ASTM D2583-95

Standard Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Rigid Plastics by Means of a Barcol Impressor

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of indentation hardness of both reinforced and nonreinforced rigid plastics using a Barcol Impressor, Model No. 934-1 and Model No. 935.  
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 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—There is currently no ISO standard that duplicates this test method.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Oct-2001
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.10 - Mechanical Properties

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D2583-95(2001)e1 - Standard Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Rigid Plastics by Means of a Barcol Impressor
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM C582-23 - Standard Specification for Contact-Molded Reinforced Thermosetting Plastic (RTP) Laminates for Corrosion-Resistant Equipment
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D6465-99(2016) - Standard Guide for Selecting Aerospace and General Purpose Adhesives and Sealants
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D7745-19 - Standard Practice for Testing Pultruded Composites
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D5364-14(2019) - Standard Guide for Design, Fabrication, and Erection of Fiberglass Reinforced (FRP) Plastic Chimney Liners with Coal-Fired Units
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D4097-19 - Standard Specification for Contact-Molded Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Thermoset Resin Corrosion-Resistant Tanks
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D5498-12a(2018) - Standard Guide for Developing a Training Program for Personnel Performing Coating and Lining Work Inspection for Nuclear Facilities
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM C1355/C1355M-96(2020) - Standard Specification for Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum Composites
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D3753-20 - Standard Specification for Fiberglass (Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Thermosetting-Resin) Manholes and Wetwells
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D4762-18 - Standard Guide for Testing Polymer Matrix Composite Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM C581-20 - Standard Practice for Determining Chemical Resistance of Thermosetting Resins Used in Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Structures Intended for Liquid Service
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D4800-94(2023) - Standard Guide for Classifying and Specifying Adhesives
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D3982-21 - Standard Specification for Contact Molded “Fiberglass” (Glass Fiber Reinforced Thermosetting Resin) Ducts
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM F790-23 - Standard Guide for Testing Materials for Aerospace Plastic Transparent Enclosures
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001
• Referred By: ASTM D7230-06(2021) - Standard Guide for Evaluating Polymeric Lining Systems for Water Immersion in Coating Service Level III Safety-Related Applications on Metal Substrates
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 2583 – 95 An American National Standard
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Test Method for
Indentation Hardness of Rigid Plastics by Means of a Barcol
Impressor
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2583; 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 5. Significance and Use
1.1 This test method covers the determination of indentation 5.1 The Barcol Impressor is portable and therefore suitable
hardness of both reinforced and nonreinforced rigid plastics for testing the hardness of fabricated parts and individual test
using a Barcol Impressor, Model No. 934-1 and Model No. specimens for production control purposes.
935. 5.2 For many materials, there may be a specification that
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the requires the use of this test method, but with some procedural
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information modifications that take precedence when adhering to the
only. specification. Therefore, it is advisable to refer to that material
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the specification before using this test method. Table 1 of Classi-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the fication System D 4000 lists the ASTM materials standards that
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- currently exist.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
6. Apparatus (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2)
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
6.1 Indentor—The indentor shall consist of a hardened steel
NOTE 1—There is currently no ISO standard that duplicates this test
truncated cone having an angle of 26° with a flat tip of 0.157
method.
mm (0.0062 in.) in diameter. It shall fit into a hollow spindle
2. Referenced Documents and be held down by a spring-loaded plunger. See Fig. 2.
6.2 Indicating Device—The indicating dial shall have 100
2.1 ASTM Standards:
divisions, each representing a depth of 0.0076-mm (0.0003-in.)
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical
2 penetration. The higher the reading the harder the material.
Insulating Materials for Testing
6.3 Calibration Standards—“Hard” and “soft” aluminum
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
alloy disks supplied by the manufacturer of the instrument.
D 4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Mate-
Other disks should not be used, even if they are of the same
rials
3 alloy and temper as the manufacturer’s disks, as the hardness
D 4805 Terminology of Plastics Standards
of aluminum may vary within any given alloy-temper param-
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
4 eter.
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
6.4 A smooth glass plate is also needed.
3. Terminology
7. Test Specimens
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of technical terms pertain-
7.1 The testing area shall be smooth and free from mechani-
ing to plastics used in this test method, see Terminology D 883
cal damage.
or Terminology D 4805.
7.2 Dimensions—Test specimens shall be at least 1.5 mm
4. Summary of Test Method ( ⁄16 in.) thick and large enough to ensure a minimum distance
of3mm( ⁄8 in.) in any direction from the indentor point to the
4.1 Model No. 934-1 is used for measuring harder materials
edge of the specimen.
and Model No. 935 is used for measuring softer materials.
8. Preparation and Operation of Apparatus
8.1 The preparation and operation of Models 934-1 and 935
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.10 on Mechanical Properties. are identical. Place the impressor and the material to be tested
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1995. Published December 1995. Originally
(or the calibration disk) on a solidly supported, flat, hard, firm
published as D 2583 – 67. Last previous edition D 2583 – 93.
surface such as stone, metal, or ceramic. If softer supporting
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
surfaces are used, a falsely low instrument reading may occur.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.03.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
D 2583
TABLE 1 Recommended Sample Sizes to Equalize the Variance
in or out to obtain a 100 reading. Next, read the “hard”
of the Average for Model No. 934-1
aluminum alloy disk supplied by the manufacturer of the
Homogeneous Material
impressor and, if necessary, adjust so that the reading is within
Hardness Reading Coeffi- Variance Minimum
the range marked on the disk. Then do the same with the “soft”
M-934 Variance cient of of Number of
disk. If these readings cannot be obtained, subsequent mea-
Scale Varia- Average Readings
surements are not valid.
tion, %
20 2.47 2.6 0.27 9
10. Conditioning
30 2.20 1.7 0.28 8
40 1.93 1.3 0.27 7
10.1 Conditioning—Condition the test specimens at 23 6
50 1.66 1.1 0.28 6
2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F) and 50 6 5 % relative humidity for not less
60 1.39 0.9 0.28 5
than 40 h prior to test in accordance with Procedure A of
70 1.12 0.8 0.28 4
80 0.85 0.7 0.28 3
Practice D 618, for those tests where conditioning is required.
Nonhomogeneous Material In cases of disagreement, the tolerances shall be 61°C
(Reinforced Plastics)
(61.8°F) and 62 % relative humidity.
30 22.4 2.9 0.77 29
10.2 Test Conditions—Conduct tests in the standard labora-
40 17.2 2.2 0.78 22
tory atmosphere of 23 6 2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F) and 50 6 5%
50 12.0 1.7 0.75 16
relative humidity, unless otherwise specified in the test meth-
60 7.8 1.5 0.78 10
70 3.6 1.2 0.75 5
ods or in this test method. In cases of disagreement, the
tolerances shall be 61°C (61.8°F) and 62 % relative humid-
ity.
11. Procedure
11.1 Observing the precautions of Section 8, make measure-
ments on the specimens to be tested (Note 4). Impressions
should not be made within 3 mm ( ⁄8 in.) of the edge of the
specimen or of other impressions.
NOTE 4—Curved surfaces may be more difficult to support. When the
load is applied, bending and spring action in the specimen should be
avoided.
12. Number of Readings
12.1 Application of the Barcol Impressor to reinforced
plastic (nonhomogeneous) materials will produce greater
...