ASTM D3981-95
(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
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/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 D5033 contains terminology and definitions relating to recycled plastics.
1.6 While much of the content of this specification may also be applied to colored or pigmented films, special care must be exercised. 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 [mu]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 the various physical properties from which specifications for specific films may 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 2 to 5 relating to tolerances shall apply without change to all film falling within the scope indicated by the title and 1.1,
1.2, 1.3, and 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 the standard. The values in parentheses are given for information only.
1.12 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 8, 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 similar or equivalent ISO standard.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 3981 – 95
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 may be described. The levels of physical properties required by
a film for a given application are selected from Section 6 and
1.1 This specification covers unpigmented, unsupported,
the corresponding tables. However, Sections 2-5 relating to
sheet or tubular, medium-density polyethylene films (here-after
tolerances shall apply without change to all film falling within
referred to as film or films) from resins having densities in the
3 3
the scope indicated by the title and 1.1-1.4.
range from 926.0 to 938.0 kg/m (0.926 to 0.938 g/cm ),
1.10 This specification covers dimensional tolerances, clas-
inclusive, as measured on molded plaques.
sification, intrinsic quality requirements, and test methods. The
1.2 This specification is applicable to homopolymer poly-
dimensional tolerances include thickness, width, and length or
ethylene but is not restricted to it.
yield. Classification defines types, classes, surfaces, and fin-
1.3 This specification is also applicable to films made from
ishes. The intrinsic quality requirements include density, work-
copolymer polyethylene commonly referred to in industry as
manship, impact strength, tensile strength, heat sealability, and
low-pressure polyethylene.
odor, as well as the classification properties for stiffness,
1.4 This specification is also applicable to films made from
coefficient of friction, optical properties, and surface treatment.
blends of homopolymers and copolymers, including ethylene/
A sampling method is included.
vinyl-acetate copolymers.
1.11 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
1.5 This specification allows for the use of recycled poly-
standard. The values in parentheses are given for information
ethylene film or resin as feedstock, in whole or in part, as long
only.
as all the requirements of this specification are met and as long
1.12 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the
as any specific requirements as governed by the producer and
test methods portion, Section 8, of this specification: This
end user are also met (see Note 1).
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
NOTE 1—Guide D 5033 contains terminology and definitions relating
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
to recycled plastics.
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
1.6 While much of the content of this specification may also
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
be applied to colored or pigmented films, special care must be
tions prior to use.
exercised. This specification does not address specific prob-
NOTE 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
lems associated with coloring, such as, quantity and quality of
pigment dispersion, optical properties, and increase in density.
2. Referenced Documents
These and other areas must be taken into account by mutual
2.1 ASTM Standards:
agreement between the supplier and the purchaser.
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical
1.7 The thickness of the films covered by this specification
2
Insulating Materials for Testing
range from 25 to 100 μm (0.001 to 0.004 in.), inclusive. The
D 882 Test Methods for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
maximum width of the sheet or lay-flat is 3.05 m (120 in.).
2
Sheeting
1.8 This specification does not cover oriented heat-
2
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
shrinkable films.
D 1003 Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance
1.9 This specification defines the levels of the various
2
of Transparent Plastics
physical properties from which specifications for specific films
D 1248 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and
2
Extrusion Materials
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on
D 1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Densi-
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film and
2
tyGradient Technique
Sheeting.
D 1709 Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Polyethyl-
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1995. Published December 1995. Originally
2
published as D 3981 – 81. Last previous edition D 3981 – 89.
ene Film by the Free Falling Dart Method
References to film density in the previous edition were replaced with references
to resin density and the separate sections on inspection and certification were revised
2
and combined
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.