ASTM D1895-96

Standard Test Methods for Apparent Density, Bulk Factor, and Pourability of Plastic Materials

SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the measurement of apparent density, bulk factor, and where applicable, the pourability of plastic materials such as molding powders. Different procedures are given for application to the various forms of these materials that are commonly encountered, from fine powders and granules to large flakes and cut fibers.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address 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- Test Method A is equivalent to ISO Method R 60 as described in the appendix. Test Method C is identical with ISO Method R 61.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Apr-1996
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.70 - Analytical Methods

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D1895-96(2003) - Standard Test Methods for Apparent Density, Bulk Factor, and Pourability of Plastic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4894-19 - Standard Specification for Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Granular Molding and Ram Extrusion Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1996
• Referred By: ASTM D1755-21 - Standard Specification for Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Resins
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1996
• Referred By: ASTM D4020-18 - Standard Specification for Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Molding and Extrusion Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1996
• Referred By: ASTM D3451-06(2017) - Standard Guide for Testing Coating Powders and Powder Coatings
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1996
• Referred By: ASTM D4895-18(2023) - Standard Specification for Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Resin Produced From Dispersion
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1996
• Referred By: ASTM D704-99(2020) - Standard Specification for Melamine-Formaldehyde Molding Compounds
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1996
• Referred By: ASTM D6881/D6881M-03(2020) - Standard Classification for Standard Plastics Industry Bulk Box/Pallet Unit Size Classified By Bulk Density
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-1996

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.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 1895 – 96
Standard Test Methods for
Apparent Density, Bulk Factor, and Pourability of Plastic
Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1895; 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 3.1.1 apparent density—the weight per unit volume of a
material, including voids inherent in the material as tested.
1.1 These test methods cover the measurement of apparent
3.1.1.1 The term bulk density is commonly used for mate-
density, bulk factor, and where applicable, the pourability of
rials such as molding powder.
plastic materials such as molding powders. Different proce-
3.1.2 bulk factor—the ratio of the volume of any given
dures are given for application to the various forms of these
quantity of the loose plastic material to the volume of the same
materials that are commonly encountered, from fine powders
quantity of the material after molding or forming. The bulk
and granules to large flakes and cut fibers.
factor is also equal to the ratio of the density after molding or
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
forming to the apparent density of the material as received.
standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.
3.1.3 pourability—a measure of the time required for a
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
standard quantity of material to flow through a funnel of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
specified dimensions.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4. Significance and Use
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.1 These test methods provide useful indexes of perfor-
NOTE 1—Test Method A is equivalent to ISO Method R 60 as described
mance of plastic materials such as powders and granules with
in the appendix. Test Method C is identical with ISO Method R 61.
respect to their handling in packaging and fabrication.
4.2 Apparent density is a measure of the fluffiness of a
2. Referenced Documents
material.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.3 Bulk factor is a measure of volume change that may be
D 792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
expected in fabrication.
tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
4.4 Pourability characterizes the handling properties of a
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
finely divided plastic material. It is a measure of the readiness
D 1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by Density-
with which such materials will flow through hoppers and feed
Gradient Technique
tubes and deliver uniform weights of material.
2.2 ISO Standards:
R60 Determination of Apparent Density of Molding Mate-
APPARENT DENSITY
rials that Can be Poured from a Specified Funnel
Test Method A
R61 Determination of Apparent Density of Molding Mate-
5. Scope
rial that Cannot be Poured from a Specified Funnel
5.1 Test Method A (see Note 1) covers the measurement of
3. Terminology
the apparent density of the fine granules and powders that can
3.1 Definitions:
be poured readily through a small funnel.
6. Apparatus
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on
Plastics and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.70 on Analytical 6.1 Measuring Cup—A cylindrical cup of 100 6 0.5-cm
Methods (Section D20.70.01).
capacity, having a diameter equal to half the height, for
Current edition approved April 10, 1996. Published July 1996. Originally
example, 39.9-mm (1.572-in.) inside diameter by 79.8-mm
published as D 1895 – 61. Last previous edition D 1895 – 89 (1990).
(3.144-in.) inside height, as shown in Fig. 1.
This edition includes the addition of an extensive ISO equivalency statement and
keywords section.
6.2 Funnel, having a 9.5-mm diameter opening at the
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
bottom, and mounted at a height 38 mm above the measuring
Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
cup, as shown in Fig. 1.
Floor, New York, NY 10036.
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 1895
FIG. 2 Apparatus for Apparent Density Test, Method B
FIG. 1 Apparatus for Apparent Density Test, Method A
9.2 Funnel, having a 25.4-mm (1-in.) diameter opening at
7. Procedure
the bottom, and mounted at a height 38 mm (1.5 in.) above the
7.1 With the apparatus assembled as shown in Fig. 1, close
measuring cup, as shown in Fig. 2.
the small end of the funnel with the hand or with a suitable flat
3 NOTE 4—Finely divided powders may collect electrostatic charges
strip and pour a 115 6 5-cm sample into the funnel. Open the
which, if present at the time of measurement, may result in variable
bottom of the funnel quickly and allow the material to flow
apparent density values. Carbon black is a material that may be premixed
freely into the cup. If caking occurs in the funnel, the material
with the sample at concentrations of 0.05 to 0.2 weight percent to reduce
may be loosened with a small glass rod. this variability (Superba Black with a bulk density of about 8 lb/ft has
been found satisfactory for some materials).
7.2 After all the material has passed through the funnel,
immediately scrape off the excess on the top of the cup with a
10. Procedure
straightedge without shaking the cup. Weigh the material in the
10.1 With the apparatus assembled as shown in Fig. 2, close
cup to the nearest 0.1 g. Calculate the weight in grams of 1 cm
the small end of the funnel with the hand or with a suitable flat
of the material.
strip and pour a 500 6 20-cm sample into the funnel. Open the
NOTE 2—To convert grams per cubic centimetre to ounces per cubic
bottom of the funnel quickly and allow the material to flow
inch, multiply by 0.578. To convert to grams per cubic inch multiply by
freely into the cup.
16.39. To convert grams per cubic centimetre to pounds per cubic foot,
multiply by 62.43.
NOTE 5—The funnel described in Test Method B is also used for more
NOTE 3—Apparent density figures are not comparable except on
finely divided powders such as vinyl resins. While these powders usually
materials having the same specific gravity after molding or forming. 3
will pour through this funnel, they may bridge in the 400-cm cup shown
in Fig. 2. To avoid this, the 100-cm cup shown in Fig. 1 may be
7.3 Very fine materials that will bridge and not flow through
substituted, and the sample reduced to 115 6 5cm .
the funnel may be poured lightly from a paper held approxi-
mately 38 mm (1.5 in.) above the opening of the measuring 10.2 After all the material has passed through the funnel,
cup. immediately scrape off the excess on the top of the cup with a
straightedge without shaking the cup. Weigh the material in the
Test Method B
cup to the nearest 0.1 g; then calculate the weight in grams of
8. Scope
1cm of the material. Make three determinations of the
apparent density on each sample and average the results (Note
8.1 Test Method B covers the measurement of the apparent
density of coarse, granular materials, including dice and 2).
pellets, that either cannot be poured or that pour with difficulty
Test Method C
through the funnel described in Test Method A.
9. Apparatus 11. Scope
9.1 Measuring Cup—A cylindrical cup of 400-cm capacity, 11.1 Test Method C (see Note 1) covers the measurement of
as shown in Fig. 2. the apparent density of materials supplied in the form of coarse
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 1895
A
TABLE 1 Precision and Bias Data
flakes, chips, cut fibers, or strands. Such materials cannot be
poured through the funnels described in Test Methods A and B. Material Average S S I I V V
r R r R r R
Also, since they ordinarily are very bulky when loosely poured
A 0.5372 0.0023 0.0256 0.0065 0.0724 0.43 4.77
B 0.7342 0.0026 0.0377 0.0074 0.1067 0.35 5.14
and since they usually are compressible to a lesser bulk, even
C 0.6191 0.0026 0.0230 0.0074 0.0651 0.42 3.71
by hand, a measure of their density under a small load is
D 0.7314 0.0029 0.0342 0.0082 0.0968 0.39 4.67
appropriate and useful.
E 0.8766 0.0054 0.0302 0.0153 0.0855 0.62 3.44
F 0.7819 0.0009 0.0165 0.0025 0.0467 0.11 2.11
12. Apparatus
G 0.6092 0.0018 0.0112 0.0051 0.0317 0.30 1.83
H 0.7975 0.
...