ASTM D4976-12a

Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials

ABSTRACT
This specification provides the standard requirements for polyethylene plastic molding and extrusion materials. The tests involved in this specification are intended to provide information for identifying materials in accordance with the groups, classes, and grades covered. Polyethylene plastic materials are classified into two groups in accordance with the molecular structure which may be branched or linear. Test specimens shall be compression molded, conditioned in a standard or controlled laboratory atmosphere, and tested to determine the materials' physical and electrical properties. The specimens shall comply with the following requirements: flow rate; density; tensile stress at yield; nominal strain at break; secant flexural modulus; environmental stress-crack resistance; slow crack growth resistance; thermal stress crack resistance; permittivity; dissipation factor; volume resistivity; water immersion stability; flammability; and weatherability.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification provides for the identification of polyethylene plastics molding and extrusion materials in such a manner that the supplier and the user can agree on the acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments. The tests involved in this specification are intended to provide information for identifying materials in accordance with the groups, classes, and grades covered. It is not the function of this specification to provide specific engineering data for design purposes.  
1.2 Other requirements necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications shall be agreed upon between the user and the supplier, by using the suffixes given in Section 1.3.  
1.3 Ethylene plastic materials, being thermoplastic, are reprocessable and recyclable (see Note 1). This specification allows for the use of those ethylene plastic materials, provided that any specific requirements as governed by the producer and the end user are met. Note 1—See Guide D7209 for information and definitions related to recycled plastics.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as standard.  
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains to the test method portion only, Section 12, 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.  
1.6 For information regarding plastic pipe materials see Specification D3350. For information regarding wire and cable materials, see Specification D1248.Note 2—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2012
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.15 - Thermoplastic Materials

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:D4976 −12a
Standard Specification for
1
Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4976; 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 Department of Defense.
INTRODUCTION
This specification is not intended for the selection of materials, but only as a means to call out
plastic materials to be used for the manufacture of parts.The selection of these materials is to be made
by personnel with expertise in the plastics field where the environment, inherent properties of the
materials, performance of the parts, part design, manufacturing process, and economics are
considered. This specification does not specify the source of the resin to be used for the fabrication
of any given article.
1. Scope* if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
1.1 This specification provides for the identification of
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
polyethylene plastics molding and extrusion materials in such
tions prior to use.
a manner that the supplier and the user can agree on the
acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments. The 1.6 For information regarding plastic pipe materials see
tests involved in this specification are intended to provide Specification D3350. For information regarding wire and cable
information for identifying materials in accordance with the materials, see Specification D1248.
groups, classes, and grades covered. It is not the function of
NOTE 2—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
this specification to provide specific engineering data for
design purposes.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2 Otherrequirementsnecessarytoidentifyparticularchar- 2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
acteristics important to specialized applications shall be agreed
D257 Test Methods for DC Resistance or Conductance of
upon between the user and the supplier, by using the suffixes
Insulating Materials
given in Section 1.3.
D568 Method ofTest for Burning and/or Extent andTime of
1.3 Ethylene plastic materials, being thermoplastic, are Burning of Flexible Plastics in a Vertical Position (With-
3
drawn 1991)
reprocessable and recyclable (see Note 1). This specification
allows for the use of those ethylene plastic materials, provided D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
that any specific requirements as governed by the producer and
the end user are met. Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position
D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
NOTE 1—See Guide D7209 for information and definitions related to
D790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced
recycled plastics.
and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materi-
1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as standard.
als
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains to the test
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
method portion only, Section 12, of this specification. This
tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
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 [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Materials. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2012. Published September 2012. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D4976 - 06. DOI: The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
10.1520/D4976-12. 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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D4976−12a
D1238 Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics 2.2 Military Standard:
by Extrusion Plastometer MIL-STD-105 Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspec-
tion by Attributes
D1248 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion
Materials for Wire and Cable
NOTE 3—According to the DOD, “MIL-STD-105E, dated 10 May
D1499 Practice for Filtered Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Expo- 1989, is here
...

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: D4976 − 12 D4976 − 12a
Standard Specification for
1
Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4976; 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 Department of Defense.
INTRODUCTION
This specification is not intended for the selection of materials, but only as a means to call out
plastic materials to be used for the manufacture of parts. The selection of these materials is to be made
by personnel with expertise in the plastics field where the environment, inherent properties of the
materials, performance of the parts, part design, manufacturing process, and economics are
considered. This specification does not specify the source of the resin to be used for the fabrication
of any given article.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification provides for the identification of polyethylene plastics molding and extrusion materials in such a manner
that the supplier and the user can agree on the acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments. The tests involved in this
specification are intended to provide information for identifying materials in accordance with the groups, classes, and grades
covered. It is not the function of this specification to provide specific engineering data for design purposes.
1.2 Other requirements may be necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications. These
applications shall be agreed upon between the user and the supplier, by using the suffixes given in Section 1.3.
1.3 Ethylene plastic materials, being thermoplastic, are reprocessable and recyclable (see Note 1). This specification allows for
the use of those ethylene plastic materials, provided that any specific requirements as governed by the producer and the end user
are met.
NOTE 1—See Guide D5033D7209 for information and definitions related to recycled plastics.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as standard.
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains to the test method portion only, Section 12, 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.
D3350. For information regarding wire and cable
1.6 For information regarding plastic pipe materials see Specification
3
materials, see Specification D1248. For information on polyethylenes with densities below 0.910 g/cm , see Classification D5593.
NOTE 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard. known ISO equivalent to this standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D257 Test Methods for DC Resistance or Conductance of Insulating Materials
D568 Method of Test for Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of Flexible Plastics in a Vertical Position (Withdrawn
3
1991)
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
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 April 1, 2012Aug. 1, 2012. Published May 2012September 2012. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as
D4976 - 06. DOI: 10.1520/D4976-12.
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 ----------------------
D4976 − 12a
D635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position
D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
D790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravi
...