D256,min,J/m min, MPa MPa
tion A
min, min min 1000-g load
Injection molded Injection molded Injection molded Injection molded Injection molded
01 Crystal 1 General- 1 1.0 45 3100 100
Purpose 2 5.0 40 3000 95
3 10.0 35 2900 85
0 Other 0 Other Unspecified Unspecified
D4549−15 (2021)
Melt Flow Rate, Vicat Softening
Izod Impact, (12.7 Tensile Strength at Tensile Modulus,
ASTM D1238, Con- Point, ASTM
by
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.