ASTM D4020-11
(Specification)Standard Specification for Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Molding and Extrusion Materials
Standard Specification for Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Molding and Extrusion Materials
ABSTRACT
This specification provides for the identification of virgin, unmodified homopolymer ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) molding and extrusion plastic materials in the form of powder, granules, or pellets. This specification is not intended to differentiate between various molecular weight grades of commercially available UHMW-PE, nor does it function to provide specific engineering data for design purposes. Sampled specimens shall be tested for dilute solution viscosity.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification provides for the identification of virgin, natural color, unmodified homopolymer ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) plastics molding and extrusion materials. This identification is made in such a manner that the seller and purchaser can agree on the acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments.
1.2 This specification also provides guidance for the characterization of UHMWPE materials based on various mechanical, thermal, electrical, and other analyses.
1.3 It is not intended to differentiate between various molecular weight grades of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene commercially available.
1.4 It is not the function of this specification to provide specific engineering data for design purposes.
1.5 Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylenes, as defined in this specification, are those linear polymers of ethylene which have a relative viscosity of 1.44 or greater, in accordance with the test procedures described herein.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.7 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portions in Section 7 and the Annex and Appendixes, 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.
Note 1—This standard and ISO 11542-1 address the same subject matter, but differ in technical content. ISO 11542-1 provides a classification system based on various characteristics and a range of viscosity numbers determined in accordance with ISO 1628-3.
X2.1.1 This test method covers determination of the impact strength of UHMW-PE, which is extremely impact resistant. When tested in accordance with Test Method D256, Method A, UHMW-PE generally gives the NBF type of failure, rendering the test result invalid. This test method specifies the same type of pendulum impact test machine as that given in Test Method D256 but introduces a much higher degree of stress concentration into the specimen by double notching with a razor blade. Application of this test method shall be limited to the characterization of virgin, unmodified UHMW-PE resins, not commercially processed products. It is advised that the user be familiar with Test Method D256 before attempting to use this test method.
X2.1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
Note X2.1—This test method and Annex B of ISO 11542-2 address the same subject matter, but differ in technical content and results shall not be compared between the two test methods.
X4.1.1 This test method covers the determination of elongational stress as a characterization of the melt viscosity of UHMW-PE. The melt flow rate in accordance with test method D1238 cannot be determined for this material because ultra high molecular weight polyethylene does not have a melt flow. The elongational stress is also be referred to as ZST and flow value, or both.
X4.1.2 Application of this test method shall be limited to virgin, unmodified resin. The elongational stress method is invalid on a previous thermally-processed material due to possible crosslinking.
Note X4.1—This test method is identical to to Annex A of ISO 11542-2 i...
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Designation:D4020 −11
Standard Specification for
Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Molding and
1
Extrusion Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4020; 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.
tion system based on various characteristics and a range of viscosity
1. Scope*
numbers determined in accordance with ISO 1628-3.
1.1 This specification provides for the identification of
virgin, natural color, unmodified homopolymer ultra-high-
2. Referenced Documents
molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) plastics molding
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
and extrusion materials. This identification is made in such a
D883Terminology Relating to Plastics
manner that the seller and purchaser can agree on the accept-
D1601Test Method for Dilute Solution Viscosity of Ethyl-
ability of different commercial lots or shipments.
ene Polymers
1.2 This specification also provides guidance for the char-
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
acterization of UHMWPE materials based on various
ISO 11542-1Plastics—Ultra High Molecular-Weight Poly-
mechanical, thermal, electrical, and other analyses.
ethylene (PE-UHMW) Moulding and Extrusion
1.3 It is not intended to differentiate between various
Materials—Part 1: Designation System and Basis for
molecular weight grades of ultra-high-molecular-weight poly-
Specification
ethylene commercially available.
ISO 1628-3Plastics—Determination of Viscosity Number
1.4 It is not the function of this specification to provide
and Limiting Viscosity Number—Part 3: Polyethylenes
specific engineering data for design purposes. and Polypropylenes
1.5 Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylenes, as defined
3. Terminology
in this specification, are those linear polymers of ethylene
which have a relative viscosity of 1.44 or greater, in accor-
3.1 Definitions—Definitions of terms used in this specifica-
dance with the test procedures described herein.
tion are in accordance with Terminology D883.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3.2.1 ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene molding
only.
and extrusion materials—asdefinedbythisspecification,those
1.7 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the substantiallylinearpolyethyleneswhichhavearelativeviscos-
ityof1.44orgreater,ataconcentrationof0.02%,at135°C,in
test method portions in Section 7 and the Annex and
Appendixes, of this specification:This standard does not pur- decahydronaphthalene.
port to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated 3.2.1.1 Discussion—Ithasbeencommonpracticetoreferto
with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard the “molecular weight” of UHMW-PE resins. The following
to establish appropriate safety and health practices and calculations shall be used to approximate the specific viscosity
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to (η ), reduced viscosity (ηred or R.S.V.), intrinsic viscosity (η
sp
use. or I.V.), and the approximate nominal viscosity average mo-
lecular weight of virgin resin. The calculations are shown as
NOTE 1—This standard and ISO 11542-1 address the same subject
follows:
matter, but differ in technical content. ISO 11542-1 provides a classifica-
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Materials. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2011. Published October 2011. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D4020-05. DOI: Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/D4020-11. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.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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D4020−11
k k 5. Materials and Manufacture
Relativeviscosity 5η 5 t 2 / t 2 (1)
S D S D
r s o
t t
s o
5.1 The molding and extrusion material shall be UHMW
polyethylene in the form of powder or granules.
Specificviscosity 5η 5η 2 1
sp r
5.2 Themoldingandextrusion
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:D4020–05 Designation: D4020 – 11
Standard Specification for
Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Molding and
1
Extrusion Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4020; 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 Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1This1.1 This specification provides for the identification of virgin, natural color, unmodified homopolymer ultra-high-
molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) plastics molding and extrusion materials. This identification is made in such a
manner that the seller and purchaser can agree on the acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments.
1.2 This specification also provides guidance for the characterization of UHMWPE materials based on various mechanical,
thermal, electrical, and other analyses.
1.3 It is not intended to differentiate between various molecular weight grades of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene
commercially available.
1.3It1.4 It is not the function of this specification to provide specific engineering data for design purposes.
1.45 Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylenes, as defined in this specification, are those linear polymers of ethylene which
have a relative viscosity of 1.44 or greater, in accordance with the test procedures described herein.
1.5The1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
only.
1.61.7 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portion.portions in Section 7 , of this specification:
and the Annex and Appendixes, 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.
NOTE1—There is no ISO equivalent specification. However, in ISO 11542-1, a range of viscosity numbers defines the viscosity of UHMW-PE grades.
The viscosity numbers are determined in accordance with ISO 1628-3 1—This standard and ISO 11542-1 address the same subject matter, but differ in
technical content. ISO 11542-1 provides a classification system based on various characteristics and a range of viscosity numbers determined in
accordance with ISO 1628-3.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D1601 Test Method for Dilute Solution Viscosity of Ethylene Polymers
D1898Practice for Sampling Plastics Test Method for Dilute Solution Viscosity of Ethylene Polymers
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 11542-1 Plastics—Ultra High Molecular-Weight Polyethylene (PE-UHMW) Moulding and Extrusion Materials—Part 1:
Designation System and Basis for Specification
ISO 1628-3 Plastics—Determination of Viscosity Number and Limiting Viscosity Number—Part 3: Polyethylenes and
Polypropylenes
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Definitions of terms used in this specification are in accordance with Terminology D883.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic Materials.
Current edition approved JuneSept. 1, 2005.2011. Published June 2005.September 2011. Originally approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 20012005 as
D4020-01a.D4020-05. DOI: 10.1520/D4020-05.10.1520/D4020-11.
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,orcontactASTMCustomerServiceatservice@astm.org.For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Withdrawn.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.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 ----------------------
D4020 – 11
3.2.1 ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene molding and extrusion materials—as defined by this specification, those
substantially linear polyethylenes which have a relative vis
...
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