EN ISO 3146:2022

Plastics - Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or melting range) of semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods (ISO 3146:2022)

This document specifies two methods for evaluating the melting behaviour of semi-crystalline polymers.
a) Method A: Capillary tube
This method is based on the changes in shape of the polymer. It is applicable to all semi-crystalline polymers and their compounds.
NOTE 1   Method A can also be useful for the evaluation of the softening of non-crystalline solids.
b) Method B: Polarizing microscope
This method is based on changes in the optical properties of the polymer. It is applicable to polymers containing a birefringent crystalline phase. It might not be suitable for plastics compounds containing pigments and/or other additives which can interfere with the birefringence of the polymeric crystalline zone.
NOTE 2   Another method applicable to semi-crystalline polymers is described in ISO 11357‑3.

Kunststoffe - Bestimmung des Schmelzverhaltens (Schmelztemperatur oder Schmelzbereich) von teilkristallinen Polymeren im Kapillarrohr- und Polarisationsmikroskop-Verfahren (ISO 3146:2022)

Dieses Dokument legt zwei Verfahren zur Ermittlung des Schmelzverhaltens von teilkristallinen Polymeren fest.
a)   Verfahren A: Kapillarrohr
Dieses Verfahren beruht auf den Veränderungen der Form des Polymers. Es ist auf alle teilkristallinen Polymere und ihre Formmassen anwendbar.
ANMERKUNG 1   Verfahren A kann auch zur Bestimmung der Erweichung nichtkristalliner Feststoffe angewendet werden.
b)   Verfahren B: Polarisationsmikroskop
Dieses Verfahren beruht auf den Veränderungen der optischen Eigenschaften des Polymers. Es ist auf Polymere mit doppelbrechender kristalliner Phase anwendbar. Für Kunststoff-Formmassen, die Pigmente und/oder andere Zusätze enthalten, die die Doppelbrechung der polymeren, kristallinen Zone stören können, könnte es möglicherweise ungeeignet sein.
ANMERKUNG 2   Ein weiteres, für teilkristalline Polymere anwendbares Verfahren ist in ISO 11357 3 beschrieben.

Plastiques - Détermination du comportement à la fusion (température de fusion ou plage de températures de fusion) des polymères semi-cristallins par méthodes du tube capillaire et du microscope polarisant (ISO 3146:2022)

Le présent document spécifie deux méthodes d’évaluation du comportement à la fusion des polymères semi-cristallins.
a) Méthode A : Tube capillaire
Cette méthode repose sur l’évaluation des changements de forme du polymère. Elle est applicable à tous les polymères semi-cristallins ainsi qu’à leurs compositions.
NOTE 1   La méthode A peut également être utile pour évaluer le ramollissement des solides non cristallins.
b) Méthode B : Microscope polarisant
Cette méthode repose sur l’évaluation des variations des propriétés optiques du polymère. Elle est applicable aux polymères comportant une phase cristalline biréfringente. Elle peut ne pas convenir pour les compositions de plastiques contenant des pigments et/ou d’autres additifs qui pourraient interférer avec la biréfringence de la zone cristalline polymérique.
NOTE 2   Une autre méthode applicable aux polymères semi-cristallins est décrite dans l’ISO 11357‑3.

Polimerni materiali - Ugotavljanje temperature ali območja taljenja kristaliničnih polimerov s kapilarno cevko in polarizacijskim mikroskopom (ISO 3146:2021)

Ta dokument določa dve metodi za vrednotenje lastnosti kristaliničnih polimerov pri taljenju.
a) Metoda A: kapilarna cevka
Ta metoda temelji na spremembah oblike polimera. Uporablja se za vse kristalinične
polimere in njihove zmesi.
OPOMBA 1: Metoda A je lahko uporabna tudi za vrednotenje mehčanja nekristaliničnih trdnih snovi.
b) Metoda B: polarizacijski mikroskop
Ta metoda temelji na spremembah optičnih lastnosti polimera. Uporablja se za polimere
z dvolomno kristalinično fazo. Metoda morda ni primerna za zmesi polimernih materialov, ki vsebujejo
pigmente in/ali druge dodatke, ki lahko vplivajo na dvolomnost polimernega kristaliničnega
območja.
OPOMBA 2: Druga metoda, ki se uporablja za kristalinične polimere, je opisana v standardu ISO 11357-3.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 29-Jun-2022
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Sep-2022
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 249 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 249 - Plastics
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 30-Mar-2022
• Completion Date: 30-Mar-2022
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 3146:2022 - Plastics - Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or melting range) of semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods (ISO 3146:2022)

Relations

• Replaces: EN ISO 3146:2000 - Plastics - Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or melting range) of semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods (ISO 3146:2000)
• Effective Date: 06-Apr-2022
• Replaces: EN ISO 3146:2000/AC:2002 - Plastics - Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or melting range) of semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods (ISO 3146:2000/Cor.1:2002)
• Effective Date: 06-Apr-2022
• Replaces: EN ISO 3146:2000/AC:2003 - Plastics - Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or melting range) of semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods (ISO 3146:2000)
• Effective Date: 08-Jun-2022

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 3146:2022
01-maj-2022
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 3146:2000
SIST EN ISO 3146:2000/AC:2003
SIST EN ISO 3146:2000/AC:2005

Polimerni materiali - Ugotavljanje temperature ali območja taljenja kristaliničnih

polimerov s kapilarno cevko in polarizacijskim mikroskopom (ISO 3146:2021)

Plastics - Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or melting range) of

semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods (ISO

3146:2022)
Kunststoffe - Bestimmung des Schmelzverhaltens (Schmelztemperatur oder
Schmelzbereich) von teilkristallinen Polymeren im Kapillarrohr- und
Polarisationsmikroskop-Verfahren (ISO 3146:2022)

Plastiques - Détermination du comportement à la fusion (température de fusion ou plage

de températures de fusion) des polymères semi-cristallins par méthodes du tube
capillaire et du microscope polarisant (ISO 3146:2022)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 3146:2022
ICS:
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
SIST EN ISO 3146:2022 en,fr,de

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN ISO 3146:2022
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SIST EN ISO 3146:2022
EN ISO 3146
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
March 2022
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 83.080.01 Supersedes EN ISO 3146:2000, EN ISO
3146:2000/AC:2003
English Version
Plastics - Determination of melting behaviour (melting
temperature or melting range) of semi-crystalline
polymers by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope
methods (ISO 3146:2022)

Plastiques - Détermination du comportement à la Kunststoffe - Bestimmung des Schmelzverhaltens

fusion (température de fusion ou plage de (Schmelztemperatur oder Schmelzbereich) von

températures de fusion) des polymères semi-cristallins teilkristallinen Polymeren im Kapillarrohr- und

par méthodes du tube capillaire et du microscope Polarisationsmikroskop-Verfahren (ISO 3146:2022)

polarisant (ISO 3146:2022)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 12 February 2022.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this

European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references

concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN

member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by

translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management

Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,

Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,

Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and

United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels

© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 3146:2022 E

worldwide for CEN national Members.
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SIST EN ISO 3146:2022
EN ISO 3146:2022 (E)
Contents Page

European foreword ....................................................................................................................................................... 3

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SIST EN ISO 3146:2022
EN ISO 3146:2022 (E)
European foreword

This document (EN ISO 3146:2022) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61 "Plastics" in

collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics” the secretariat of which is held by NBN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an

identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by September 2022, and conflicting national standards

shall be withdrawn at the latest by September 2022.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of

patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes EN ISO 3146:2000, EN ISO 3146:2000/AC:2003.

Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards

body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.

According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the

following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,

Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,

Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of

North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the

United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice

The text of ISO 3146:2022 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 3146:2022 without any modification.

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SIST EN ISO 3146:2022
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SIST EN ISO 3146:2022
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 3146
Fourth edition
2022-03
Plastics — Determination of melting
behaviour (melting temperature or
melting range) of semi-crystalline
polymers by capillary tube and
polarizing-microscope methods
Plastiques — Détermination du comportement à la fusion
(température de fusion ou plage de températures de fusion) des
polymères semi-cristallins par méthodes du tube capillaire et du
microscope polarisant
Reference number
ISO 3146:2022(E)
© ISO 2022
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SIST EN ISO 3146:2022
ISO 3146:2022(E)
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2022

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may

be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on

the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below

or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
© ISO 2022 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 3146:2022
ISO 3146:2022(E)
Contents Page

Foreword ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................iv

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................v

1 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

2 Normative references ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

3 Terms and definitions .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

4 Method A — Capillary tube .......................................................................................................................................................................2

4.1 Principle ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2

4.2 Apparatus (see Figure 1) ............................................................................................................................................................... 2

4.3 Test samples .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 2

4.3.1 General ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 2

4.3.2 Characteristics ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3

4.3.3 Conditioning ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3

4.4 Procedure .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

4.4.1 Calibration ................................... ........................................................................................................ ..................................... 4

4.4.2 Determination ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5

4.5 Test report .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5

5 Method B — Polarizing microscope ................................................................................................................................................6

5.1 Principle ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

5.2 Apparatus .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

5.3 Test samples .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6

5.3.1 Powdered materials......................................................................................................................................................... 6

5.3.2 Moulded or pelleted materials ............................................................................................................................... 7

5.3.3 Film or sheet materials ................................................................................................................................................. 7

5.3.4 Conditioning ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7

5.4 Procedure .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

5.4.1 Calibration ................................... ........................................................................................................ ..................................... 7

5.4.2 Determination ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7

5.5 Precision ......... .................................................................................................................................. ............................................................ 8

5.6 Test report .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9

iii
© ISO 2022 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
SIST EN ISO 3146:2022
ISO 3146:2022(E)
Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards

bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out

through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical

committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International

organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.

ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of

electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are

described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the

different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the

editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of

patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of

any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or

on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not

constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and

expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to

the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see

www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.

This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 5, Physical-

chemical properties, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical

Committee CEN/TC 249, Plastics, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between

ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).

This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 3146:2000), which has been technically

revised. It also incorporates the Technical Corrigendum ISO 3146:2000/Cor 1:2002.

The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:

— the specifications of the apparatus and measurement procedure have been revised;

— the table of calibration standards has been revised by adding further entries, synonyms and CAS

numbers of organic chemicals, correcting errors and modifying melting temperatures according to

added references.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A

complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
© ISO 2022 – All rights reserved
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SIST EN ISO 3146:2022
ISO 3146:2022(E)
Introduction

The melting behaviour of a crystalline or semi-crystalline polymer is a structure-sensitive property.

In polymers, a sharp melting point, such as is observed for low molecular mass substances, usually does

not occur; instead, a melting temperature range is observed on heating, from the first change of shape of

the solid particles to the transformation into a highly viscous or viscoelastic liquid, with accompanying

disappearance of the crystalline phase. The melting range depends upon a number of parameters, such

as molecular mass, molecular mass distribution, per cent crys
...

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN ISO 3146:2021
01-marec-2021

Polimerni materiali - Ugotavljanje temperature ali območja taljenja kristaliničnih

polimerov s kapilarno cevko in polarizacijskim mikroskopom (ISO/DIS 3146:2021)

Plastics - Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or melting range) of

semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods (ISO/DIS

3146:2021)
Kunststoffe - Bestimmung des Schmelzverhaltens (Schmelztemperatur oder
Schmelzbereich) von teilkristallinen Polymeren im Kapillarrohr- und
Polarisationsmikroskop-Verfahren (ISO/DIS 3146:2021)

Plastiques - Détermination du comportement à la fusion (température de fusion ou plage

de températures de fusion) des polymères semi-cristallins par méthodes du tube
capillaire et du microscope polarisant (ISO/DIS 3146:2021)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN ISO 3146
ICS:
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
oSIST prEN ISO 3146:2021 en,fr,de

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 3146:2021
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oSIST prEN ISO 3146:2021
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
ISO/DIS 3146
ISO/TC 61/SC 5 Secretariat: DIN
Voting begins on: Voting terminates on:
2021-01-21 2021-04-15
Plastics — Determination of melting behaviour (melting
temperature or melting range) of semi-crystalline polymers
by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods

Plastiques — Détermination du comportement à la fusion (température de fusion ou plage de

températures de fusion) des polymères semi-cristallins par méthodes du tube capillaire et du microscope

polarisant
ICS: 83.080.01
THIS DOCUMENT IS A DRAFT CIRCULATED
This document is circulated as received from the committee secretariat.
FOR COMMENT AND APPROVAL. IT IS
THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY
NOT BE REFERRED TO AS AN INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD UNTIL PUBLISHED AS SUCH.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
ISO/CEN PARALLEL PROCESSING
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND
USER PURPOSES, DRAFT INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE TO
BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR
POTENTIAL TO BECOME STANDARDS TO
WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE MADE IN
Reference number
NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO/DIS 3146:2021(E)
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED
TO SUBMIT, WITH THEIR COMMENTS,
NOTIFICATION OF ANY RELEVANT PATENT
RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE AND TO
PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. ISO 2021
---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 3146:2021
ISO/DIS 3146:2021(E)
COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2021

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may

be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting

on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address

below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 3146:2021
ISO/DIS 3146:2021(E)
Contents Page

Foreword ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................iv

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................v

1 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1

2 Normative references ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

3 Terms and definitions ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

4 Method A — Capillary tube ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2

4.1 Principle ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2

4.2 Apparatus (see Figure 1) ................................................................................................................................................................ 2

4.3 Test samples .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 2

4.3.1 General...................................................................................................................................................................................... 2

4.3.2 Characteristics ................................................................................................................................................................... 3

4.3.3 Conditioning ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3

4.4 Procedure .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

4.4.1 Calibration ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4

4.4.2 Determination .................................................................................................................................................................... 5

4.5 Test report ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5

5 Method B — Polarizing microscope.................................................................................................................................................. 6

5.1 Principle ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6

5.2 Apparatus .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

5.3 Test samples .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6

5.3.1 Powdered materials ...................................................................................................................................................... 6

5.3.2 Moulded or pelleted materials ............................................................................................................................. 6

5.3.3 Film or sheet materials ........................................................................................................................................... .... 7

5.3.4 Conditioning ........................................................................................................................................................................ 7

5.4 Procedure .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

5.4.1 Calibration ............................................................................................................................................................................. 7

5.4.2 Determination .................................................................................................................................................................... 7

5.5 Precision ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

5.6 Test report ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9

© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved iii
---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 3146:2021
ISO/DIS 3146:2021(E)
Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards

bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out

through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical

committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International

organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.

ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of

electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are

described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the

different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the

editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may

be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent

rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the

Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not

constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and

expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the

World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso .org/

iso/ foreword .html.

This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 5, Physical-

chemical properties, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical

Committee CEN/TC 249, Plastics, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between

ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).

This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 3146:2000), which has been technically

revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:

a) the specifications of the apparatus and measurement procedure have been revised;

b) the technical corrigendum 1 dated 2002 has been incorporated;

c) the table of calibration standards has been revised by adding further entries, synonyms and CAS

numbers of organic chemicals, correcting errors and modifying melting temperatures according to

added references.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A

complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
iv © ISO 2021 – All rights reserved
---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
oSIST prEN ISO 3146:2021
ISO/DIS 3146:2021(E)
Introduction

The melting behaviour of a crystalline or semi-crystalline polymer is a structure-sensitive property.

In polymers, a sharp melting point, such as is observed for low molecular mass substances, usually does

not occur; instead a melting temperature range is observed on heating, from the first change of shape of

the solid particles to the transformation into a highly viscous or viscoelastic liquid, with accompanying

disappearance of the crystalline phase. The melting range depends upon a number of parameters, such

as molecular mass, molecular mass distribution, per cent crystallinity, and thermodynamic properties.

The melting range can also depend on experimental parameters such as previous thermal history of

the specimen, heating or cooling rate, etc. The lower or upper limit of the melting range, or its average

value, is sometimes conventionally referred to as the “melting temperature”.
© ISO 2021 – All rights reserved v
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oSIST prEN ISO 3146:2021
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oSIST prEN ISO 3146:2021
DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/DIS 3146:2021(E)
Plastics — Determination of melting behaviour (melting
temperature or melting range) of semi-crystalline polymers
by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods
1 Scope

This document specifies two methods for evaluating the melting behaviour of semi-crystalline

polymers.

Melting temperatures determined by the different methods usually differ by several kelvins for the

reasons explained in the introduction.
Method A: Capillary tube

This method is based on the changes in shape of the polymer. It is applicable to all semi-crystalline

polymers and their compounds.

NOTE 1 Method A can also be useful for the evaluation of the softening of non-crystalline solids.

Method B: Polarizing microscope

This method is based on changes in the optical properties of the polymer. It is applicable to polymers

containing a birefringent crystalline phase. It may not be suitable for plastics compounds containing

pigments and/or other additives which could interfere with the birefringence of the polymeric

crystalline zone.

NOTE 2 Another method applicable to semi-crystalline polymers is described in ISO 11357-3, Plastics —

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) — Part 3: Determination of temperature and enthalpy of melting and

cryst
...