ASTM F548-03ae1

Standard Test Method for Intensity of Scratches on Aerospace Transparent Plastics

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Scratches exist on all transparent plastic surfaces. Usually they are very fine scratches from cleaning operations that are not visible when looking through the plastic. Deeper scratches may result from careless cleaning or handling. While these may not be deep enough to affect the structural integrity of the part, their appearance in certain locations may be distracting to the observer looking through the plastic. Therefore, a procedure to define these scratches is useful.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the visual inspection of shallow or superficial scratches on the surface of aerospace transparent plastic materials.
1.2 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2003
• ICS: 49.045 - Structure and structure elements
• Technical Committee: F07 - Aerospace and Aircraft
• Drafting Committee: F07.08 - Transparent Enclosures and Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM F548-03a - Standard Test Method for Intensity of Scratches on Aerospace Transparent Plastics
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM F548-09 - Standard Test Method for Intensity of Scratches on Aerospace Transparent Plastics
• Effective Date: 15-May-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F790-23 - Standard Guide for Testing Materials for Aerospace Plastic Transparent Enclosures
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2003

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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
e1
Designation:F548–03a
Standard Test Method for
1
Intensity of Scratches on Aerospace Transparent Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 548; 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
e NOTE—Section 4 was editorially corrected in August 2005.
1. Scope scratch in the visual comparison standard beside and parallel to
the scratch on the plastic material. Rotate the part or viewing
1.1 This test method covers the visual inspection of shallow
angle to get the best definition of the scratch. Disregarding the
or superficial scratches on the surface of aerospace transparent
length of the scratch on the plastic material and on the
plastic materials.
standard, select and record the highest standard scratch that
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
most clearly matches the appearance of the scratch on the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
plasticmaterial.Measureandrecordthelengthofthescratchto
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
the nearest 1 mm (0.04 in.).
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
6. Interpretation
2. Summary of Test Method 6.1 Customer specifications for transparent plastic materials
and parts may detail allowable frequency, location, length, and
2.1 A visual comparison is made between a set of graded
standard number for scratches and they may assign maximum
scratch standards and the scratch on the plastic material to
scratch limits for critical and noncritical optical viewing areas.
determine the relative intensity of the scratch.
7. Report
3. Significance and Use
7.1 For each scratch within the scope of the plastic scratch
3.1 Scratches exist on all transparent plastic surfaces. Usu-
standard, report its standard number, length, frequency, and
ally they are very fine scratches from cleaning operations that
location.
are not visible when looking through the plastic. Deeper
scratches may result from careless cleaning or handling. While
2
8. Precision and Bias
these may not be deep enough to affect the structural integrity
8.1 Precision:
of the part, their appearance in certain locations may be
8.1.1 The repeatability of judging the intensity of a scratch
distracting to the observer looking through the plastic. There-
within one scratch value, for the same observer, is 92 % or
fore, a procedure to define these scratches is useful.
better.
4. Reference Materials 8.1.2 The reproducibility (between observers) of judging
the intensity of a scratch within one scratch value is 90 % or
NOTE 1—Adjuncts are not currently available.
better for scratch values 14 and above. The reproducibility of
judging the intensity of a scratch within two scratch values is
5. Procedure
92 %orbetterforscratchvaluesbelow14.Thedatareflectthat
5.1 Place the part in a suitable inspection position.This may
it is more difficult to judge finer scratches.
be horizontal on a padded table, vertical against a neutral
8.2 Bias—The procedure in this test method has no bias
background, or at an angle. The scratched surface shall be
because the scratch intensity is defined only in terms of the test
toward the observer. The light level shall be a minimum of 80
method.
lux. Either natural or artificial light may be used
...