Entrepreneurs Conference

October 27, 2010

Discussion of ASTM testing and other
test methods for Property Sheets.
Dennis L. Hayford
Executive Director
I’m not here to teach chemistry.
But I am here to talk a little about plastics, and 
Property Sheets!
I want to shed a little light on Property
Sheets!
Before we begin:
This is a discussion about properties and,
While references are made to ASTM,
ASTM does not sanction what is said here.
The attendee is urged to read ASTM test
methods buy them and,
Subscribe to their proper use.
ASTM American
Society for
Testing and
Materials
http://www.astm.org/index.shtml
Why would anyone want to do any of this?
Property Sheets:
Property sheets are an attempt to physically
characterize a product being sold.
Often the Property Sheets do not contain all
of the information.
Both buyer and seller are responsible.
Property Sheets can enhance trust.
The better the description,
The better the understanding between parties
and,
The better the price!
The most important thing is to:
Determine the polymer properties and, 

What methods to use.

Choose a good test lab:
Reliable,
ISO 9001:2008 standard.

A2LA or ISO 17025 is too high of a standard,
(Too expensive!)
 3 Grades of recyclable face fiber carpet:

Note:
Technical terms relating to plastics are defined in ASTM 
D883 & ASTM D1600
3 Grades of recyclable face fiber carpet:

Grade III-sheared or pulverized,

3 Grades of recyclable face carpet:

Grade II-Densified and,

3 Grades of recyclable face carpet:

Grade I-Pelletized or reprocessed.

3 Grades of recyclable face carpet:

Grade III-sheared or pulverized,

Grade II-Densified and,

Grade I-Pelletized or reprocessed.

The devil is in the details!

3 Grades of recyclable face carpet:

Grade III-sheared or pulverized,

Lets talk about
the devil.
Name the device.
Include the model
number.
 Hand held “near” FTIR:

Hand held near infrared spectrometers are

available.

Such as this one by Phazir™.

Handheld “near” FTIR:

Light weight and portable.

Handheld “near” FTIR:

And this one by Anavo™

A picture can say
1,000 words!
ASTM D5630 Ash Content
The purpose of this test is to determine
the inorganic content of plastics.
There are two methods described:
Procedure A , Muffle –Furnace Technique-
For 5-50 gram samples.  Samples are flamed
over a burner prior to being ashed in a
muffle furnace.
Procedure B, Rapid –Ash Muffle-Furnace
Technique- For 5-50 gram samples. Samples
are ignited and ashed in a muffle furnace.
ASTM D5630 Ash Content
Procedure B:

Sample in a crucible is carefully weighted

before being placed in a muffle oven,
Muffle oven is heated to at 850 OC (for
nylon)
For 10 minutes. (See tables for other mtls.)

Note: Some companies use their own

procedure.
ASTM D5630 Ash Content
Carefully weight crucible after heating
and cooled.
The difference in weight expressed as a
percent is the percent ash content.
AGAIN Caution! Some companies have
their own methods! Ask about them!
Mostly there is a variance in time and
temperature.
 ASTM D5630 Ash Content –Standard Test
For nylon 6/6

ASTM Method

Temp 900 C
Time 20 min
Empty With With ash
Ash
Sample ID Crucible sample crucible
mass
weight weight weight
Grams Grams Grams %
1 25.97575 28.51641 26.57111 23.4%
2 17.52647 20.67049 18.42834 28.7%

26.1%
Modified Method

ASTM D5630 Ash Content-Modified version

For nylon 6/6
Temp 600 C
Time 45 min
Empty With With ash
Ash
Sample ID Crucible sample crucible
mass
weight weight weight
Grams Grams Grams %
1 21.48102 24.45749 22.96576 49.9%
2 18.22432 21.11857 19.56138 46.2%

48.0%
ASTM D5630 Ash Content-Discussion

If the filler is calcium carbonate (CaCO3),

As in this case,
It will start to decompose to CaO above 600 oC.
The ash content can significantly vary.
ASTM D789 Moisture Content-simple loss
in weight
ASTM D789 Moisture Content-simple loss
in weight
Heaters

Read out

Resin pan
ASTM D789 Moisture Content-simple loss
in weight.

The results, while not the true moisture

content,

But volatiles, including moisture,

Is expressed as a percent. (%)

Contaminates:
Describe if possible,

Including a picture is worth 1,000 words.

3 Grades of recyclable face carpet:

Grade II-Densified and,

Two additional Properties:

Bulk (Apparent) Density-ASTM D1895

Density (of the material)-ASTM D792

ASTM D 1895 Bulk (Apparent) Density
The weight per unit volume of a material,
including voids inherent in the materials as
tested.
(The real question is how much space does
this stuff take up? Or pounds per cubic foot!)
Very simply expressed, (but remember ASTM
has rules as to how this is done).
Measure a volume of material as packaged.
Weigh it.
Divide the volume into the weight.
To get pounds/foot3 (or inch3).
ASTM D1895 Bulk (Apparent) Density

Length

Width
Height

Weight
Be sure to note by
crossing off the
Per ASTM method!
ASTM D792 Density (Specific Gravity) by
Displacement.
There are two methods used:
Test method A,
testing solid plastics in water.
Test method B,
testing solid plastics in liquids other than water.
Because we know that plastics ~ S.G. ~ water S.G.
Test method B
ASTM D792 Density (Specific Gravity) by
Displacement. (B)
1. Be sure that the sample is free of voids.
2. Carefully compression mold the
sample to be tested.
3. Cut the sample to a convenient
size and also check for voids.

(We use a Carver hydraulic press to

make sure samples are void free!)
ASTM D792 Density (Specific Gravity) by
Displacement. (B)

4. Weigh the dry sample on a good scale.

ASTM D792 Density (Specific Gravity) by
Displacement. (B)

Thermometer

(Use a pure alcohol, such as Isopropyl

alcohol without water in it!)
ASTM D792 Density (Specific Gravity) by
Displacement (B)
5. Weigh the sample in alcohol (the other liquid)
 ASTM D792 Density (Specific Gravity) by
Displacement (B)
The calculations are:
Sample Dry weight = 1.14323 gms. (F)
Buoyancy weight = 0.20618 gms. (G)
Density of test liquid = 0.78413551 gms/cc. (H)
Sample Density then is B = F/(G * H) gms/cc
Or 1.14323 gms/(0.20618 gms * 0.78413551 gms/cc)
Density = 0.9575 gms/cc
Media is pure alcohol.
Monitor the Temperature.
ASTM D792 Density (Specific Gravity) by
Displacement (B) example.
PCE Project no. 3250
Material HPDE
Lot No.

Sample Sample weight in Sample weight in Sample buoyancy Test liquid Density of Test Specific gravity
air (g) medium (g) (g) temperature liquid (g/cm^3)
(C) (g/cm^3)

0717-0731-2010 1.14323 0.20618 0.937050 21.7 0.78413551 0.9567

0717-0731-2010 1.04412 0.18950 0.854620 21.7 0.78413551 0.9580

0717-0731-2010 1.08211 0.19628 0.885830 21.7 0.78413551 0.9579

0717-0731-2010 1.17397 0.21255 0.961420 21.7 0.78413551 0.9575

0717-0731-2010 1.24745 0.22569 1.021760 21.7 0.78413551 0.9573

avg: 0.9575
std dev: 0.0005
3 Grades of recyclable face carpet:

Grade I-Pelletized or reprocessed.

Name the grade (6 or 6/6)
ASTM D638 Tensile Strength

The first need is a test specimen!

Sometimes called a “dog bone”.

ASTM D638 Tensile Strength

Clamp it in the jaws.

ASTM D638 Tensile Strength

Add the extension

meters.
Pull
ASTM D638 Tensile Strength

Yield point.
(exaggerated)
ASTM D638 Tensile Strength

Specimen at break.
ASTM D638 Tensile Strength
Tensile
Strength
Break
Yield

Tensile
Modulus
ASTM D639 Elongation to break

The distance between

the “no stress” point and
the break point!

Expressed as a percent.
ASTM D790 Flexural Modulus

(Sometimes called the

3 point bend test.)
ASTM D790 Flexural Modulus
ASTM D790 Flexural Modulus
ASTM D790 Flexural Modulus

Stress
(psi)

Strain (%)
ASTM D790 Flexural Modulus

The results then is psi/% and,

Is expressed in psi.
ASTM D3418 Differential Scanning
Calorimeter – or DSC
We happen to have a Perkin Elmer

But there are others:

TA Instruments
Mettler Toledo
ASTM D3418 Differential Scanning
Calorimeter - or DSC

Heat flow (milli-watts) Melt Pt.

Nylon 6 (PA6)
Solid Pt.
Temperature oC
As we close:
This has been a discussion about properties and,
While references are made to ASTM,
ASTM does not sanction what is said here.
The attendee is urged to read ASTM test
methods, buy them and,
Subscribe to their proper use.
ASTM American
Society for
Testing and,
Materials
http://www.astm.org/index.shtml
.

Questions?