ISO/TC 61/SC 9/WG 8 - Polyamides

This document establishes a system of designation for polyamide (PA) moulding and extrusion materials, which can be used as the basis for specifications. The types of polyamide plastics are differentiated from each other by a classification system based on appropriate levels of the designatory properties a) viscosity number, b) tensile modulus, and c) nucleating additive, and on information about composition, intended application and/or method of processing, important properties, additives, colorants, fillers, and reinforcing materials. The designation system is applicable to all polyamide homopolymers, copolymers, and blends. It is applicable to unmodified materials ready for normal use and materials modified, for example, by colorants, additives, fillers, reinforcing materials, and polymer modifiers. This document does not apply to the following materials: — monomer casting-type polyamides of PA 6; — monomer casting-type polyamides of PA 12. It is not intended to imply that materials having the same designation give the same performance. This document does not provide engineering data, performance data, or data on processing conditions which can be required to specify a material. If such additional properties are required, they can be determined according to the test methods specified in ISO 16396-2, if suitable. In order to specify a thermoplastic material for a particular application, additional requirements can be given in data block 5 (see 4.1).

This document specifies the methods of preparation of test specimens and the test methods to be used in determining the properties of polyamide moulding and extrusion materials. It gives the requirements for handling test material and for conditioning both the test material before moulding and the specimens before testing. This document specifies procedures and conditions for the preparation of test specimens and procedures for measuring properties of the materials from which these specimens are made are given. It lists the properties and test methods that are suitable and necessary to characterize polyamide moulding and extrusion materials. The properties have been selected from the general test methods in ISO 10350‑1. Other test methods in wide use for, or of particular significance to, these moulding and extrusion materials are also included in this document, as are the designatory properties viscosity number and tensile modulus given in ISO 16396‑1.

This document describes a method for the accelerated conditioning of test specimens of polyamides and copolyamides. It is applicable to grades containing fillers and other additives, but not grades containing more than a mass fraction of 2 % extractables. The equilibrium moisture content attained by this method is close to the equilibrium moisture content obtained in standard atmosphere 23 °C/50 %RH. The values of mechanical properties obtained after accelerated conditioning in accordance with this method can differ slightly from those obtained after conditioning in standard atmosphere 23 °C/50 %RH.

This document specifies a method for the determination of the viscosity number of dilute solutions of polyamides in certain specified solvents. The method is applicable to the polyamides designated PA 46, PA 6, PA 66, PA 69, PA 610, PA 612, PA 11, PA 12, PA 6T/66, PA 6I/6T, PA 6T/6I/66, PA 6T/6I, PA 6I/6T/66 and PA MXD6 as defined in ISO 16396-1, as well as to copolyamides, compounds of polyamides and other polyamides that are soluble in one of the specified solvents under the specified conditions. The method is not applicable to polyamides produced by anionic polymerization of lactams or produced with cross-linking agents; such polyamides are normally insoluble in the specified solvents. The viscosity number is determined by the general procedure specified in ISO 1628‑1, observing the particular conditions specified in this document.

ISO 16396-2:2017 specifies the methods of preparation of test specimens and the test methods to be used in determining the properties of polyamide moulding and extrusion materials. Requirements for handling test material and for conditioning both the test material before moulding and the specimens before testing are given. Procedures and conditions for the preparation of test specimens and procedures for measuring properties of the materials from which these specimens are made are given. Properties and test methods that are suitable and necessary to characterize polyamide moulding and extrusion materials are listed. The properties have been selected from the general test methods in ISO 10350‑1. Other test methods in wide use for, or of particular significance to, these moulding and extrusion materials are also included in this document, as are the designatory properties viscosity number and tensile modulus of elasticity given in ISO 16396‑1.

ISO 16396-1:2015 establishes a system of designation for polyamide (PA) moulding and extrusion materials, which can be used as the basis for specifications. The types of polyamide plastics are differentiated from each other by a classification system based on appropriate levels of the designatory properties a) viscosity number and b) tensile modulus of elasticity and on information about composition, intended application and/or method of processing, important properties, additives, colorants, fillers, and reinforcing materials. The designation system is applicable to all polyamide homopolymers, copolymers, and blends. It applies to unmodified materials ready for normal use and materials modified, for example, by colorants, additives, fillers, reinforcing materials, and polymer modifiers. ISO 16396-1:2015 does not apply to the following materials: a) monomer casting-type polyamides of PA 6; b) monomer casting-type polyamides of PA 12.

ISO 1874-2:2012 specifies the methods of preparation of test specimens and the test methods to be used in determining the properties of polyamide moulding and extrusion materials. Requirements for handling test material and for conditioning both the test material before moulding and the specimens before testing are given. Procedures and conditions for the preparation of test specimens and procedures for measuring properties of the materials from which these specimens are made are given. Properties and test methods that are suitable and necessary to characterize polyamide moulding and extrusion materials are listed. The properties have been selected from the general test methods in ISO 10350‑1. Other test methods in wide use for, or of particular significance to, these moulding and extrusion materials are also included in ISO 1874-2:2012, as are the designatory properties viscosity number and tensile modulus of elasticity given in ISO 1874‑1.

ISO 11337:2010 specifies a method for determining epsilon‑caprolactam and omega‑laurolactam in polyamides by gas chromatography. It is suitable particularly for the determination of epsilon‑caprolactam in polyamide 6 and omega‑laurolactam in polyamide 12. Bearing in mind that gas chromatography offers a wide range of possible conditions, the method specified is that shown to have been suitable in practice. Two variants of the basic method are specified: Method A is an extraction method with boiling methanol, and the extract is injected into a gas chromatograph. Method B is a method using a solvent, and the solution is injected into a gas chromatograph.

ISO 1874-1:2010 establishes a system of designation for polyamide (PA) thermoplastic materials, which may be used as the basis for specifications. It covers polyamide homopolymers for moulding and extrusion based on PA 6, PA 66, PA 69, PA 610, PA 612, PA 11, PA 12, PA MXD6, PA 46, PA 1212, PA 4T, PA 6T and PA 9T and copolyamides of various compositions for moulding and extrusion. The types of polyamide plastic are differentiated from each other by a classification system based on appropriate levels of the designatory properties viscosity number, tensile modulus of elasticity and presence of nucleating agent, and on information about chemical structure, intended application, method of processing, important properties, additives, colour, fillers and reinforcing materials. The designation system is applicable to all polyamide homopolymers and copolymers. It applies to materials ready for normal use, unmodified and modified by colorants, additives, fillers, reinforcing materials, polymer modifiers, etc. It does not apply to monomer casting-type polyamides of PA 6 and PA 12.

ISO 307:2007 specifies a method for the determination of the viscosity number of dilute solutions of polyamides in certain specified solvents. For pure polyamides or polyamides containing additives that do not interfere with the viscosity measurement, the determination of the viscosity number of a polyamide provides a measure of the molecular mass of the polymer. The viscosity number of pure polyamides or polyamides which contain additives that do not interfere with the viscosity measurement can be converted from one solvent to another. The viscosity number of polyamides containing additives that do interfere with the viscosity measurement is specific to the solvent used and the material composition. In this case, the measured viscosity number cannot be converted from one solvent to another. The method is applicable to the polyamides designated PA 46, PA 6, PA 66, PA 69, PA 610, PA 612, PA 11, PA 12, PA 6T/66, PA 6I/6T, PA 6T/6I/66, PA 6T/6I, PA 6I/6T/66 and PA MXD6, as well as to copolyamides, compounds of polyamides and other polyamides that are soluble in one of the specified solvents under the specified conditions. The method is not applicable to polyamides produced by anionic polymerization of lactams or produced with cross-linking agents; such polyamides are normally insoluble in the specified solvents.

ISO 1874-2:2006 specifies the methods of preparation of test specimens and the test methods to be used in determining the properties of polyamide moulding and extrusion materials. Requirements for handling test material and for conditioning both the test material before moulding and the specimens before testing are given. Procedures and conditions for the preparation of test specimens and procedures for measuring properties of the materials from which these specimens are made are given. Properties and test methods that are suitable and necessary to characterize polyamide moulding and extrusion materials are listed.

ISO 307:2003 specifies a method for the determination of the viscosity number (also referred to as reduced viscosity) of dilute solutions of polyamides in certain specified solvents. The method is applicable to the polyamides designated PA 46, PA 6, PA 66, PA 69, PA 610, PA 612, PA 11, PA 12, PA 6T/66 and PA MXD6 as defined in ISO 1874-1, as well as to copolyamides and other polyamides that are soluble in one of the specified solvents under the specified conditions. The method is not applicable to polyamides produced by anionic polymerization of lactams or produced with crosslinking agents; such polyamides are normally insoluble in the specified solvents.

Specifies the methods of preparation of test specimens and the test methods for the determination of the properties of polyamide moulding and extrusion materials. Gives requirements for handling test material and for conditioning. Properties which are suitable and necessary to characterize polyamides are listed.

The method described is based on storing the test specimens in an atmosphere of (70 ± 1) °C and (62 ± 1) % relative humidity (psychrometric temperature difference of (10 ± 0,3) °C), until moisture absorption by the specimen has reached at least 95 % of its equilibrium level. It is applicable to polyamides and copolyamides in grades containing fillers and other additives, but not to grades containing more than 2 % (m/m) extractables. The equilibrium moisture content attained is close to the equilibrium moisture content obtained in standard atmosphere 23/50.

Cancels and replaces the second edition (1984). Specifies a method for the determination of the viscosity number of dilute solutions of polyamides in certain specified solvents that is applicable to polyamides as defined in ISO 1874-1, as well as to copolyamides and other polyamides that are soluble in one of the specified solvents under the specified conditions. Not applicable to polyamides produced by anionic polymerization of lactams or produced with crosslinking agents. The viscosity number is determined by the general procedure specified in ISO 1628-1, observing the particular conditions specified herein, and is a measure of the relative molecular mass of the polymer.

Establishes a data block designation system which may be used as the basis for specifications. Tabulates the codes used in the data blocks. Gives examples of designations.