ASTM D792-20

Standard Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The specific gravity or density of a solid is a property that is conveniently measured to identify a material, to follow physical changes in a sample, to indicate degree of uniformity among different sampling units or specimens, or to indicate the average density of a large item.  
5.2 Changes in density of a single material are due to localized differences in crystallinity, loss of plasticizer, absorption of solvent, or to other causes. It is possible that portions of a sample differ in density because of their differences in crystallinity, thermal history, porosity, and composition (types or proportions of resin, plasticizer, pigment, or filler).  
5.3 Density is useful for calculating strength-weight and cost-weight ratios.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods describe the determination of the specific gravity (relative density) and density of solid plastics in forms such as sheets, rods, tubes, or molded items.  
1.2 Two test methods are described:  
1.2.1 Test Method A—For testing solid plastics in water, and  
1.2.2 Test Method B—For testing solid plastics in liquids other than water.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.  
1.4 Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous substance that can cause serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Use caution when handling mercury and mercury-containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for additional information. The potential exists that selling mercury or mercury-containing products, or both, is prohibited by local or national law. Users must determine legality of sales in their location.  
1.5 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Note 1: This standard is not equivalent to ISO 1183–1 Method A. This test method provides more guidelines on sample weight and dimension. ISO 1183-1 allows testing at an additional temperature of 27 ± 2°C.  
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2020
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.70 - Analytical Methods

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:D792 −20
Standard Test Methods for
Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics
1
by Displacement
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D792; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber 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 U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.1 These test methods describe the determination of the
specific gravity (relative density) and density of solid plastics
2. Referenced Documents
in forms such as sheets, rods, tubes, or molded items.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 Two test methods are described:
D618Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
1.2.1 Test Method A—Fortestingsolidplasticsinwater,and
D891TestMethodsforSpecificGravity,Apparent,ofLiquid
1.2.2 Test Method B—For testing solid plastics in liquids
Industrial Chemicals
other than water.
D4968Practice for Annual Review of Test Methods and
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the Specifications for Plastics
D6436Guide for Reporting Properties for Plastics and
standard.
Thermoplastic Elastomers
1.4 Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regu-
E12Terminology Relating to Density and Specific Gravity
latory agencies as a hazardous substance that can cause
3
of Solids, Liquids, and Gases (Withdrawn 1996)
serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been
E456Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
materials. Use caution when handling mercury and mercury-
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data
E2251Specification for Liquid-in-Glass ASTM Thermom-
Sheet (SDS) for additional information. The potential exists
eters with Low-Hazard Precision Liquids
that selling mercury or mercury-containing products, or both,
E2935 Practice for Conducting Equivalence Testing in
is prohibited by local or national law. Users must determine
Laboratory Applications
legality of sales in their location.
IEEE/ASTM SI-10Practice for Use of the International
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
System of Units (SI) (the Modernized Metric System)
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3. Terminology
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1 General—The units, symbols, and abbreviations used in
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
these test methods are in accordance with IEEE/ASTM SI-10.
NOTE1—ThisstandardisnotequivalenttoISO1183–1MethodA.This 3.1.1 Fortermsrelatingtoprecisionandbiasandassociated
test method provides more guidelines on sample weight and dimension.
issues, the terms used in this test method are in accordance
ISO 1183-1 allows testing at an additional temperature of 27 6 2°C.
with the definitions in Terminology E456.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.2 Definitions:
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.2.1 specific gravity (relative density)—the ratio of the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
mass of a given volume of the impermeable portion of the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
material at 23°C to the mass of an equal volume of gas-free
1 2
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Plastics and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.70 on Analytical contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Methods (Section D20.70.01). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
CurrenteditionapprovedJuly1,2020.PublishedJuly2020.Originallyapproved the ASTM website.
3
in 1944. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D792-13. DOI: 10.1520/ The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
D0792-20. www.astm.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
1

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D792−20
distilled or de-mineralized water at the same te
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D792 − 13 D792 − 20
Standard Test Methods for
Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics
1
by Displacement
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D792; 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 U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 These test methods describe the determination of the specific gravity (relative density) and density of solid plastics in forms
such as sheets, rods, tubes, or molded items.
1.2 Two test methods are described:
1.2.1 Test Method A—For testing solid plastics in water, and
1.2.2 Test Method B—For testing solid plastics in liquids other than water.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.4 Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous substance that can cause serious
medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Use caution
when handling mercury and mercury-containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for additional
information. The potential exists that selling mercury or mercury-containing products, or both, is prohibited by local or national
law. Users must determine legality of sales in their location.
1.5 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
NOTE 1—This standard is not equivalent to ISO 1183–1 Method A. This test method provides more guidelines on sample weight and dimension. ISO
1183-1 allows testing at an additional temperature of 27 6 2°C.
NOTE 1—This standard is not equivalent to ISO 1183–1 Method A. This test method provides more guidelines on sample weight and dimension. ISO
1183-1 allows testing at an additional temperature of 27 6 2°C.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D891 Test Methods for Specific Gravity, Apparent, of Liquid Industrial Chemicals
D4968 Practice for Annual Review of Test Methods and Specifications for Plastics
D6436 Guide for Reporting Properties for Plastics and Thermoplastic Elastomers
E1 Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers
3
E12 Terminology Relating to Density and Specific Gravity of Solids, Liquids, and Gases (Withdrawn 1996)
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.70 on Analytical Methods
(Section D20.70.01).
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2013July 1, 2020. Published November 2013July 2020. Originally approved in 1944. Last previous edition approved in 20082013 as
D792 - 08.D792 - 13. DOI: 10.1520/D0792-13.10.1520/D0792-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.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
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D792 − 20
E2251 Specification for Liquid-in-Glass ASTM Thermometers with Low-Hazard Precision Liquids
E2935 Practice for Conducting Equivalence Testing in Laboratory Applications
IEEE/ASTM SI-10 Practice for Use of the International System of Units (SI) (the Modernized Metric System)
3. Terminology
3.1 General—The
...