ASTM D2103-97

Standard Specification for Polyethylene Film and Sheeting

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the classification of polyethylene film and sheeting up to 0.3 mm (0.012 in.) in thickness, inclusive. The film or sheeting may contain additives for the improvement of the surface properties, pigments, or stabilizers, or all three.  
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 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 8, of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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.>

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Apr-1997
• ICS: 83.140.10 - Films and sheets
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.19 - Film, Sheeting, and Molded Products

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D2103-03 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Film and Sheeting
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4397-16 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting for Construction, Industrial, and Agricultural Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D5748-95(2019) - Standard Test Method for Protrusion Puncture Resistance of Stretch Wrap Film
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D5459-95(2020) - Standard Test Method for Machine Direction Elastic Recovery and Permanent Deformation and Stress Retention of Stretch Wrap Film
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D3981-09a(2016) - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Films Made from Medium-Density Polyethylene for General Use and Packaging Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D4801-08(2016) - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting in Thickness of 0.25 mm (0.010 in.) and Greater
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D4649-20 - Standard Guide for Use of Stretch Films and Wrapping Application
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D4635-16 - Standard Specification for Plastic Films Made from Low-Density Polyethylene and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene for General Use and Packaging Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1997

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.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.
Designation: D 2103 – 97
Standard Specification for
Polyethylene Film and Sheeting
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2103; 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 * of Transparent Plastics
D 1434 Test Method for Determining Gas Permeability
1.1 This specification covers the classification of polyethyl-
Characteristics of Plastic Film and Sheeting to Gases
ene film and sheeting up to 0.3 mm (0.012 in.) in thickness,
D 1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-
inclusive. The film or sheeting may contain additives for the
Gradient Technique
improvement of the surface properties, pigments, or stabilizers,
D 1709 Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Polyethyl-
or all three.
ene Film by the Free Falling Dart Method
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
D 1746 Test Method for Transparency of Plastic Sheeting
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
D 1893 Test Method for Blocking of Plastic Film
only.
D 1894 Test Method for Static and Kinetic Coefficients of
1.3 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the
Friction of Plastic Film and Sheeting
test method portion, Section 8, of this specification: This
D 1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
D 1922 Test Method for Propagation Tear Resistance of
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting by Pendulum Method
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
D 1938 Test Method for Tear Propagation Resistance of
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
Plastic Film and Thin Sheeting by a Single-Tear Method
tions prior to use.
D 2457 Test Method for Specular Gloss of Plastic Films
1.4 This specification allows for the use of recycled poly-
D 2578 Test Method for Wetting Tension of Polyethylene
ethylene film or resin as feedstock, in whole or in part, as long
and Polypropylene Films
as all the requirements as governed by the producer and end
D 2839 Practice for the Use of a Melt Index Strand for
user are also met (see Note 1).
Determining Density of Polyethylene
NOTE 1—Guide D 5033 describes terminology and definitions related 5
D 3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
to recycled plastics.
D 4321 Test Method for Package Yield of Plastic Film
NOTE 2—There is no known ISO equivalent to this specification.
D 4976 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and
Extrusion Materials
2. Referenced Documents
D 5033 Guide for the Development of Standards Relating to
2.1 ASTM Standards:
the Proper Use of Recycled Plastics
D 374 Test Methods for Thickness of Solid Electrical Insu-
E 96 Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Mate-
lation
rials in Sheet Form
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical
2.2 NIST Standard:
Insulating Materials for Testing
National Institute of Standards and Technology Circular
D 882 Test Methods for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
585 Measurement of Thickness
Sheeting
2.3 Military Standard:
D 1003 Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics and
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.94 on Government/Industry
Standardization.
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1996. Published January 1997. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 09.01.
published as D 1999 – 91. Last previous edition D 1999 – 96. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.
A title change was the subject of this revision. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.02.
2 7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.03.
3 8
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03.
*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.
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.
D 2103
MIL-STD-105 Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspec-
tion by Attributes
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 ethylene plastics—plastics based on polymers made
with ethylene as the sole monomer.
3.1.2 polyethylene plastics—plastics based on polymers of
ethylene or copolymers of ethylene and other monomers, the
ethylene being the greatest amount by mass.
3.1.3 treated—modification of the surface characteristics of
the sheet or film by flame, corona discharge, or other means to
promote the adhesion of inks, etc.
4. Classification
4.1 The film and sheeting covered in this specification shall
be designated by a type number, composed by listing the
desired cell limit for each of the five properties, in the order
shown in Table 1.
NOTE 3—Examples of this classification system are as follows:
With this type of classification it is possible to assemble on paper a combination
of properties that is impossible to obtain with the present state of technology. A
purchaser wishing to use this specification for the first time will probably find it
necessary to contact material suppliers to learn what materials are commercially
available. After establishing which available material meets his requirements, the
purchaser may, from then on, specify the material by the appropriate type num-
ber.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electro-
technical Commission (IEC) standards are available from ANSI, 11 West 42nd St.,
4.2 In cases where surface treatment is specified by the
13th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
purchaser, the test method must be agreed upon between the
purchaser and the seller. The recommended test to measure the
degree of surface treatment is Test Method D 2578.
5. General Requirements
5.1 Appearance—The material shall have appearance quali-
ties conforming with those produced by good commercial
practice. It shall be as free as commercially possible of gels,
streaks, pinholes, particles of foreign matter, and undispersed
raw material. There shall be no other visible defects such as
holes, tears, or blisters. The edges shall be free of nicks and
cuts visible to the unaided eye. There shall be no visible
evidence of damage from shipping.
5.2 Thickness Tolerances——The point-to-point thickness
tolerances of the film or sheeting covered in this specification
TABLE 1 Type Numbers
Property
Order Property 0 1 2 3 4 5 Units
Number
A 3
1 Density unspecified 0.910–<0.926 0.926–<0.941 0.941–0.965 <0.910 . g/cm
B
2 Impact strength unspecified <40 40–70 71–150 151–300 >300 g
3 Coefficient of friction unspecified <0.20 0.20–0.40 0.41–0.70 >0.70 . .
4 Haze unspecified <5.0 5.0–9.0 >9.0 . . .
CD E F G
5 Nominal thickness unspecified mm (in.)
A
Annealed density of molded plaques or Melt Index extrudates.
B
F50 (Results of a recent round robin have shown the equivalency of these two procedures.)
C
<0.0254 (<0.0010).
D
0.0254–<0.0508 (0.0010–<0.0020)
E
0.0508–<0.1016 (0.0020–<0.0040)
F
0.1016–<0.1778 (0.0040–<0.0070)
G
0.1778–#0.3048 (0.0070–#0.0120)
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.
D 2103
Hence, impact values expressed in grams cannot be normalized over a
shall be nominal 620 %.
range of thicknesses without producing misleading data as to the actual
5.3 Yield Tolerances—The actual yield of film or sheeting
impact resistance of the material. Data from these methods are comparable
covered in this specification shall be within the tolerance limits
only for comparing specimens that vary in thickness by no more than
of the nominal yield as prescribed in Table 2. In cases where
625 % from the nominal or average thickness of the specimens tested.
each roll, blanket, or unit of production is packaged and
8.5 Coeffıcient of Friction, Kinetic—Determine the kine
...