ASTM D1238-04a

Standard Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the rate of extrusion of molten resins through a die of a specified length and diameter under prescribed conditions of temperature, load, and piston position in the barrel as the timed measurement is being made.
1.2 Procedure A is a manual cutoff operation based on time used for materials having flow rates that fall generally between 0.15 and 50 g/10 min. Procedure B is an automatically timed flow rate measurement used for materials having flows from 0.50 to 900 g/10 min. By both procedures, the piston travel is generally the same during the timed measurement; the piston foot is about 46 and 20.6 mm above the die. Comparable flow rates have been obtained by these procedures in interlaboratory round-robin measurements of several materials described in . Provision is made for calculation of melt volume-flow rate as well as melt mass-flow rate.
Note 1—Round-robin testing indicates this test method may be suitable at flow rates up to 1500 g/10 min if the timing clock resolves the elapsed time to the nearest 0.01 s.
Note 2—This test method and ISO 1133-1991 are technically equivalent.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address 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. Specific precautionary statements are given in 5.7, 10.2.12, and 14.1.2.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2004
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.30 - Thermal Properties

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D1238-04 - Standard Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Replaced By: ASTM D1238-04c - Standard Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6213-17 - Standard Practice for Tests to Evaluate the Chemical Resistance of Geogrids to Liquids
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D2513-20 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene (PE) Gas Pressure Pipe, Tubing, and Fittings
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM F755-19 - Standard Specification for Selection of Porous Polyethylene for Use in Surgical Implants
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D3485-22 - Standard Specification for Coilable High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Cable in Conduit (CIC)
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D1248-16 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion Materials for Wire and Cable
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D3935-21 - Standard Classification System and Basis for Specification for Polycarbonate (PC) Unfilled and Reinforced Material
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D5205-16 - Standard Classification System and Basis for Specification for Polyetherimide (PEI) Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D7471-19 - Standard Specification for CPT-Fluoropolymer Molding and Extrusion Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6394-21a - Standard Classification System for and Basis for Specification for Sulfone Plastics (SP)
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM F639-09(2015) - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics for Medical Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6434-12(2018) - Standard Guide for the Selection of Test Methods for Flexible Polypropylene Geomembranes
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM F997-18 - Standard Specification for Polycarbonate Resin for Medical Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D5675-13(2018) - Standard Classification for Low Molecular Weight PTFE and FEP Micronized Powders
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2004

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: D 1238 – 04a
Standard Test Method for
Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion
1
Plastometer
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1238; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* Determine the Precision of a Test Method
2.2 ANSI Standard:
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the rate of
3
B46.1 on Surface Texture
extrusion of molten resins through a die of a specified length
2.3 ISO Standard:
anddiameterunderprescribedconditionsoftemperature,load,
ISO1133-1991 DeterminationoftheMelt-MassFlowRate
and piston position in the barrel as the timed measurement is
(MFR) and the Melt Volume-Flow Rate (MVR) of Ther-
being made.
3
moplastics
1.2 ProcedureAis a manual cutoff operation based on time
usedformaterialshavingflowratesthatfallgenerallybetween
3. Terminology
0.15 and 50 g/10 min. Procedure B is an automatically timed
3.1 General:
flow rate measurement used for materials having flows from
3.1.1 For definition of some of the technical terms used in
0.50 to 900 g/10 min. By both procedures, the piston travel is
this test method refer to Terminology D883.
generally the same during the timed measurement; the piston
foot is about 46 and 20.6 mm above the die. Comparable flow
4. Significance and Use
rateshavebeenobtainedbytheseproceduresininterlaboratory
4.1 Thistestmethodisparticularlyusefulforqualitycontrol
round-robin measurements of several materials described in
tests on thermoplastics.
13.1. Provision is made for calculation of melt volume-flow
rate as well as melt mass-flow rate.
NOTE 3—Polymers having flow rates less than 0.15 or greater than 900
g/10 min may be tested by the procedures in this test method; however,
NOTE 1—Round-robin testing indicates this test method may be suit-
precision data have not been developed.
able at flow rates up to 1500 g/10 min if the timing clock resolves the
elapsed time to the nearest 0.01 s. 4.2 Thistestmethodservestoindicatetheuniformityofthe
NOTE 2—This test method and ISO 1133-1991 are technically equiva-
flowrateofthepolymerasmadebyanindividualprocessand,
lent.
in this case, may be indicative of uniformity of other proper-
ties.However,uniformityofflowrateamongvariouspolymers
1.3 This standard does not purport to address the safety
as made by various processes does not, in the absence of other
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
tests, indicate uniformity of other properties.
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and
4.3 The flow rate obtained with the extrusion plastometer is
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
not a fundamental polymer property. It is an empirically
limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are
defined parameter critically influenced by the physical proper-
given in 5.7, 10.2.12, and 14.1.2.
ties and molecular structure of the polymer and the conditions
2. Referenced Documents
of measurement. The rheological characteristics of polymer
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: melts depend on a number of variables. Since the values of
these variables occurring in this test may differ substantially
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics from those in large-scale processes, test results may not
correlate directly with processing behavior.
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
4.4 The flow rate of a material may be measured under any
oftheconditionslistedforitin8.2.Additionalcharacterization
1
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD20onPlastics
of a material can be obtained if more than one condition is
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.30 on Thermal Properties
used. In case two conditions are employed, a Flow Rate Ratio
(Section D20.30.08).
(FRR) may be obtained by dividing the flow rate at one
Current edition approved August 1, 2004. Published August 2004. Originally
condition by the flow rate at the other condition.
approved in 1965. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D1238-04.
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.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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