ASTM D3576-15

Standard Test Method for Cell Size of Rigid Cellular Plastics

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Several physical properties of rigid cellular plastics are dependent on cell size and cell orientation. Measuring water absorption and open-cell content in accordance with Test Method D2842 and Test Method D6226 requires knowledge of surface cell volume, which uses cell size values in the calculations.  
5.2 This test method provides an apparent cell size because it assumes that there is no measurable edge to edge or top to bottom variation in average cell size and that the cell size distribution about the average cell size is normal. If the analyst is concerned there may be significant variation in either the average cell size or the cell size distribution more detailed analysis may be required.  
5.3 Before proceeding with this test method, reference should be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or a combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method. If there are no material specifications, then the default conditions apply.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the apparent cell size of rigid cellular plastics by counting the number of cell-wall intersections in a specified distance.  
1.2 Procedure A requires the preparation of a thin slice, not more than one half the average cell diameter in thickness, that is mechanically stable. For most rigid cellular plastics this limits the test method to materials with an average cell size of at least 0.2 mm.  
1.3 Procedure B is intended for use with materials whose friable nature makes it difficult to obtain a thin slice for viewing.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.5 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: The annex to ISO 2896 is technically equivalent to this test method.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2015
• ICS: 83.100 - Cellular materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.22 - Cellular Materials - Plastics and Elastomers

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: D3576 − 15
Standard Test Method for
1
Cell Size of Rigid Cellular Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3576; 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.
1. Scope* 2.2 ISO Standard:
ISO 2896Cellular Plastics, Rigid—Determination of Water
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the appar-
3
Absorption
entcellsizeofrigidcellularplasticsbycountingthenumberof
cell-wall intersections in a specified distance.
3. Terminology
1.2 ProcedureArequires the preparation of a thin slice, not
3.1 Definitions of terms applicable to this test method are
more than one half the average cell diameter in thickness, that
given in Terminology D883.
is mechanically stable. For most rigid cellular plastics this
limits the test method to materials with an average cell size of
4. Summary of Test Method
at least 0.2 mm.
4.1 Procedure A—Thecellularplasticspecimeniscuttonot
1.3 Procedure B is intended for use with materials whose
more than one half the average cell diameter in thickness on a
friable nature makes it difficult to obtain a thin slice for slicer and the shadowgraph is projected on a screen by the use
viewing.
of a cell-size scale slide assembly and a projector.The average
chord length is obtained by counting the cells on cell-wall
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
intersections and converting this value to average cell size by
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
mathematical derivation.
only.
4.2 Procedure B—The cellular plastic specimen is sliced to
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
provide a smooth surface. The cell walls are accented by the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
useofamarkingpenormarkingink.Theaveragechordlength
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
is obtained by counting the cell wall intersections and convert-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
ing this value to average cell size by mathematical derivation.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
NOTE 1—The annex to ISO 2896 is technically equivalent to this test
5. Significance and Use
method.
5.1 Several physical properties of rigid cellular plastics are
dependent on cell size and cell orientation. Measuring water
2. Referenced Documents
absorption and open-cell content in accordance with Test
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
MethodD2842andTestMethodD6226requiresknowledgeof
D883Terminology Relating to Plastics
surface cell volume, which uses cell size values in the
D2842Test Method for Water Absorption of Rigid Cellular
calculations.
Plastics
5.2 This test method provides an apparent cell size because
D6226TestMethodforOpenCellContentofRigidCellular
it assumes that there is no measurable edge to edge or top to
Plastics
bottom variation in average cell size and that the cell size
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
distributionabouttheaveragecellsizeisnormal.Iftheanalyst
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
is concerned there may be significant variation in either the
average cell size or the cell size distribution more detailed
analysis may be required.
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD20onPlastics
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.22 on Cellular Materials -
5.3 Before proceeding with this test method, reference
Plastics and Elastomers.
shouldbemadetothespecificationofthematerialbeingtested.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2015. Published October 2015. Originally
Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D3576-04(2010).
DOI: 10.1520/D3576-15. testing parameters, or a combination thereof, covered in the
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
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 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 ----------------------
D3576 − 15
FIG. 1 Razor Blade Cell Size Specimen Slicer
materials specification shall take precedence over those men- 7.2 The number of samples may be dictated by the end-use
tioned in this test method. If there are no
...

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: D3576 − 04 (Reapproved 2010) D3576 − 15
Standard Test Method for
1
Cell Size of Rigid Cellular Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3576; 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 Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the apparent cell size of rigid cellular plastics by counting the number of
cell-wall intersections in a specified distance.
1.2 Procedure A requires the preparation of a thin slice, not more than one half the average cell diameter in thickness, that is
mechanically stable. For most rigid cellular plastics this limits the test method to materials with an average cell size of at least 0.2
mm.
1.3 Procedure B is intended for use with materials whose friable nature makes it difficult to obtain a thin slice for viewing.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 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—The annex to ISO 2896 is technically equivalent to this test method.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D2842 Test Method for Water Absorption of Rigid Cellular Plastics
D2856D6226 Test Method for Open-Cell Open Cell Content of Rigid Cellular Plastics by the Air Pycnometer (Withdrawn 2006)
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
2.2 ISO Standard:
3
ISO 2896 Cellular Plastics, Rigid—Determination of Water Absorption
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of terms applicable to this test method are given in Terminology D883.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 Procedure A—The cellular plastic specimen is cut to not more than one half the average cell diameter in thickness on a slicer
and the shadowgraph is projected on a screen by the use of a cell-size scale slide assembly and a projector. The average chord
length is obtained by counting the cells on cell-wall intersections and converting this value to average cell size by mathematical
derivation.
4.2 Procedure B—The cellular plastic specimen is sliced to provide a smooth surface. The cell walls are accented by the use
of a marking pen. pen or marking ink. The average chord length is obtained by counting the cell wall intersections and converting
this value to average cell size by mathematical derivation.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.22 on Cellular Materials - Plastics
and Elastomers.
Current edition approved April 15, 2010Oct. 1, 2015. Published June 2010October 2015. Originally approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 20042010 as
D3576 - 04.D3576 - 04(2010). DOI: 10.1520/D3576-04R10.10.1520/D3576-15.
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
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 ----------------------
D3576 − 15
FIG. 1 Razor Blade Cell Size Specimen Slicer
5. Significance and Use
5.1 Several physical properties of rigid cellular plastics are dependent on cell size and cell orientation. Measuring water
absorption and open-cell content in accordance with Test Method D2842 and Test Method D2856D6226 requires knowledge of
surface cell volume, which uses cell size values in the calculations.
5.2 This test method provides an apparent cell size because it assumes that there is no measurable edge to edge or top to bottom
variation in average cell size and that the cell size distribution about the average cell size is normal. If the analyst is concerned
there may be signifi
...