ASTM D4703-03

Standard Practice for Compression Molding Thermoplastic Materials into Test Specimens, Plaques, or Sheets

SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the compression molding of thermoplastic granules and milled stock for the preparation of test specimens.
1.2 While conditions for certain materials are given, the primary source of specific conditions shall be the material specification standards for each type of material.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 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 main body of this practice is equivalent to ISO 293-1986. Annex A1 and ISO 293-1986 differ in some details; however, specimens prepared using Annex A1, Procedure A should be equivalent to those prepared using ISO 293-1986, Cooling Method D. Specimens prepared using Annex A1, Procedure C should be equivalent to those prepared using ISO 293-1986, Cooling Method B. However, due to the greater cooling rate tolerances of the ISO standard, specimens prepared according to ISO Cooling Method B may not be equivalent to Annex A1, Procedure C.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jul-2003
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.09 - Specimen Preparation

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4703-02 - Standard Practice for Compression Molding Thermoplastic Materials into Test Specimens, Plaques, or Sheets
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM D4703-07 - Standard Practice for Compression Molding Thermoplastic Materials into Test Specimens, Plaques, or Sheets
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2007
• Referred By: ASTM F2136-18 - Standard Test Method for Notched, Constant Ligament-Stress (NCLS) Test to Determine Slow-Crack-Growth Resistance of HDPE Resins or HDPE Corrugated Pipe
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4976-12a(2020) - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D3981-09a(2016) - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Films Made from Medium-Density Polyethylene for General Use and Packaging Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D7436-17 - Standard Classification System for Unfilled Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials with a Fractional Melt Index Using ISO Protocol and Methodology
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F2617-15 - Standard Test Method for Identification and Quantification of Chromium, Bromine, Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead in Polymeric Material Using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D2103-15 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Film and Sheeting
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D1248-16 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion Materials for Wire and Cable
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4803-18 - Standard Test Method for Predicting Heat Buildup in PVC Building Products
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4635-16 - Standard Specification for Plastic Films Made from Low-Density Polyethylene and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene for General Use and Packaging Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D883-22 - Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D3350-21 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fittings Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D1693-21 - Standard Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of Ethylene Plastics
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D5575-18(2023) - Standard Classification System for Copolymers of Vinylidene Fluoride (VDF) with Other Fluorinated Monomers
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-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
Designation:D4703–03
Standard Practice for
Compression Molding Thermoplastic Materials into Test
1
Specimens, Plaques, or Sheets
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4703; 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.
4
1. Scope* Specimens of Thermoplastic Materials
1.1 This practice covers the compression molding of ther-
3. Terminology
moplastic granules and milled stock for the preparation of test
2 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
specimens.
3.1.1 average cooling rate (°C/min), n—the cooling rate
1.2 While conditions for certain materials are given, the
calculated by dividing the difference between the molding and
primary source of specific conditions shall be the material
demolding temperatures by the time required to cool the mold
specification standards for each type of material.
to the demolding temperature.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
3.1.2 cooling rate (°C/h), n—therateofcoolingobtainedby
standard.Thevaluesgiveninbracketsareforinformationonly.
controlling the flow of the cooling fluid in such a way that
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
during each 10-min interval, the deviation from this specified
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
cooling rate shall not exceed the specified tolerance.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.3 demolding temperature, n—the temperature of the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
mold or the press platens at the end of the cooling time,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
measured in the nearest vicinity to the molded material.
NOTE 1—ThemainbodyofthispracticeisequivalenttoISO293-1986.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—For positive molds, holes are normally
Annex A1 and ISO 293-1986 differ in some details; however, specimens
drilled in the mold for measuring the temperatures defined in
prepared using Annex A1, Procedure A should be equivalent to those
3.1.3 and 3.1.4.
prepared using ISO 293-1986, Cooling Method D. Specimens prepared
3.1.4 molding temperature, n—the temperature of the mold
using Annex A1, Procedure C should be equivalent to those prepared
or the press platens during the preheating and molding time,
using ISO 293-1986, Cooling Method B. However, due to the greater
cooling rate tolerances of the ISO standard, specimens prepared in measured in the nearest vicinity to the molded material.
accordance with ISO Cooling Method B may not be equivalent to Annex
3.1.5 molding time, n—the time during which full pressure
A1, Procedure C.
is applied while maintaining the molding temperature.
3.1.6 picture frame mold, n—aflatpieceofmetal,usuallyof
2. Referenced Documents
brass or steel, that has a center portion removed to provide the
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
specified shape and dimensions of the final molding. The
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
thickness of the metal is dependent on the desired thickness of
D 1248 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion
thefinishedmolding,takingintoconsiderationtheshrinkageof
Materials for Wire and Cable
the material to be molded. The picture frame mold is some-
D 3350 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and
times referred to as a chase.
Fittings Materials
3.1.7 preheating time, n—the time required to heat the
D 4976 SpecificationforPolyethylenePlasticsMoldingand
material in the mold up to the molding temperature while
Extrusion Materials
maintaining the contact pressure.
ISO 293-1986 Plastics—Compression Moulding Test
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The methods by which sample materials are prepared
1
ThispracticeisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD20onPlasticsand
and molded influence the mechanical properties of the speci-
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.09 on Specimen Preparation.
men. Unlike injection molding, the objective of compression
Current edition approved July 10, 2003. Published September 2003. Originally
approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 4703 – 02. molding is to produce test specimens or sheets that are both
2
This practice was created as a coalescence of and replacement for Practices
D 1928, D 2292, D 3010, and D 3463.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM ISO/IEC Selected Standards for Testing Plastics, available from ASTM. Also
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25
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