Astm standards polymers
This ASTM standard outlines how homogeneity can be achieved sample, which is essential for accurately measuring material properties via force testing. ASTM standard D4703, for example, describes how isotropic test-samples of thermoplastic materials can be compression molded in a press 3. One example of how an ASTM standard is used for mechanical testing of plastics is in the preparation of test samples.
Countless industrial and consumer products rely on the electrical, chemical and mechanical properties of these materials so mechanical testing of rubber and plastics to the relevant standards is therefore crucial for the development of products. The mechanical properties of plastics and rubbers are highly variable, and the exploitation of these spectra of properties lies at the core of much of modern technology. Physical property testing is of special concern in industries that use rubber and plastics. The Importance of Mechanical Testing and Sample Preparation of Rubber and Plastics The use of high-performance and high-precision presses means that manufacturers and testing organizations are able to ensure quality and reliability by adhering to ASTM standards. In addition, presses are routinely used in ASTM standards as the means by which plastic and rubber test samples are produced. Hydraulic Presses play a crucial role in the definition of these standards: as the means by which a controlled force can be applied to different materials and components, presses are the true workhorses of the physical testing world. Standards in testing are vitally important, and organizations in the USA and worldwide rely on these standards to ensure that their mechanical testing procedures are rigorous, accurate and consistent with each other. The range of ASTMS applications is very broad, and each application has its own numbered ASTM National Standard. The scope of the work of ASTM International includes the definition and maintenance of a large number of standards for mechanical testing 2. These standards are of global influence: More than half of ASTM standards have been adopted as the basis for national standards in the USA, or are referenced in regulations in countries outside the USA.
ASTM standards are defined with the help of over 140 technical standards-writing committees, with members hailing from over 140 different countries.
In this article we take a look at how ASTM standards are used for testing of rubber and plastics, and how presses ensure that these standards are rigorously adhered to.įormerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM International is responsible for defining over 12,500 technical standards designed to improve product quality and safety globally 1. Rubber and plastics have highly diverse properties so for industries that use or manufacture rubber and plastics, ASTM standards play a vital role in ensuring the reliability of information used to make decisions regarding materials. ASTM standards for materials testing are applied worldwide to ensure that the measurement of the physical properties of materials are representative and comparable to each other.