ASTM D4440-07
(Practice)Standard Test Method for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: Melt Rheology
Standard Test Method for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: Melt Rheology
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method provides a simple means of characterizing the important rheological properties and viscosity of thermoplastic polymers using very small amounts of material (approximately 25 to 50 mm in diameter by 1 to 3 mm in thickness ... approximately 3 to 5 g). Data may be used for quality control, research and development, and establishment of optimum processing conditions.
Dynamic mechanical testing provides a sensitive method for determining molten polymer properties by measuring the elastic and loss moduli as a function of frequency, strain, temperature, or time. Plots of viscosity, storage, and loss moduli, and tan delta as a function of the aforementioned process parameters provide graphical representation indicative of molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, effects of chain branching, and melt-processability for specified conditions.
Values obtained in this test method can be used to assess the following:
5.3.1 Complex viscosity of the polymer melt as a function of dynamic oscillation,
5.3.2 Processing viscosity, minimum as well as changes in viscosity as a function of experimental parameters,
5.3.3 Effects of processing treatment,
5.3.4 Relative polymer behavioral properties, including viscosity and damping, and
5.3.5 Effects of formulation additives that might affect processability or performance.
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 combination thereof, covered in the relevant ASTM materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in the test method. If there are no relevant ASTM material specifications, then the default conditions apply.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method outlines the use of dynamic mechanical instrumentation in determining and reporting the rheological properties of thermoplastic resins and other types of molten polymers. It may be used as a method for determining the complex viscosity and other significant viscoelastic characteristics of such materials as a function of frequency, strain amplitude, temperature, and time. Such properties may be influenced by fillers and other additives.
1.2 It incorporates a laboratory test method for determining the relevant rheological properties of a polymer melt subjected to various oscillatory deformations on an instrument of the type commonly referred to as a mechanical or dynamic spectrometer.
1.3 This test method is intended to provide a means of determining the rheological properties of molten polymers, such as thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers over a range of temperatures by nonresonant, forced-vibration techniques. Plots of modulus, viscosity, and tan delta as a function of dynamic oscillation (frequency), strain amplitude, temperature, and time are indicative of the viscoelastic properties of a molten polymer.
1.4 This test method is valid for a wide range of frequencies, typically from 0.01 to 100 Hz.
1.5 This test method is intended for homogenous and heterogeneous molten polymeric systems and composite formulations containing chemical additives, including fillers, reinforcements, stabilizers, plasticizers, flame retardants, impact modifiers, processing aids, and other important chemical additives often incorporated into a polymeric system for specific functional properties, and which could affect the processability and functional performance. These polymeric material systems have molten viscosities typically less than 106 Pas (107 poise).
1.6 Apparent discrepancies may arise in results obtained under differing experimental conditions. Without changing the observed data, reporting in full (as described in this test method) the conditions under which the data was obtained may enable apparent differences observed in another study to be reconciled.
1.7 Test data obtained by this test method are relevan...
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Designation:D4440–07
Standard Test Method for
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Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties Melt Rheology
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4440; 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* method) the conditions under which the data was obtained may
enable apparent differences observed in another study to be
1.1 Thistestmethodoutlinestheuseofdynamicmechanical
reconciled.
instrumentation in determining and reporting the rheological
1.7 Test data obtained by this test method are relevant and
properties of thermoplastic resins and other types of molten
appropriate for use in engineering design.
polymers. It may be used as a method for determining the
1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
complex viscosity and other significant viscoelastic character-
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
istics of such materials as a function of frequency, strain
only.
amplitude, temperature, and time. Such properties may be
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
influenced by fillers and other additives.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.2 It incorporates a laboratory test method for determining
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
the relevant rheological properties of a polymer melt subjected
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
tovariousoscillatorydeformationsonaninstrumentofthetype
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
commonly referred to as a mechanical or dynamic spectrom-
eter.
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 6721, Part 10.
1.3 This test method is intended to provide a means of
2. Referenced Documents
determining the rheological properties of molten polymers,
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such as thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers over a
2.1 ASTM Standards:
range of temperatures by nonresonant, forced-vibration tech-
D 4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Mate-
niques. Plots of modulus, viscosity, and tan delta as a function
rials
of dynamic oscillation (frequency), strain amplitude, tempera-
D 4065 Practice for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Proper-
ture, and time are indicative of the viscoelastic properties of a
ties: Determination and Report of Procedures
molten polymer.
D 4092 Terminology for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical
1.4 Thistestmethodisvalidforawiderangeoffrequencies,
Properties
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typically from 0.01 to 100 Hz.
2.2 ISO Standard:
1.5 This test method is intended for homogenous and
ISO 6721, Part 10 Plastics— Determination of Dynamic
heterogeneous molten polymeric systems and composite for-
Mechanical Properties, Part 10, Complex Shear Viscosity
mulations containing chemical additives, including fillers,
Using a Parallel-Plate Oscillatory Rheometer
reinforcements, stabilizers, plasticizers, flame retardants, im-
3. Terminology
pact modifiers, processing aids, and other important chemical
additives often incorporated into a polymeric system for 3.1 Definitions: Definitions are in accordance with Termi-
specific functional properties, and which could affect the
nology Standard D 4092.
processability and functional performance. These polymeric
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4. Summary of Test Method
materialsystemshavemoltenviscositiestypicallylessthan10
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Pa·s (10 poise). 4.1 A known amount of thermoplastic polymer (molten
1.6 Apparent discrepancies may arise in results obtained powderorpellet,orsolidpreformdisk)isplacedinmechanical
under differing experimental conditions. Without changing the oscillation at a fixed or varying frequency at isothermal
observed data, reporting in full (as described in this test
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
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This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.10 on Mechanical Properties. the ASTM website.
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Current edition approved March 1, 2007. Published March 2007. Originally Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as D 4440 - 01. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
*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.
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D4440–07
conditions or over a linear temperature increase or
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