ASTM D6226-21

Standard Test Method for Open Cell Content of Rigid Cellular Plastics

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is intended to be used in specifications where porosity of cellular plastics has a direct bearing on their end use. For example, for thermal insulation applications, a high percentage of closed cells is necessary to prevent escape of gases and to promote low thermal conductivity. In flotation applications, high closed-cell content generally reduces water absorption.  
5.2 Before proceeding with this test method, reference shall be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, or dimensions, or both, and testing parameters covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method. If there are no material specifications, then the default conditions apply.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers cellular plastics, which are composed of membranes or walls of polymer separating small cavities or cells. These cells may be interconnecting (open cell), non-connecting (closed cell), or any combination of these types. This test method determines numerical values for open cells. It is a porosity determination, measuring the accessible cellular volume of a material. The remaining volume is that occupied by closed cells and cell walls. Since any conveniently sized specimen is typically obtained by some cutting operation, a fraction of the closed cells will be opened by specimen preparation and will be included as open cells, (see Note 2).  
1.2 This test method provides good accuracy on predominantly highly open-celled materials. By not accounting for closed cells that were opened during specimen preparation, the accuracy decreases as the closed cell content increases and as the cell size increases.  
1.3 The values as stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are given for reference 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Note 1: This test method and ISO 4590 use the same basic principles but are significantly different in experimental detail.
Note 2: Two procedures for correcting for cells opened during specimen preparation are described in Appendix X1.1.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Feb-2021
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.22 - Cellular Materials - Plastics and Elastomers

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6226 − 21
Standard Test Method for
1
Open Cell Content of Rigid Cellular Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6226; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method covers cellular plastics, which are
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
composed of membranes or walls of polymer separating small
D2842 Test Method for Water Absorption of Rigid Cellular
cavities or cells. These cells may be interconnecting (open
Plastics
cell),non-connecting(closedcell),oranycombinationofthese
D3576 Test Method for Cell Size of Rigid Cellular Plastics
types. This test method determines numerical values for open
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
cells. It is a porosity determination, measuring the accessible
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
cellular volume of a material. The remaining volume is that
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
occupiedbyclosedcellsandcellwalls.Sinceanyconveniently
sizedspecimenistypicallyobtainedbysomecuttingoperation, 2.2 ISO Standard:
a fraction of the closed cells will be opened by specimen ISO 4590 Cellular Plastics—Determination of Volume Per-
3
preparation and will be included as open cells, (see Note 2). centage of Open and Closed Cells of Rigid Materials
1.2 This test method provides good accuracy on predomi-
3. Terminology
nantly highly open-celled materials. By not accounting for
3.1 Definitions:
closed cells that were opened during specimen preparation, the
3.1.1 Terms used in this standard are defined in accordance
accuracy decreases as the closed cell content increases and as
with Terminology D883, unless otherwise specified. For terms
the cell size increases.
relating to precision and bias and associated issues, the terms
1.3 The values as stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
used in this standard are defined in accordance with Terminol-
standard. The values in parentheses are given for reference
ogy E456.
only.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.1 closed cell—a cell totally enclosed by its walls and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
hence not interconnecting with other cells.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.2 open cell—a cell not totally enclosed by its walls and
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
open to the surface either directly or by interconnecting with
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
other cells.
NOTE 1—This test method and ISO 4590 use the same basic principles
3.2.3 volume of closed cells and cell walls—inaccessible
but are significantly different in experimental detail.
internal volume, consisting of an aggregate of solid polymer
NOTE 2—Two procedures for correcting for cells opened during
volume (cell walls, struts), filler volume, when applicable
specimen preparation are described in Appendix X1.1.
(solidparticlesorfibers),thevolumeofindividualclosedcells,
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
andthevolumeofsmallcellgroupsinterconnectedbyruptured
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
cell walls but otherwise inaccessible.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.2.4 uncorrected volume of open cells—the aggregate mea-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
surement of both the internal porous volume of the material
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
and the various irregular volumes accessible at the cut-cell
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
surface of the test specimen.
1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.22 on Cellular Materials - contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Plastics and Elastomers. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Feb. 15, 2021. Published February 2021. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D6226 - 15. DOI: Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/D6226-21. 4th Floor, New York,
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D6226 − 15 D6226 − 21
Standard Test Method for
1
Open Cell Content of Rigid Cellular Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6226; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This test method covers cellular plastics, which are composed of membranes or walls of polymer separating small cavities or
cells. These cells may be interconnecting (open cell), non-connecting (closed cell), or any combination of these types. This test
method determines numerical values for open cells. It is a porosity determination, measuring the accessible cellular volume of a
material. The remaining volume is that occupied by closed cells and cell walls. Since any conveniently sized specimen is typically
obtained by some cutting operation, a fraction of the closed cells will be opened by specimen preparation and will be included as
open cells, (see Note 2).
1.2 This test method provides good accuracy on predominantly highly open-celled materials. By not accounting for closed cells
that were opened during specimen preparation, the accuracy decreases as the closed cell content increases and as the cell size
increases.
1.3 The values as stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are given for reference 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
NOTE 1—This test method and ISO 4590 use the same basic principles but are significantly different in experimental detail.
NOTE 2—Two procedures for correcting for cells opened during specimen preparation are described in Appendix X1.1.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D2842 Test Method for Water Absorption of Rigid Cellular Plastics
D3576 Test Method for Cell Size of Rigid Cellular Plastics
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.22 on Cellular Materials - Plastics
and Elastomers.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2015Feb. 15, 2021. Published September 2015February 2021. Originally approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 20102015
as D6226 - 10.D6226 - 15. DOI: 10.1520/D6226-15.10.1520/D6226-21.
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 Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*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
1

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D6226 − 21
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
2.2 ISO Standard:
3
ISO 4590 Cellular Plastics—Determination of Volume Percentage of Open and Closed Cells of Rigid Materials
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 Terms relating to plastics as given in used in this standard are defined in accordance with Terminology D883 shall be used
where applicable., unless otherwise specified. For terms relating to precision and bias and associated issues, the terms used in this
standard are defined in accordance with Terminology E456.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 closed cell—a cell totally enclosed by its walls and hence not interconnecting with other cells.
3.2.2 open cell—a cell not totally enclosed by its walls and open to the surface either directly or by interconnecting with other
cells.
3.2.3 volume of closed cells and cell walls—inaccessible internal volume, consisting of an aggre
...