ASTM D3981-03
(Specification)Standard Specification for Polyethylene Films Made from Medium-Density Polyethylene for General Use and Packaging Applications
Standard Specification for Polyethylene Films Made from Medium-Density Polyethylene for General Use and Packaging Applications
ABSTRACT
This specification covers unpigmented, unsupported, sheet or tubular, medium-density polyethylene films intended for general uses and packaging applications. The film shall be made from homopolymer polyethylene, copolymer polyethylene commonly referred to as low-pressure polyethylene, or blends of homopolymers and copolymers that include ethylene/vinyl-acetate copolymers. The specimens shall be conditioned before testing in the standard laboratory temperature. Tests shall be conducted to determine the physical properties of the specimens which shall conform to the following physical requirements: secant modulus or stiffness; kinetic coefficient of friction; optical properties such as clarity, gloss, and haze; surface treatment level or wetting tension; impact resistance; tensile strength and elongation at break; heat sealability; and odor level.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers unpigmented, unsupported, sheet or tubular, medium-density polyethylene films (here-after referred to as film or films) from resins having densities in the range from 926.0 to 938.0 kg/m³ (0.926 to 0.938 g/cm³), inclusive, as measured on molded plaques.
1.2 This specification is applicable to homopolymer polyethylene but is not restricted to it.
1.3 This specification is also applicable to films made from copolymer polyethylene commonly referred to in industry as low-pressure polyethylene.
1.4 This specification is also applicable to films made from blends of homopolymers and copolymers, including ethylene/vinyl-acetate copolymers.
1.5 This specification allows for the use of recycled polyethylene film or resin as feedstock, in whole or in part, as long as all the requirements of this specification are met and as long as any specific requirements as governed by the producer and end user are also met (see Note 1).
Note 1—Guide D 5033 contains terminology and definitions relating to recycled plastics.
1.6 Special care must be exercised if this specification is applied to colored or pigmented films. This specification does not address specific problems associated with coloring, such as, quantity and quality of pigment dispersion, optical properties, and increase in density. These and other areas must be taken into account by mutual agreement between the supplier and the purchaser.
1.7 The thickness of the films covered by this specification range from 25 to 100 m [0.001 to 0.004 in.], inclusive. The maximum width of the sheet or lay-flat is 3.05 m [120 in.].
1.8 This specification does not cover oriented heat-shrinkable films.
1.9 This specification defines the levels of various physical properties from which specifications for specific films are to be described. The levels of physical properties required by a film for a given application are selected from Section and the corresponding tables. However, Sections 7.2-7.5 relating to tolerances shall apply without change to all film falling within the scope indicated by the title and 1.1-1.4.
1.10 This specification covers dimensional tolerances, classification, intrinsic quality requirements, and test methods. The dimensional tolerances include thickness, width, and length or yield. Classification defines types, classes, surfaces, and finishes. The intrinsic quality requirements include density, workmanship, impact strength, tensile strength, heat sealability, and odor, as well as the classification properties for stiffness, coefficient of friction, optical properties, and surface treatment. A sampling method is included.
1.11 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values in brackets are given for information only.
1.12 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 10, 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 de...
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Designation: D 3981 – 03
Standard Specification for
Polyethylene Films Made from Medium-Density Polyethylene
1
for General Use and Packaging Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3981; 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.
1. Scope* for a given application are selected from Section 6 and the
corresponding tables. However, Sections 7.2-7.5 relating to
1.1 This specification covers unpigmented, unsupported,
tolerances shall apply without change to all film falling within
sheetortubular,medium-densitypolyethylenefilms(here-after
the scope indicated by the title and 1.1-1.4.
referred to as film or films) from resins having densities in the
3 3
1.10 This specification covers dimensional tolerances, clas-
range from 926.0 to 938.0 kg/m (0.926 to 0.938 g/cm ),
sification, intrinsic quality requirements, and test methods.The
inclusive, as measured on molded plaques.
dimensional tolerances include thickness, width, and length or
1.2 This specification is applicable to homopolymer poly-
yield. Classification defines types, classes, surfaces, and fin-
ethylene but is not restricted to it.
ishes.The intrinsic quality requirements include density, work-
1.3 This specification is also applicable to films made from
manship, impact strength, tensile strength, heat sealability, and
copolymer polyethylene commonly referred to in industry as
odor, as well as the classification properties for stiffness,
low-pressure polyethylene.
coefficient of friction, optical properties, and surface treatment.
1.4 This specification is also applicable to films made from
A sampling method is included.
blends of homopolymers and copolymers, including ethylene/
1.11 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
vinyl-acetate copolymers.
standard.Thevaluesinbracketsaregivenforinformationonly.
1.5 This specification allows for the use of recycled poly-
1.12 Thefollowingprecautionarycaveatpertainsonlytothe
ethylene film or resin as feedstock, in whole or in part, as long
test methods portion, Section 10, of this specification: This
as all the requirements of this specification are met and as long
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
as any specific requirements as governed by the producer and
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
end user are also met (see Note 1).
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
NOTE 1—Guide D 5033 contains terminology and definitions relating
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
to recycled plastics.
tions prior to use.
1.6 Special care must be exercised if this specification is
NOTE 2—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
applied to colored or pigmented films. This specification does
notaddressspecificproblemsassociatedwithcoloring,suchas,
2. Referenced Documents
quantity and quality of pigment dispersion, optical properties,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
and increase in density. These and other areas must be taken
D 374 Test Methods for Thickness of Solid Electrical Insu-
into account by mutual agreement between the supplier and the
2
lation
purchaser.
3
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
1.7 The thickness of the films covered by this specification
D 882 Test Methods for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
range from 25 to 100 µm [0.001 to 0.004 in.], inclusive. The
3
Sheeting
maximum width of the sheet or lay-flat is 3.05 m [120 in.].
3
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
1.8 This specification does not cover oriented heat-
D 1003 Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance
shrinkable films.
3
of Transparent Plastics
1.9 This specification defines the levels of various physical
D 1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-
properties from which specifications for specific films are to be
3
Gradient Technique
described. The levels of physical properties required by a film
D 1709 Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film
3
by the Free Falling Dart Method
1
D 1894 Test Method for Static and Kinetic Coefficients of
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film and
Sheeting.
2
Current edition approved March 10, 2003. Published May 2003. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.01.
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approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 1995 as D 3981 – 95. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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