ASTM D4440-01

Standard Test Method for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: Melt Rheology

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the use of dynamic mechanical instrumentation for use in gathering and reporting the rheological properties of thermoplastic resins. It may be used as a test method for determining the complex viscosity and significant viscoelastic characteristics of such materials as a function of frequency, strain amplitude, temperature, and time. Such properties may be influenced by fillers and other additives.
1.2 It incorporates a laboratory test method for determining the relevant rheological properties of a polymer melt subjected to various oscillatory deformations on an instrument of the type commonly referred to as mechanical or dynamic spectrometer.
1.3 This test method is intended to provide means of determining the rheological properties of molten polymers, such as thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers over a range of temperatures by nonresonant forced-vibration techniques. Plots of modulus, viscosity, and tan delta as a function of dynamic oscillation (frequency), strain amplitude, temperature, and time are indicative of the viscoelastic properties of a molten polymer.
1.4 This test method is valid for a wide range of frequencies, typically from 0.01 to 100 Hz.
1.5 This test method is intended for homogenous and heterogenous molten polymeric systems and composite formulations containing chemical additives, including fillers, reinforcements, stabilizers, plasticizers, flame retardants, impact modifiers, processing aids, and other important chemical additives often incorporated into a polymeric system for specific functional properties, and which could affect the processability and functional performance. These polymeric material systems have molten viscosities less than 10 6  Pa·s (107  poise).
1.6 Apparent discrepancies may arise in results obtained under differing experimental conditions. Without changing the observed data, reporting in full (as described in this test method) the conditions under which the data were obtained will enable apparent differences observed in another study to be reconciled.
1.7 Test data obtained by this test method are relevant and appropriate for use in engineering design.
1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.9 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 test method is technically equivalent to ISO 6721, Part 10.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Sep-2001
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.10 - Mechanical Properties

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4440-95a - Standard Test Method for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: Melt Rheology
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001
• Replaced By: ASTM D4440-07 - Standard Test Method for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: Melt Rheology
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D4065-20 - Standard Practice for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: Determination and Report of Procedures
• Effective Date: 10-Sep-2001

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D4440–01
Standard Test Method for
1
Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties Melt Rheology
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4440; 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* 1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
1.1 This test method covers the use of dynamic mechanical
only.
instrumentation for use in gathering and reporting the rheo-
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
logical properties of thermoplastic resins. It may be used as a
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
test method for determining the complex viscosity and signifi-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
cant viscoelastic characteristics of such materials as a function
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
of frequency, strain amplitude, temperature, and time. Such
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
properties may be influenced by fillers and other additives.
1.2 It incorporates a laboratory test method for determining
NOTE 1—This test method is technically equivalent to ISO 6721, Part
the relevant rheological properties of a polymer melt subjected
10.
tovariousoscillatorydeformationsonaninstrumentofthetype
2. Referenced Documents
commonly referred to as mechanical or dynamic spectrometer.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.3 This test method is intended to provide means of
determining the rheological properties of molten polymers, D 4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Mate-
rials
such as thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers over a
range of temperatures by nonresonant forced-vibration tech- D 4065 Practice for Determining and Reporting Dynamic
Mechanical Properties of Plastics
niques. Plots of modulus, viscosity, and tan delta as a function
of dynamic oscillation (frequency), strain amplitude, tempera- D 4092 Terminology Relating to Dynamic Mechanical
Measurements on Plastics
ture, and time are indicative of the viscoelastic properties of a
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molten polymer. 2.2 ISO Standard:
ISO 6721, Part 10 Plastics— Determination of Dynamic
1.4 Thistestmethodisvalidforawiderangeoffrequencies,
typically from 0.01 to 100 Hz. Mechanical Properties, Part 10, Complex Shear Viscosity
Using a Parallel-Plate Oscillatory Rheometer
1.5 This test method is intended for homogenous and
heterogenous molten polymeric systems and composite formu-
3. Terminology
lations containing chemical additives, including fillers, rein-
3.1 Definitions: Definitions are in accordance with Termi-
forcements, stabilizers, plasticizers, flame retardants, impact
nology D 4092.
modifiers, processing aids, and other important chemical addi-
tives often incorporated into a polymeric system for specific
4. Summary of Test Method
functional properties, and which could affect the processability
4.1 Aknown amount of thermoplastic resin (molten powder
and functional performance.These polymeric material systems
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or pellet, or solid preform disk) is placed in mechanical
have molten viscosities less than 10 Pa·s (10 poise).
oscillation at a fixed or varying frequency at isothermal
1.6 Apparent discrepancies may arise in results obtained
conditions or over a linear temperature increase or a time-
under differing experimental conditions. Without changing the
temperaturerelationsimulatingaprocessingcondition.Storage
observed data, reporting in full (as described in this test
(elastic) G8 or loss (viscous) moduli, G88, or both, or the
method) the conditions under which the data were obtained
corresponding dynamic viscosity functions n8=g88/w and
will enable apparent differences observed in another study to
n88=g8/w, of the polymeric material specimen are measured in
be reconciled.
shear as a function of frequency, strain, temperature, or time.
1.7 Test data obtained by this test method are relevant and
appropriate for use in engineering design.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
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This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.10 on Mechanical Properties. the ASTM website.
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Current edition approved September 10, 2001. Published November 2001. Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
Originally published as D 4440 – 84. Last previous edition D 4440 – 95a. 4t
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