GENERAL OVERVIEW

ASTM Committee D11 on Rubber was formed in 1912. D11 meets twice a year, in June and December, with about 95 members attending four days of technical meetings. The Committee, with a current membership of approximately 315, has jurisdiction over 215 standards published in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volumes 9.01 and 9.02. D11 has 17 technical subcommittees that maintain these standards. Information on this subcommittee structure and D11’s portfolio of approved standards and Work Items under development is available from the List of Subcommittees, Standards, and Work Items. These standards have and continue to play a preeminent role in all aspects important to the industry including: properties, classification, nomenclature, analysis, and quality assurance.

ACTIVITIES, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES

The technical subcommittees of D11 collectively encompass three primary areas: testing and analysis, raw materials, and rubber products.

The area of testing and analysis addresses standards for all aspects of evaluating materials, including physical testing, chemical analysis, and degradation. The area of raw materials focuses on natural and synthetic rubber as well as compounding materials. Standards under rubber products include: hose, belts, seals, rubber thread, and consumer rubber products (gloves and condoms).

At any given time, D11 has dozens of ongoing standards activities. Some recent and ongoing development activities include the revision to D2000, Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications, by Subcommittee D11.30 on Classification of Rubber Compounds; the revision to D471, Test Method for Rubber Property-Effect of Liquids, by Subcommittee D11.15 on Degradation Tests; and D11.15’s development of a new standard for the durability of ambidextrous medical examination gloves.

PARTICIPATING AS A MEMBER ON THE COMMITTEE

ASTM International opens its doors to all technical experts with an interest in the standardization process, and the best means to keep abreast of changes, introduce your proposals, and to acquire the standards is to become a member. ASTM membership is comprised of volunteer industry professionals from around the world.

As a member of ASTM Committee D11, you will be exposed to the robust resources and member benefits included below that have helped make ASTM a worldwide standards development leader for more than a century:

  • Network with industry professionals worldwide
  • Receive one free volume of the Annual Book of ASTM Standards (in print or CD)
  • Use Internet-based Standards Development Forums and E-Balloting
  • Receive discounts on all ASTM publications
  • Keep up to date through a free subscription to ASTM’s monthly magazine - Standardization News
  • Benefit from reduced fees for attendance at ASTM symposia and technical workshops
  • And more

Becoming a member can be accomplished from the website by selecting Join ASTM. Benefits include complimentary standards, discounts on material, voting privileges, and access to the rapidly changing standards information that affects your technical community. ASTM Membership is $75 (USD) a year. Members receive a volume of the published standards of the Committee.

Members can participate from anywhere because of ASTM’s customized web-based systems. The best way to contribute as a member is to (1) participate in task group activities that are of interest (both virtually and in person), and (2) vote on ballots and provide feedback and recommendations. To participate in standards activities, start by identifying Work Items of interest by reviewing the List of Subcommittees, Standards, and Work Items. Contact task group leaders for those areas of interest by reviewing the Work Item summary pages and securing contact information available through the on-line roster in the member area. To make the most of your voting and participation overall, be sure to stipulate which specific subcommittees you wish to participate in when you join. You will then receive notices of ballots that open within these groups.

In order to continue to promote standards objectives for this fast-paced industry, D11 uses ASTM’s interactive media. This approach includes our web-based Interactive Forum, a document review and development system always available for capturing comments and maturing documents. Additionally, the Committee conducts virtual meetings in conjunction with conference calls, to accelerate document development and increase participation of its global membership in a real-time format.

STAKEHOLDERS

This Committee is largely composed of producers, users, testing laboratories, associations, and government representatives. Producers are generally those individuals or companies that manufacture products in any given area of standardization by the Committee. Testing laboratories provide insight on refining test methods and changing specifications to meet product performance. The associations participate to ensure that the needs of their respective constituents are being met and offer support to the Committee by sharing communication avenues and other resources. Government representatives provide research and development for evaluating materials and products.

RELATIONSHIP WITH INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND REGULATION

D11 standards are used for evaluating rubber and rubber chemicals in many countries. The documents facilitate communication between producers, users, testing laboratories, and customers for the purposes of material procurement or product requirements. Manufacturers, independent laboratories, and government agencies use the standard protocols for evaluating rubber properties and conducting research and development.

In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates medical gloves and condoms. Numerous D11 standards are referenced in regulation as acceptable methods of test and material specifications as may be required for regulatory compliance. A manufacturer’s declaring conformance to standards recognized by the regulator agency can accelerate the acceptance and use of their product, because it is presumed to conform to the law/regulation that references the standard.

LIAISON

Key Organizations

Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) www.rma.org: D11 has a working relationship with the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA). RMA works with ASTM to ensure that industry representatives participate in the standards development process and that the resulting documents reflect their membership needs.

ISO/TC 45

ASTM International Committee D11 also maintains an important role of coordinating with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Users rely on both ISO and ASTM International standards. This necessitates that industries, through ASTM International, have a strong voice at ISO in order to coordinate the global work of these two standards bodies. Much of the effort is focused on ensuring that there is no duplication of internationally accepted standards already in existence. Within Technical Committee (TC) 45 on Rubber and Rubber Products, D11 holds the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to Subcommittee (SC) 1 on Hoses (rubber and plastics), SC 2 on Testing and Analysis, SC 3 on Raw Materials (including latex) for use in the rubber industry, and SC 4 on Products (other than hoses).

LINKS AND INFORMATION

The following websites have been identified by Committee D11 to contain information of interest.

Rubber Manufacturers Association: www.rma.org