ASTM D4976-04

Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials

SCOPE
1.1 This specification provides for the identification of polyethylene plastics molding and extrusion materials in such a manner that the supplier and the user can agree on the acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments. The tests involved in this specification are intended to provide information for identifying materials in accordance with the groups, classes, and grades covered. It is not the function of this specification to provide specific engineering data for design purposes.
1.2 Other requirements may be necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications. These shall be agreed upon between the user and the supplier, by using the suffixes given in Section 1.3.
1.3 Ethylene plastic materials, being thermoplastic, are reprocessable and recyclable (see Note 1). This specification allows for the use of those ethylene plastic materials, provided that any specific requirements as governed by the producer and the end user are met.
Note 1—See Guide D 5033 for information and definitions related to recycled plastics.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as the standard.
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains to the test method portion only, Section 12, of this specification. 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.
1.6 For information regarding plastic pipe materials see Specification D 3350. For information regarding wire and cable materials, see Specification D 1248. For information on polyethylenes with densities below 0.910 g/cm3, see Classification D 5593.
Note 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2004
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.15 - Thermoplastic Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4976-02e1 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Replaced By: ASTM D4976-04a - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2004
• Referred By: ASTM A674-22 - Standard Practice for Polyethylene Encasement for Ductile Iron Pipe
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM G218-19 - Standard Guide for External Corrosion Protection of Ductile Iron Pipe Utilizing Polyethylene Encasement Supplemented by Cathodic Protection
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D1248-16 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion Materials for Wire and Cable
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D3981-09a(2016) - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Films Made from Medium-Density Polyethylene for General Use and Packaging Applications
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM F639-09(2015) - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics for Medical Applications
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D2103-15 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Film and Sheeting
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D3350-21 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fittings Materials
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D2561-17 - Standard Test Method for Environmental Stress-Crack Resistance of Blow-Molded Polyethylene Containers
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• 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: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D4397-16 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting for Construction, Industrial, and Agricultural Applications
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM F1901-22 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene (PE) Pipe and Fittings for Roof Drain Systems
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D2684/D2684M-15 - Standard Test Method for Permeability of Thermoplastic Containers to Packaged Reagents or Proprietary Products
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D1693-21 - Standard Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of Ethylene Plastics
• Effective Date: 01-May-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 4976 – 04a
Standard Specification for
1
Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4976; 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.
INTRODUCTION
This specification is not intended for the selection of materials, but only as a means to call out
plastic materials to be used for the manufacture of parts.The selection of these materials is to be made
by personnel with expertise in the plastics field where the environment, inherent properties of the
materials, performance of the parts, part design, manufacturing process, and economics are
considered. This specification does not specify the source of the resin to be used for the fabrication
of any given article.
1. Scope* of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
1.1 This specification provides for the identification of
tions prior to use.
polyethylene plastics molding and extrusion materials in such
1.6 For information regarding plastic pipe materials see
a manner that the supplier and the user can agree on the
Specification D 3350. For information regarding wire and
acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments. The
cable materials, see Specification D 1248. For information on
tests involved in this specification are intended to provide
3
polyethylenes with densities below 0.910 g/cm , see Classifi-
information for identifying materials in accordance with the
cation D 5593.
groups, classes, and grades covered. It is not the function of
this specification to provide specific engineering data for
NOTE 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
design purposes.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2 Other requirements may be necessary to identify par-
2
ticular characteristics important to specialized applications.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
These shall be agreed upon between the user and the supplier,
D 257 Test Methods for D-C Resistance or Conductance of
by using the suffixes given in Section 1.3.
Insulating Materials
1.3 Ethylene plastic materials, being thermoplastic, are
D 568 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
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reprocessable and recyclable (see Note 1). This specification
Time of Burning of Flexible Plastics in aVertical Position
allows for the use of those ethylene plastic materials, provided
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
that any specific requirements as governed by the producer and
D 635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
the end user are met.
Time of Burning of Self-Supporting Plastics in a Horizon-
tal Position
NOTE 1—See Guide D 5033 for information and definitions related to
D 638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
recycled plastics.
D 790 TestMethodsforFlexuralPropertiesofUnreinforced
1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as the
and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials
standard.
D 792 TestMethodsforDensityandSpecificGravity(Rela-
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains to the test
tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
method portion only, Section 12, of this specification. This
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
D 1238 Test Method for Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Materials. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved December 1, 2004. Published December 2004. Origi- the ASTM website.
3
nally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D 4976 - 04. Withdrawn.
*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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D 4976 – 04a
Extrusion Plastometer Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302, Flammability
5
D 1248 SpecificationforPolyethylenePlasticsMoldingand of Interior Materials
Extrusion Materials
3. Terminology
D 1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of technical terms pertain-
Gradient Technique
ing to plastics used in this specification, see Term
...