ASTM D6226-15

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 and health 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2015
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.22 - Cellular Materials - Plastics and Elastomers

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: D6226 − 15
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 D2842 Test Method for Water Absorption of Rigid Cellular
Plastics
1.1 This test method covers cellular plastics, which are
D3576 Test Method for Cell Size of Rigid Cellular Plastics
composed of membranes or walls of polymer separating small
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
cavities or cells. These cells may be interconnecting (open
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
cell),non-connecting(closedcell),oranycombinationofthese
2.2 ISO Standard:
types. This test method determines numerical values for open
ISO 4590 Cellular Plastics—Determination of Volume Per-
cells. It is a porosity determination, measuring the accessible
3
centage of Open and Closed Cells of Rigid Materials
cellular volume of a material. The remaining volume is that
occupiedbyclosedcellsandcellwalls.Sinceanyconveniently
3. Terminology
sizedspecimenistypicallyobtainedbysomecuttingoperation,
a fraction of the closed cells will be opened by specimen
3.1 Definitions:
preparation and will be included as open cells, (see Note 2).
3.1.1 Terms relating to plastics as given in Terminology
D883 shall be used where applicable.
1.2 This test method provides good accuracy on predomi-
nantly highly open-celled materials. By not accounting for
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
closed cells that were opened during specimen preparation, the
3.2.1 closed cell—a cell totally enclosed by its walls and
accuracy decreases as the closed cell content increases and as
hence not interconnecting with other cells.
the cell size increases.
3.2.2 open cell—a cell not totally enclosed by its walls and
1.3 The values as stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
open to the surface either directly or by interconnecting with
standard. The values in parentheses are given for reference other cells.
only.
3.2.3 volume of closed cells and cell walls—inaccessible
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the internal volume, consisting of an aggregate of solid polymer
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the volume (cell walls, struts), filler volume, when applicable
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
(solidparticlesorfibers),thevolumeofindividualclosedcells,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- andthevolumeofsmallcellgroupsinterconnectedbyruptured
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
cell walls but otherwise inaccessible.
3.2.4 uncorrected volume of open cells—the aggregate mea-
NOTE 1—This test method and ISO 4590 use the same basic principles
but are significantly different in experimental detail.
surement of both the internal porous volume of the material
NOTE 2—Two procedures for correcting for cells opened during
and the various irregular volumes accessible at the cut-cell
specimen preparation are described in Appendix X1.1.
surface of the test specimen.
3.3 Symbols:
2. Referenced Documents
2 3.3.1 d—specimen diameter, cm.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.3.2 h—specimen height, cm.
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
3.3.3 l—specimen length, cm.
3.3.4 O —volume, percent open cells.
v
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
3
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.22 on Cellular Materials - 3.3.5 V—geometric volume of specimen, cm .
Plastics and Elastomers.
3
3.3.6 V —volume of the calibration standard, cm .
CALIB
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2015. Published September 2015. Originally
3
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D6226 - 10. DOI:
3.3.7 V —volume of the sample chamber, cm .
CHAMBER
10.1520/D6226-15.
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
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D6226 − 15
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3.3.8 V —expansion reference volume, cm .
EXP
3
3.3.9 V —specimen displacement volume, cm , and,
SPEC
3.3.10 w—specimen width, cm.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 This test method is based on a determination of porosity
...

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 − 10 D6226 − 15
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
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 can only
be 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 and health 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.
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
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 Terminology D883 shall be used where applicable.
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 aggregate of solid polymer volume
(cell walls, struts), filler volume, when applicable (solid particles or fibers), the volume of individual closed cells, and the volume
of small cell groups interconnected by ruptured cell walls but otherwise inaccessible.
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 Aug. 1, 2010Sept. 1, 2015. Published September 2010September 2015. Originally approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 20052010
as D6226 - 05.D6226 - 10. DOI: 10.1520/D6226-10.10.1520/D6226-15.
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.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D6226 − 15
3.2.4 uncorrected volume of open cells—the aggregate measurement of both the internal porous volume of the material and the
various irregular volumes accessible at the cut-cell surface of the test specimen.
3.3 Symbols:
3.3.1 d—specimen diameter, cm.
3.3.2 h—specimen height, cm.
3.3.3 l—specimen length, cm.
3.3.4 O —volume, per
...