ASTM D4976-02

Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials

SCOPE
1.1 This specification provides for the identification of polyethylene plastics molding and extrusion materials in such a manner that the supplier and the user can agree on the acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments. The tests involved in this specification are intended to provide information for identifying materials according to the groups, classes, and grades covered. It is not the function of this specification to provide specific engineering data for design purposes.
1.2 Other requirements may be necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications. These shall be agreed upon between the user and the supplier, by using the suffixes given in Section 1.3.
1.3 Ethylene plastic materials, being thermoplastic, are reprocessable and recyclable (see Note 1). This specification allows for the use of those ethylene plastic materials, provided that any specific requirements as governed by the producer and the end user are met.
Note 1—See Guide D 5033 for information and definitions related to recycled plastics.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as the standard.
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains to the test method portion only, Section 12, of this specification. 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.
1.6 For information regarding plastic pipe materials see Specification D3350. For information regarding wire and cable materials, see Specification D1248.
Note 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Dec-2002
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.15 - Thermoplastic Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4976-00b - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Replaced By: ASTM D4976-02e1 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D3350-21 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fittings Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D2103-15 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Film and Sheeting
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D1248-16 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion Materials for Wire and Cable
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4000-23 - Standard Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D2684/D2684M-15 - Standard Test Method for Permeability of Thermoplastic Containers to Packaged Reagents or Proprietary Products
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4883-18 - Standard Test Method for Density of Polyethylene by the Ultrasound Technique
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• 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-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D955-21 - Standard Test Method of Measuring Shrinkage from Mold Dimensions of Thermoplastics
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM A674-22 - Standard Practice for Polyethylene Encasement for Ductile Iron Pipe
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4397-16 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting for Construction, Industrial, and Agricultural Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D2561-17 - Standard Test Method for Environmental Stress-Crack Resistance of Blow-Molded Polyethylene Containers
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D7436-17 - Standard Classification System for Unfilled Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials with a Fractional Melt Index Using ISO Protocol and Methodology
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D1693-21 - Standard Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of Ethylene Plastics
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002

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: D 4976 – 02
Standard Specification for
1
Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4976; 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.
INTRODUCTION
This specification is not intended for the selection of materials, but only as a means to call out
plastic materials to be used for the manufacture of parts. The selection of these materials is to be made
by personnel with expertise in the plastics field where the environment, inherent properties of the
materials, performance of the parts, part design, manufacturing process, and economics are
considered. This specification does not specify the source of the resin to be used for the fabrication
of any given article.
1. Scope * of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
1.1 This specification provides for the identification of
tions prior to use.
polyethylene plastics molding and extrusion materials in such
1.6 For information regarding plastic pipe materials see
a manner that the supplier and the user can agree on the
Specification D 3350. For information regarding wire and
acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments. The
cable materials, see Specification D 1248.
tests involved in this specification are intended to provide
information for identifying materials according to the groups,
NOTE 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
classes, and grades covered. It is not the function of this
2. Referenced Documents
specification to provide specific engineering data for design
purposes.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 Other requirements may be necessary to identify par-
D 257 Test Methods for D-C Resistance or Conductance of
2
ticular characteristics important to specialized applications.
Insulating Materials
These shall be agreed upon between the user and the supplier,
D 568 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
3
by using the suffixes given in Section 1.3.
Time of Burning of Flexible Plastics in a Vertical Position
1.3 Ethylene plastic materials, being thermoplastic, are
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical
4
reprocessable and recyclable (see Note 1). This specification
Insulating Materials for Testing
allows for the use of those ethylene plastic materials, provided
D 635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
that any specific requirements as governed by the producer and
Time of Burning of Self-Supporting Plastics in a Horizon-
4
the end user are met.
tal Position
4
D 638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
NOTE 1—See Guide D 5033 for information and definitions related to
D 790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced
recycled plastics.
and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materi-
1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as the
4
als
standard.
D 792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains to the test
4
tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
method portion only, Section 12, of this specification. This
4
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
D 1238 Test Method for Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
4
Extrusion Plastometer
D 1248 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic
2
Materials, Section D20.15.01 on Ethylene Plastics. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.01.
3
Current edition approved December 10, 2002. Published February 2003. Origi- Discontinued. See the 1991 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
4
nally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D 4976 – 00b. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
*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.
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D 4976 – 02
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Extrusion Materials 2.3 DOT Standard:
D 1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302, Flammability
4
12
Gradient Technique
of Interior Materials
D 1531 Test Methods for Relative Permittivity (Dielectric
Constant) and Dissipation Factor by Fluid Displacement
3. Terminology
2
Procedures
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of technical terms p
...