ASTM E1640-23

Standard Test Method for Assignment of the Glass Transition Temperature By Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method can be used to locate the glass transition region and assign a glass transition temperature of amorphous and semi-crystalline materials.  
5.2 Dynamic mechanical analyzers monitor changes in the viscoelastic properties of a material as a function of temperature and frequency, providing a means to quantify these changes. In ideal cases, the temperature of the onset of the decrease in storage modulus marks the glass transition.  
5.3 The glass transition takes place over a temperature range. This method assigns a single temperature (Tg) to represent that temperature range as measured by dynamic mechanical analysis. Tg may be determined by a variety of techniques and may vary according to that technique.  
5.4 A glass transition temperature (Tg) is useful in characterizing many important physical attributes of thermoplastic, thermosets, and semi-crystalline materials including their thermal history, processing conditions, physical stability, progress of chemical reactions, degree of cure, and both mechanical and electrical behavior.  
5.5 This test method is useful for quality control, specification acceptance, and research.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the assignment of a glass transition temperature (Tg) of materials using dynamic mechanical analyzers.  
1.2 This test method is applicable to thermoplastic polymers, thermoset polymers, and partially crystalline materials which are thermally stable in the glass transition region.  
1.3 The applicable range of temperatures for this test method is dependent upon the instrumentation used, but, in order to encompass all materials, the minimum temperature should be about −150 °C.  
1.4 This test method is intended for materials having an elastic modulus in the range of 0.5 MPa to 100 GPa.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 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.  
1.7 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: 31-Jul-2023
• ICS: 81.040.10 - Raw materials and raw glass
• Technical Committee: E37 - Thermal Measurements
• Drafting Committee: E37.10 - Fundamental, Statistical and Mechanical Properties

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: E1640 − 23
Standard Test Method for
Assignment of the Glass Transition Temperature By
1
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1640; 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* E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1.1 This test method covers the assignment of a glass
E1142 Terminology Relating to Thermophysical Properties
transition temperature (T ) of materials using dynamic me-
g
E1363 Test Method for Temperature Calibration of Thermo-
chanical analyzers.
mechanical Analyzers
1.2 This test method is applicable to thermoplastic
E1545 Test Method for Assignment of the Glass Transition
polymers, thermoset polymers, and partially crystalline mate-
Temperature by Thermomechanical Analysis
rials which are thermally stable in the glass transition region.
E1867 Test Methods for Temperature Calibration of Dy-
1.3 The applicable range of temperatures for this test namic Mechanical Analyzers
E2254 Test Method for Storage Modulus Calibration of
method is dependent upon the instrumentation used, but, in
order to encompass all materials, the minimum temperature Dynamic Mechanical Analyzers
E2425 Test Method for Loss Modulus Conformance of
should be about −150 °C.
Dynamic Mechanical Analyzers
1.4 This test method is intended for materials having an
E3142 Test Method for Thermal Lag of Thermal Analysis
elastic modulus in the range of 0.5 MPa to 100 GPa.
Apparatus
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3. Terminology
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 Specific technical terms used in this document are
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
defined in Terminologies D4092 and E1142 including Celsius,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
dynamic mechanical analyzer, glass transition, glass transition
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
temperature, loss modulus, storage modulus, tangent delta, and
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
viscoelasticity.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
4. Summary of Test Method
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4.1 A specimen of known geometry is placed in mechanical
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
oscillation at either fixed or resonant frequency and changes in
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
the viscoelastic response of the material are monitored as a
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
function of temperature. Under ideal conditions, during
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
heating, the glass transition region is marked by a rapid
2. Referenced Documents
decrease in the storage modulus and a rapid increase in the loss
2
modulus and tangent delta. The glass transition of the test
2.1 ASTM Standards:
specimen is indicated by the extrapolated onset of the decrease
D4092 Terminology for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical
in storage modulus which marks the transition from a glassy to
Properties
a rubbery solid.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E37 on Thermal
5. Significance and Use
Measurements and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E37.10 on
Fundamental, Statistical and Mechanical Properties.
5.1 This test method can be used to locate the glass
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2023. Published August 2023. Originally
transition region and assign a glass transition temperature of
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as E1640 – 18. DOI:
amorphous and semi-crystalline materials.
10.1520/E1640-23.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5.2 Dynamic mechanical analyzers monitor changes in the
contact ASTM Customer service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
viscoelastic properties of a material as a function of tempera-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. ture and frequency, providing a means to quantify these
*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

-------------
...

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: E1640 − 18 E1640 − 23
Standard Test Method for
Assignment of the Glass Transition Temperature By
1
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1640; 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*
1.1 This test method covers the assignment of a glass transition temperature (T ) of materials using dynamic mechanical analyzers.
g
1.2 This test method is applicable to thermoplastic polymers, thermoset polymers, and partially crystalline materials which are
thermally stable in the glass transition region.
1.3 The applicable range of temperatures for this test method is dependent upon the instrumentation used, but, in order to
encompass all materials, the minimum temperature should be about −150 °C.
1.4 This test method is intended for materials having an elastic modulus in the range of 0.5 MPa to 100 GPa.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 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.
1.7 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:
D4092 Terminology for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E1142 Terminology Relating to Thermophysical Properties
E1363 Test Method for Temperature Calibration of Thermomechanical Analyzers
E1545 Test Method for Assignment of the Glass Transition Temperature by Thermomechanical Analysis
E1867 Test Methods for Temperature Calibration of Dynamic Mechanical Analyzers
E2254 Test Method for Storage Modulus Calibration of Dynamic Mechanical Analyzers
E2425 Test Method for Loss Modulus Conformance of Dynamic Mechanical Analyzers
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E37 on Thermal Measurements and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E37.10 on Fundamental,
Statistical and Mechanical Properties.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2018Aug. 1, 2023. Published AugustAugust 2023. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as E1640 – 13
(2018).E1640 – 18. DOI: 10.1520/E1640-18.10.1520/E1640-23.
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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E1640 − 23
E2877E3142 Guide for Digital Contact ThermometersTest Method for Thermal Lag of Thermal Analysis Apparatus
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 Specific technical terms used in this document are defined in Terminologies D4092 and E1142 including Celsius, dynamic
mechanical analyzer, glass transition, glass transition temperature, loss modulus, storage modulus, tangent delta, and
viscoelasticity.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 A specimen of known geometry is placed in mechanical oscillation at either fixed or resonant frequency and changes in the
viscoelastic response of the material are monitored as a function of temperature. Under ideal conditions, during heating, the glass
transition region is marked by a rapid decrease in the storage modulus and a rapid increase in the loss modulus and tangent delta.
The glass transition of the test specimen is indicated by the extrapolated onset of the decrease in storage modulus which marks
the transition from a glassy to a rubbery solid.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method can be used to locate the glass transition region
...