ASTM D3981-09a
(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 (hereafter 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 7209 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 μm (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 6 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 parentheses 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 hea...
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Designation:D3981 −09a
StandardSpecification for
Polyethylene Films Made from Medium-Density Polyethylene
1
for General Use and Packaging Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3981; 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.
1. Scope* 1.9 This specification defines the levels of various physical
properties from which specifications for specific films are to be
1.1 This specification covers unpigmented, unsupported,
described. The levels of physical properties required by a film
sheet or tubular, medium-density polyethylene films (hereafter
for a given application are selected from Section 6 and the
referred to as film or films) from resins having densities in the
3 3 corresponding tables. However, Sections 7.2 – 7.5 relating to
range from 926.0 to 938.0 kg/m (0.926 to 0.938 g/cm ),
tolerances shall apply without change to all film falling within
inclusive, as measured on molded plaques.
the scope indicated by the title and 1.1 – 1.4.
1.2 This specification is applicable to homopolymer poly-
1.10 This specification covers dimensional tolerances,
ethylene but is not restricted to it.
classification, intrinsic quality requirements, and test methods.
1.3 This specification is also applicable to films made from
The dimensional tolerances include thickness, width, and
copolymer polyethylene commonly referred to in industry as
length or yield. Classification defines types, classes, surfaces,
low-pressure polyethylene.
andfinishes.Theintrinsicqualityrequirementsincludedensity,
1.4 This specification is also applicable to films made from workmanship, impact strength, tensile strength, heat
sealability, and odor, as well as the classification properties for
blends of homopolymers and copolymers, including ethylene/
vinyl-acetate copolymers. stiffness, coefficient of friction, optical properties, and surface
treatment. A sampling method is included.
1.5 This specification allows for the use of recycled poly-
ethylene film or resin as feedstock, in whole or in part, as long 1.11 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. The values in parentheses are given for information
as all the requirements of this specification are met and as long
as any specific requirements as governed by the producer and only.
end user are also met (see Note 1).
1.12 Thefollowingprecautionarycaveatpertainsonlytothe
test methods portion, Section 10, of this specification: This
NOTE 1—Guide D7209 contains terminology and definitions relating to
recycled plastics. standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
1.6 Special care must be exercised if this specification is
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
applied to colored or pigmented films. This specification does
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
notaddressspecificproblemsassociatedwithcoloring,suchas,
tions prior to use.
quantity and quality of pigment dispersion, optical properties,
and increase in density. These and other areas must be taken
NOTE 2—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
into account by mutual agreement between the supplier and the
2. Referenced Documents
purchaser.
2
1.7 The thickness of the films covered by this specification 2.1 ASTM Standards:
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
range from 25 to 100 µm (0.001 to 0.004 in.), inclusive. The
maximum width of the sheet or lay-flat is 3.05 m (120 in.). tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
1.8 This specification does not cover oriented heat-
Sheeting
shrinkable films.
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D1003 Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film, Sheeting,
2
and Molded Products. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved May 1, 2009. Published June 2009. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D3981 – 09. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D3981-09A. the ASTM website.
*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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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:D3981–09 Designation: D 3981 – 09a
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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 Thisspecificationcoversunpigmented,unsupported,sheetortubular,medium-densitypolyethylenefilms(hereafterreferred
3 3
to as film or films) from resins having densities in the range from 926.0 to 938.0 kg/m (0.926 to 0.938 g/cm ), 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 7209 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 µm (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 6 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
wellastheclassificationpropertiesforstiffness,coefficientoffriction,opticalproperties,andsurfacetreatment.Asamplingmethod
is included.
1.11 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values in parentheses 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 determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior
to use.
NOTE 2—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement
D 882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting
1
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 .
Current edition approved Feb.May 1, 2009. Published FebruaryJune 2009. Originally approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D 3981 – 089.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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...
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