ASTM D1203-94(2003)

Standard Test Methods for Volatile Loss From Plastics Using Activated Carbon Methods

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The test methods are intended to be rapid empirical tests which may be useful in the relative comparison of materials having the same nominal thickness.
Note 2—When the plastic material contains plasticizer, loss from the plastic is assumed to be primarily plasticizer. The effect of moisture is considered to be negligible.
Correlation with ultimate application for various plastic materials should be determined by the user. To obtain accelerated tests that more nearly approach actual service conditions, reference should be made to Specification E 197.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of volatile loss from a plastic material under defined conditions of time and temperature, using activated carbon as the immersion medium.
1.2 Two test methods are covered as follows:
1.2.1 Test Method A, Direct Contact with Activated Carbon—In this test method the plastic material is in direct contact with the carbon. This test method is particularly useful in the rapid comparison of a large number of plastic specimens.
1.2.2 Test Method B, Wire Cage—This test method prescribes the use of a wire cage, which prevents direct contact between the plastic material and the carbon. By eliminating the direct contact, the migration of the volatile components to the surrounding carbon is minimized and loss by volatilization is more specifically measured.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.4 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 standard is similar in content (not technically equivalent) to ISO 176-1976(E).

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jul-2003
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.15 - Thermoplastic Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D1203-94(1999)e1 - Standard Test Methods for Volatile Loss From Plastics Using Activated Carbon Methods
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM D1203-10 - Standard Test Methods for Volatile Loss From Plastics Using Activated Carbon Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D7176-22 - Standard Specification for Non-Reinforced Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Geomembranes Used in Buried Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D2287-19 - Standard Classification System and Basis for Specification for Nonrigid Vinyl Chloride Polymer and Copolymer Molding and Extrusion Compounds
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D8065/D8065M-16 - Standard Classification System and Basis for Specification for Specifying Plastic Films
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D3690-19 - Standard Performance Specification for Vinyl-Coated and Urethane-Coated Upholstery Fabrics—Indoor
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D1593-22 - Standard Specification for Nonrigid Vinyl Chloride Plastic Film and Sheeting
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D5926-15(2020) - Standard Specification for Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Gaskets for Drain, Waste, and Vent (DWV), Sewer, Sanitary, and Storm Plumbing Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4068-17(2022) - Standard Specification for Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) Sheeting for Concealed Water-Containment Membrane
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4551-22 - Standard Specification for Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Plastic Flexible Concealed Water-Containment Membrane
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4000-23 - Standard Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003

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:D1203–94 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Test Methods for
Volatile Loss From Plastics Using Activated Carbon
Methods
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1203; 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 Department of Defense.
1. Scope* E197 Specification for Enclosures and Servicing Units for
Tests Above and Below Room Temperature
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of volatile
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
loss from a plastic material under defined conditions of time
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
and temperature, using activated carbon as the immersion
2.2 Other Documents:
medium.
ISO 176-1976 Determination of the Loss of Plasticizers
1.2 Two test methods are covered as follows:
from Plastics by the Activated Carbon Method
1.2.1 Test Method A, Direct Contact with Activated
Carbon—In this test method the plastic material is in direct
3. Terminology
contact with the carbon. This test method is particularly useful
3.1 Definitions—Definitions are in accordance with Termi-
intherapidcomparisonofalargenumberofplasticspecimens.
nologies D883 and D1600 unless otherwise indicated.
1.2.2 Test Method B, Wire Cage—This test method pre-
scribes the use of a wire cage, which prevents direct contact
4. Significance and Use
between the plastic material and the carbon. By eliminating the
4.1 The test methods are intended to be rapid empirical tests
direct contact, the migration of the volatile components to the
which may be useful in the relative comparison of materials
surrounding carbon is minimized and loss by volatilization is
having the same nominal thickness.
more specifically measured.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
NOTE 2—When the plastic material contains plasticizer, loss from the
standard. plastic is assumed to be primarily plasticizer. The effect of moisture is
considered to be negligible.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.2 Correlation with ultimate application for various plastic
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
materials should be determined by the user. To obtain acceler-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
ated tests that more nearly approach actual service conditions,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
reference should be made to Specification E197.
NOTE 1—Thisstandardissimilarincontent(nottechnicallyequivalent)
5. Apparatus
to ISO 176-1976(E).
5.1 Balance—An accurate analytical balance, equipped
2. Referenced Documents
with Class S weights or better.
5.2 Oven or Bath—A thermostatically controlled oven or
2.1 ASTM Standards:
bath capable of maintaining the temperature to within 61°C of
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
the test temperature, which normally will be in the range from
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
50 to 150°C.
D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to
5.3 Containers—Metal cans or wide-mouth screw-top jars,
Plastics
of cylindrical form, approximately 100 mm in diameter and
approximately ⁄2 L in capacity.
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
5.4 Micrometer—Amicrometer capable of measuring to the
Plastics and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic
nearest 0.0025 mm for measuring the thickness of the test
Materials (Section D20.15.11 on Plasticizers).
specimens.
Current edition approved July 10, 2003. Published September 2003. Originally
´1
approved in 1952. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as D1203 – 94(99) .
DOI: 10.1520/D1203-94R03.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM on 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.
*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.
D1203–94 (2003)
NOTE 4—Only specimens of the same composition or formulation shall
5.5 Metal Cages (for Test Method B)—Wire cages con-
be tested in a single container, because of the possibility of cross-
structed from approximately 30-mesh bronze gauze, in cylin-
migration between varying compositions.
drical form, having a diameter of 60 mm and a height of 6 mm,
formed by soldering a strip of gauze at right angles to the
9.3 Place the container upright in the oven or bath. Unless
periphery of a disk of bronze gauze. One of the bases acts as a
otherwise specified, the temperature of the oven or bath shall
lid.
be 70 6 1°C and the duration of the test 24 h.
9.4 Attheendofthe24-hperiod,removethecontainerfrom
6. Material
the oven or bath. Then, within 1 h, remove the specimens from
6.1 Activated Carbon, ⁄14 Mesh—It has been found that
the container, brush free of carbon, and recondition in accor-
different types and grades of activated carbon give differing
dance with Section 8.
results, thus making it necessary for the purchaser and the
9.5 After reconditioning, reweigh the specimens and desig-
seller to agree on the same type and grade in order to obtain
natethisweightas W .Weightofindividualspecimensshallbe
concordantresults.Careshouldbetakenthatanairtightstorage
within a tolerance of 610 %.
container is used for the activated carbon and that fresh
material is used for each test, unless it can be shown that reuse
10. Procedure—Test Method B, Wire Cage
does not affect the results. The activated carbon shall be
10.1 Proceed as in Section 9 (Test MethodA), except place
screened through a 14-mesh screen immediately prior to use to
every individual specimen in a small metal wire-mesh cage
eliminate fines.
constructed as indicated in 5.5, and maintain the temperature at
7. Test Specimens
100 6 1°C.
7.1 The test specimens shall be 50 mm diameter disks made
NOTE 5—If other conditions of test are desired, they may be employed,
of the plastic material to be tested. Three specimens of each
but shall be specified in the report.
formulation shall be tested.
7.2 Thickness of the test specimens shall be 0.25 6 0.025
11. Calculation
mm.
11.1 Calculate the volatile loss, expressed as percent weight
NOTE 3—If other thicknesses are desired due to purchase specifications
loss based on the original specimen weight, a
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