ASTM D4673-23

Standard Classification System for and Basis for Specification for Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene (ABS) Plastics and Alloys Molding and Extrusion Materials

ABSTRACT
This classification system covers only acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) materials and ABS alloys suitable for injection molding and extrusion. Some of these compositions may also be suitable for compression molding. Recycle ABS and alloys will be addressed in a separate standard. ABS materials, based on three or more monomers, are grouped rather than rigidly classified. These groups are then subdivided by class and then grades. Reinforced and lubricated versions of the ABS materials are classified. When the grade of the basic material is not known, or is not important, the use of "0" grade classification shall be used for reinforced materials in this system. The material composition shall be uniform and shall conform to the requirements specified. Test specimens and testing parameters for the materials shall conform to the requirements prescribed. The tensile strength at yield, modulus, Charpy impact, vicat softening point, heat deflection temperature, and glass content of glass-reinforced materials shall be tested to meet the requirements prescribed.
SCOPE
1.1 This classification system covers only ABS materials and ABS alloys suitable for injection molding and extrusion. Some of these compositions are also suitable for compression molding.  
1.2 This classification system and subsequent line callout (specification) are intended to provide a means of calling out plastic materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not intended for the selection of materials. Materials are to be selected by personnel with expertise in the plastics field where the economics, the environment to be encountered, the inherent properties of the materials, the part design, the part performance required, and the manufacturing process to be employed all enter into the selection.  
1.3 The properties included in this classification system are those required to identify the compositions covered. Other requirements necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications are addressed by using the suffixes given in Section 5.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 12, of this classification system: 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 standard and ISO 19062 address the same subject matter, but differ in technical content.  
1.6 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-Dec-2022
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.15 - Thermoplastic Materials

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: D4673 − 23
Standard Classification System for and Basis for Specification
for
Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene (ABS) Plastics and Alloys
1
Molding and Extrusion Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4673; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.1 This classification system covers only ABS materials
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
and ABS alloys suitable for injection molding and extrusion.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
Some of these compositions are also suitable for compression
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
molding.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.2 This classification system and subsequent line callout
(specification) are intended to provide a means of calling out
2. Referenced Documents
plastic materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
It is not intended for the selection of materials. Materials are to
D256 Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum
be selected by personnel with expertise in the plastics field
where the economics, the environment to be encountered, the Impact Resistance of Plastics
inherent properties of the materials, the part design, the part D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
performance required, and the manufacturing process to be
D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
employed all enter into the selection.
D648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics
Under Flexural Load in the Edgewise Position
1.3 The properties included in this classification system are
D790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced
those required to identify the compositions covered. Other
and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materi-
requirements necessary to identify particular characteristics
als
important to specialized applications are addressed by using
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
the suffixes given in Section 5.
D1003 Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
of Transparent Plastics
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
D1525 Test Method for Vicat Softening Temperature of
only.
Plastics
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the
D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plas-
test methods portion, Section 12, of this classification system:
tics
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety
D3641 Practice for Injection Molding Test Specimens of
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
Thermoplastic Molding and Extrusion Materials
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety,
D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
health, and environmental practices and determine the appli-
D4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materi-
cability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
als
NOTE 1—This standard and ISO 19062 address the same subject matter,
D5630 Test Method for Ash Content in Plastics
but differ in technical content.
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
Determine Conformance with Specifications
1
This classification system is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic
2
Materials. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2023. Published January 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
published in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as D4673–16. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D4673-23. 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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D4673 − 23
3
2.2 ISO Standards: ISO 19062-1 Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
ISO 75-1 Plastics—Determination of Temperature of De- Moulding and Extrusion Materials—Part 1: Designa
...

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: D4673 − 16 D4673 − 23
Standard Classification System for and Basis for Specification
for
Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene (ABS) Plastics and Alloys
1
Molding and Extrusion Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4673; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This classification system covers only ABS materials and ABS alloys suitable for injection molding and extrusion. Some of
these compositions are also suitable for compression molding. Recycle ABS and alloys will be addressed in a separate standard.
1.2 This classification system and subsequent line callout (specification) are intended to provide a means of calling out plastic
materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not intended for the selection of materials. Materials are to be selected
by personnel with expertise in the plastics field where the economics, the environment to be encountered, the inherent properties
of the materials, the part design, the part performance required, and the manufacturing process to be employed all enter into the
selection.
1.3 The properties included in this classification system are those required to identify the compositions covered. Other
requirements necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications are addressed by using the
suffixes given in Section 5.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 12, of this classification system: 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 healthsafety, health, and environmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
NOTE 1—This standard and ISO 2580 address the same subject matter, but differ in technical content.
NOTE 1—This standard and ISO 19062 address the same subject matter, but differ in technical content.
1.6 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.
1
This classification system is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic
Materials.
Current edition approved April 1, 2016Jan. 1, 2023. Published April 2016January 2023. Originally published in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 20082016 as
D4673–02(2008).D4673–16. DOI: 10.1520/D4673-16.10.1520/D4673-23.
*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

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4673 − 23
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D256 Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance of Plastics
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
D648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics Under Flexural Load in the Edgewise Position
D790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D1003 Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics
D1525 Test Method for Vicat Softening Temperature of Plastics
D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics
D3641 Practice for Injection Molding Test Specimens of Thermoplastic Molding and Extrusion Materials
D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
D4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
D5630 Test Method for Ash Content in Plastics
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 75-1 Plastics—Determination of Tem
...