Corporate Training & Planning 1

CONDITIONING OF PLASTICS AND TEST ATMOSPHERE

The physical and electrical properties of plastics are influenced by
temperature and humidity. For reliable comparison of test results, it is
needed to standardize the conditioning of plastics before processing
and testing under standard atmosphere.
Conditioning:
The exposure of a material to the influence of a prescribed
atmosphere for a stipulated period of time or until a stipulated relation
is reached between material and atmosphere.
Pre-conditioning:
Any preliminary exposure of a material to the influence of specified
atmospheric conditions for the purpose of favorably approaching
equilibrium with a prescribed atmosphere.

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 Standard Laboratory Atmosphere:

An atmosphere, the temperature and relative

humidity of which is specified, with tolerances on
each.

 Standard Condition:

The condition reached by a specimen when it is in

temperature and moisture equilibrium with a
standard atmosphere.

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REASONS FOR PRE-CONDITIONING:

A small volume of water on material or specimen can generate

steam during processing which will tend to trapped and will expand
on decomposition of the melt which will leads to voids in the
product.

Voids flattened out through polymer flow which will lead to

marks on the product.

Engineering plastics processed above 280°C water content should

be less than 0.02% while lower temperature process material up to
0.3% can be tolerated.

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 CONDITIONING OF TEST SPECIMEN REQUIRED:

• To bring the material into equilibrium with

normal or average room condition.

• To obtain reproducible results, regardless of

previous history of exposure.

• To predict the service behaviour of material in

electrical field.

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COMMON STANDARDS FOR CONDITIONING AND TEST
ATMOSPHERE:
ISO 291:- It is the most preferred standard for conditioning.
ASTMD-618: Conditioning plastics and electrical insulating material
for testing.

ASTM-E171: Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing

materials.
BS-2782: Conditioning procedure which includes standard
atmosphere of conditioning and testing.
DIN-50014: Conditioning and test atmosphere of plastics.
DIN – 53714: Procedure for the accelerated conditioning of
polyamide test samples.
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CONDITIONING PROCEDURE AS PER ASTM D 618 :

i) 96/23/50 - 96 hr at 230C and 50%

RH
ii) 48/50/water - 48 hr at 500C in water
iii) 48/50 + 96/23/50 - 48 hr at 500C flowed by 96
hr
at 230C and 50% RH
iv) 96/23/50 : T – 35/90 - Condition as (i) above and test
to be done at 350C and
90% RH.

The most commonly used test atmosphere is t/23/50

where t is 40 hr for specimen < 7 mm
t is 88 hr for specimen > 7 mm
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EFFECT OF TEST ATMOSPHERE ON PROPERTIES:

• Properties of plastic material/product will effect the test

atmosphere.
• Tensile strength and modulus are decreased and elongation is
increased as temperature increases.
• Flexural strength and modulus are decreased at higher test
atmosphere.
• Impact strength of plastics reduce drastically at lower temperature.
• Fatigue life of a polymer is reduced by increase in temperature.
• Hardness is lowered at higher temperature.
• Dielectric strength decreases with increase in temperature.
• Insulation resistance is lower at higher temperature and humidity.
•Standard Laboratory test condition is 23±2°C/50 + 5%RH.as per
ASTMD-618

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