ASTM D4549-11

Standard Classification System and Basis for Specification for Polystyrene and Rubber-Modified Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion Materials (PS)

ABSTRACT
This specification, which covers polystyrene materials, both crystal and rubber modified suitable for molding and extrusion, is intended to be a means of calling out plastic materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. Polystyrene materials are classified according to classes after being grouped as crystal, rubber modified, and others. The materials are further classified according to grades after being grouped as general-purpose, other medium impact, high impact, super-high-impact, and others. The materials shall conform to the prescribed injection molded properties and natural colors.
SCOPE
1.1 This classification system covers polystyrene materials, both crystal and rubber modified, suitable for molding and extrusion.  
1.2 This classification system and subsequent line callout (specification) are intended to be 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. Material selection can be made by those having expertise in the plastics field after careful consideration of the design and the performance required of the part, the environment to which it will be exposed, the fabrication process to be employed, the inherent properties of the material other than those covered by this specification, and the economics.
1.3 The properties included in this specification are those required to identify the compositions covered. Other requirements necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications are to be specified using the suffixes as given in Section 5.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
Note 1—This standard combines elements from ISO 1622-1-2 and ISO 2897-1-2, but is not equivalent to either ISO standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2011
• ICS: 83.080.10 - Thermosetting materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.15 - Thermoplastic Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4549-03 - Standard Specification for Polystyrene and Rubber-Modified Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion Materials (PS)
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D4000-23 - Standard Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2011
• Referred By: ASTM C1047-19 - Standard Specification for Accessories for Gypsum Wallboard and Gypsum Veneer Base
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2011
• Referred By: ASTM D955-21 - Standard Test Method of Measuring Shrinkage from Mold Dimensions of Thermoplastics
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2011

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:D4549 −11
StandardClassification System and Basis for Specification for
Polystyrene and Rubber-Modified Polystyrene Molding and
1
Extrusion Materials (PS)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4549; 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* D648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics
Under Flexural Load in the Edgewise Position
1.1 This classification system covers polystyrene materials,
D790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced
both crystal and rubber modified, suitable for molding and
and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materi-
extrusion.
als
1.2 This classification system and subsequent line callout
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
(specification) are intended to be a means of calling out plastic
tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
intended for the selection of materials. Material selection can
D1238 Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics
be made by those having expertise in the plastics field after
by Extrusion Plastometer
careful consideration of the design and the performance
D1525 Test Method for Vicat Softening Temperature of
required of the part, the environment to which it will be
Plastics
exposed, the fabrication process to be employed, the inherent
D1600 Terminology forAbbreviatedTerms Relating to Plas-
properties of the material other than those covered by this
tics
specification, and the economics.
D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
D4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materi-
1.3 The properties included in this specification are those
required to identify the compositions covered. Other require- als
D5630 Test Method for Ash Content in Plastics
ments necessary to identify particular characteristics important
to specialized applications are to be specified using the suffixes E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
5. Determine Conformance with Specifications
as given in Section
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
ISO 1622-1-2 Polystyrene (PS) Molding and Extrusion Ma-
standard.
NOTE 1—This standard combines elements from ISO 1622-1-2 and ISO terials
2897-1-2, but is not equivalent to either ISO standard.
ISO 2897-1-2 Impact Resistant Polystyrene (PS-I) Molding
and Extrusion Materials
2. Referenced Documents
2
3. Terminology
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D256 Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum
3.1 Definitions—The terminology used in this classification
Impact Resistance of Plastics
system is in accordance with Terminologies D883 and D1600.
D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
4. Classification
4.1 Polystyrene materials are classified into groups in ac-
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
cordance with classes and grades as shown in the basic
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic
property table (Table PS). Injection molded properties are the
Materials.
preferred standard and are used for the basis of call out
Current edition approved April 1, 2011. Published April 2011. Originally
approved in 1985. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D4549 – 03. DOI:
examples.
10.1520/D4549-11.
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 from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*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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D4549−11
NOTE 2—Since compression molded properties have been removed Test Method D5630 where applicable.
from the standard with this publication, refer to previous publications of
4.2.2 Table A, Detail Requirements—An identifying number
this standard, if interested in these properties.
is made up of the letter A and five digits comprising the cell
NOTE 3—An example of this classification system for PS0111 is as
follow
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:D4549–03
Standard Specification for Designation: D4549 – 11
Standard Classification System and Basis for Specification for
Polystyrene and Rubber-Modified Polystyrene Molding and
1
Extrusion Materials (PS)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4549; 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 specification classification system covers polystyrene materials, both crystal and rubber modified, suitable for molding
and extrusion. Recycled polystyrene products are addressed in Specification D5676.
1.2This specification is
1.2 This classification system and subsequent line callout (specification) are intended to be 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. Material selection shouldcan
be made by those having expertise in the plastics field after careful consideration of the design and the performance required of
thepart,theenvironmenttowhichitwillbeexposed,thefabricationprocesstobeemployed,theinherentpropertiesofthematerial
other than those covered by this specification, and the economics.
1.3 The properties included in this specification are those required to identify the compositions covered. Other requirements
necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications can are to be called outspecified using the
suffixes as given in Section 5.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
NOTE 1—This standard combines elements from ISO 1622-1-2 and ISO 2897-1-2, but is not equivalent to either ISO standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D256 Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance of Plastics
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
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D1238 Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer
D1525 Test Method for Vicat Softening Temperature of Plastics
D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics D2584Test Method for Ignition Loss of Cured Reinforced
Resins
D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
D4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
D5676Specification for Recycled Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion Materials 5630 Test Method forAsh Content in Plastics
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
1
This specification 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 Aug. 10, 2003. Published October 2003. Originally approved in 1985. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D4549–00. DOI:
10.1520/D4549-03.
Current edition approved April 1, 2011. Published April 2011. Originally approved in 1985. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D4549 – 03. DOI:
10.1520/D4549-11.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM 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

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4549 – 11
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 1622-1-2 Polystyrene (PS) Molding and Extrusion Materials
ISO 2897-1-2 Impact Resistant Polystyrene (PS-I) Molding and Extrusion Materials
3. Terminology
3.1Definitions—For definitions of technical terms pertaining to plastics used in this specification, see Terminology
3.1 Definitions—The terminology used in this classification system is in accordance with Terminologies D883 and D1600.
4. Classification
4.1 Polystyrene materials are classi
...