ASTM D4000

The purpose of this classification system is to provide a method of adequately identifying plastic materials in order to give industry a system that can be used universally for plastic materials. It further provides a means for specifying these materials by the use of a simple line call-out designation.

This classification system was developed to permit the addition of property values for future plastics.

1. Scope

1.1 This standard provides a classification system for tabulating the properties of unfilled, filled, and reinforced plastic materials suitable for processing into parts.

Note 1—The classification system may serve many of the needs of industries using plastic materials. The standard is subject to revision as the need requires; therefore, the latest revision should always be used.

1.2 The classification system and subsequent line callout (specification) is intended to be a means of identifying plastic materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not intended for the selection of materials. Material selection should be made by those having expertise in the plastics field after careful consideration of the design and the performance required of the part, the environment to which it will be exposed, the fabrication process to be employed, the inherent properties of the material not covered in this document, and the economic factors.

1.3 This classification system is based on the premise that plastic materials can be arranged into broad generic families using basic properties to arrange the materials into groups, classes, and grades. A system is thus established which, together with values describing additional requirements, permits as complete a description as desired of the selected material.

1.4 In all cases where the provisions of this classification system would conflict with the referenced ASTM specification for a particular material, the latter shall take precedence.

Note 2—When using this classification system the two-letter, three-digit suffix system applies.

Note 3—When a material is used to fabricate a part where the requirements are too specific for a broad material callout, it is advisable for the user to consult the supplier to secure callout of the properties to suit the actual conditions to which the part is to be subjected.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents

D1003 Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics
D1149 Test Methods for Rubber Deterioration-Cracking in an Ozone Controlled Environment
D1203 Test Methods for Volatile Loss From Plastics Using Activated Carbon Methods
D1238 Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer
D1248 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Extrusion Materials for Wire and Cable
D1430 Classification System for Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) Plastics
D1434 Test Method for Determining Gas Permeability Characteristics of Plastic Film and Sheeting
D1435 Practice for Outdoor Weathering of Plastics
D149 Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and Dielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials at Commercial Power Frequencies
D1499 Practice for Filtered Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposures of Plastics
D150 Test Methods for AC Loss Characteristics and Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical Insulation
D1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-Gradient Technique
D1525 Test Method for Vicat Softening Temperature of Plastics
D1562 Specification for Cellulose Acetate Propionate Molding and Extrusion Compounds
D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics
D1693 Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of Ethylene Plastics
D1784 Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Compounds and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Compounds
D1822 Test Method for Tensile-Impact Energy to Break Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials
D1929 Test Method for Determining Ignition Temperature of Plastics
D2116 Specification for FEP-Fluorocarbon Molding and Extrusion Materials
D2137 Test Methods for Rubber Property-Brittleness Point of Flexible Polymers and Coated Fabrics
D2240 Test Method for Rubber Property-Durometer Hardness
D2287 Specification for Nonrigid Vinyl Chloride Polymer and Copolymer Molding and Extrusion Compounds
D2288 Test Method for Weight Loss of Plasticizers on Heating
D256 Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance of Plastics
D2565 Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outdoor Applications
D257 Test Methods for DC Resistance or Conductance of Insulating Materials
D2583 Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Rigid Plastics by Means of a Barcol Impressor
D2584 Test Method for Ignition Loss of Cured Reinforced Resins
D2632 Test Method for Rubber Property-Resilience by Vertical Rebound
D2843 Test Method for Density of Smoke from the Burning or Decomposition of Plastics
D2863 Test Method for Measuring the Minimum Oxygen Concentration to Support Candle-Like Combustion of Plastics (Oxygen Index)
D2951 Test Method for Resistance of Types III and IV Polyethylene Plastics to Thermal Stress-Cracking
D3012 Test Method for Thermal-Oxidative Stability of Polypropylene Using a Specimen Rotator Within an Oven
D3159 Specification for Modified ETFE-Fluoropolymer Molding and Extrusion Materials
D3222 Specification for Unmodified Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) (PVDF) Molding Extrusion and Coating Materials
D3275 Classification System for E-CTFE-Fluoroplastic Molding, Extrusion, and Coating Materials
D3294 Specification for Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Resin Molded Sheet and Molded Basic Shapes
D3295 Specification for PTFE Tubing, Miniature Beading and Spiral Cut Tubing
D3296 Specification for FEP-Fluorocarbon Tube
D3307 Specification for Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)-Fluorocarbon Resin Molding and Extrusion Materials
D3350 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fittings Materials
D3418 Test Method for Transition Temperatures and Enthalpies of Fusion and Crystallization of Polymers by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
D3595 Specification for Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) Extruded Plastic Sheet and Film
D3638 Test Method for Comparative Tracking Index of Electrical Insulating Materials
D3713 Test Method for Measuring Response of Solid Plastics to Ignition by a Small Flame
D3801 Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Burning Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical Position
D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
D3895 Test Method for Oxidative-Induction Time of Polyolefins by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
D3915 Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Compounds for Plastic Pipe and Fittings Used in Pressure Applications
D3935 Specification for Polycarbonate (PC) Unfilled and Reinforced Material
D395 Test Methods for Rubber Property-Compression Set
D3965 Specification for Rigid Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Materials for Pipe and Fittings
D3985 Test Method for Oxygen Gas Transmission Rate Through Plastic Film and Sheeting Using a Coulometric Sensor
D4020 Specification for Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Molding and Extrusion Materials
D4066 Classification System for Nylon Injection and Extrusion Materials (PA)
D4067 Classification System for Reinforced and Filled Poly(Phenylene Sulfide) (PPS) Injection Molding and Extrusion Materials Using ASTM Methods
D4101 Specification for Polypropylene Injection and Extrusion Materials
D412 Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers-Tension
D4181 Classification for Acetal (POM) Molding and Extrusion Materials
D4203 Specification for Styrene-Acrylonitrile (SAN) Injection and Extrusion Materials
D4216 Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) and Related PVC and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Building Products Compounds
D4329 Practice for Fluorescent UV Exposure of Plastics
D4349 Classification System for Polyphenylene Ether (PPE) Materials
D4364 Practice for Performing Outdoor Accelerated Weathering Tests of Plastics Using Concentrated Sunlight
D4396 Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Compounds for Plastic Pipe and Fittings Used in Nonpressure Applications
D4441 Specification for Aqueous Dispersions of Polytetrafluoroethylene
D4474 Classification System for Styrenic Thermoplastic Elastomer Injection Molding and Extrusion Materials (TES)
D4507 Specification for Thermoplastic Polyester (TPES) Materials
D4549 Specification for Polystyrene and Rubber-Modified Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion Materials (PS)
D4617 Classification System for Phenolic Compounds (PF)
D4634 Specification for Styrene-Maleic Anhydride Materials (S/MA)
D4673 Classification System for Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Plastics and Alloys Molding and Extrusion Materials
D471 Test Method for Rubber Property-Effect of Liquids
D4745 Specification for Filled Compounds of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Molding and Extrusion Materials
D4804 Test Method for Determining the Flammability Characteristics of Nonrigid Solid Plastics
D4812 Test Method for Unnotched Cantilever Beam Impact Resistance of Plastics
D4894 Specification for Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Granular Molding and Ram Extrusion Materials
D4895 Specification for Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Resin Produced From Dispersion
D495 Test Method for High-Voltage, Low-Current, Dry Arc Resistance of Solid Electrical Insulation
D4976 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
D4986 Test Method for Horizontal Burning Characteristics of Cellular Polymeric Materials
D5021 Specification for Thermoplastic Elastomer-Chlorinated Ethylene Alloy (TECEA)
D5033 Guide for Development of ASTM Standards Relating to Recycling and Use of Recycled Plastics
D5046 Classification for Fully Crosslinked Elastomeric Alloys (FCEAs)
D5048 Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Burning Characteristics and Resistance to Burn-Through of Solid Plastics Using a 125-mm Flame
D5132 Test Method for Horizontal Burning Rate of Polymeric Materials Used in Occupant Compartments of Motor Vehicles
D5138 Classification System for Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCP)
D5203 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials from Recycled Post-Consumer (HDPE) Sources
D5204 Classification System for Polyamide-Imide (PAI) Molding and Extrusion Materials
D5205 Classification System for Polyetherimide (PEI) Materials
D5260 Classification for Chemical Resistance of Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Homopolymer and Copolymer Compounds and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Compounds
D5279 Test Method for Plastics In Torsion
D5336 Specification for Polyphthalamide (PPA) Injection Molding Materials
D5420 Test Method for Impact Resistance of Flat, Rigid Plastic Specimen by Means of a Striker Impacted by a Falling Weight (Gardner Impact)
D5436 Specification for Cast Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Plastic Rods, Tubes, and Shapes
D5476 Classification System for Thermoplastic Polyurethane Materials (TPU)
D5575 Classification System for Copolymers of Vinylidene Fluoride (VDF) with Other Fluorinated Monomers
D5593 Classification for Thermoplastic Elastomers-Olefinic (TEO)
D5628 Test Method for Impact Resistance of Flat, Rigid Plastic Specimens by Means of a Falling Dart (Tup or Falling Mass)
D5630 Test Method for Ash Content in Plastics
D5676 Specification for Recycled Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion Materials
D569 Method for Measuring the Flow Properties of Thermoplastic Molding Materials
D570 Test Method for Water Absorption of Plastics
D573 Test Method for Rubber-Deterioration in an Air Oven
D575 Test Methods for Rubber Properties in Compression
D5857 Specification for Polypropylene Injection and Extrusion Materials Using ISO Protocol and Methodology
D5927 Specification for Thermoplastic Polyester (TPES) Injection and Extrusion Materials Based on ISO Test Methods
D5990 Classification System for Polyketone Injection Molding and Extrusion Materials (PK)
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D624 Test Method for Tear Strength of Conventional Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers
D6314 Specification for Fluorocarbon Perfluoromethoxy (MFA) Resin Molding and Extrusion Materials
D6338 Classification System for Highly Crosslinked Thermoplastic Vulcanizates (HCTPVs)
D6339 Specification for Syndiotactic Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion (SPS)
D635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position
D6358 Classification System for Poly (Phenylene Sulfide) Injection Molding and Extrusion Materials Using ISO Methods
D6360 Practice for Enclosed Carbon-Arc Exposures of Plastics
D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
D6394 Specification for Sulfone Plastics (SP)
D6457 Specification for Extruded and Compression Molded Rod and Heavy-Walled Tubing Made from Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
D648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics Under Flexural Load in the Edgewise Position
D6585 Specification for Unsintered Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Extruded Film or Tape
D6778 Classification for Polyoxymethylene (POM, Acetal) Molding and Extrusion Materials
D6779 Classification System for Polyamide Molding and Extrusion Materials (PA)
D6835 Classification System for Thermoplastic Elastomer-Ether-Ester Molding and Extrusion Materials (TEEE)
D695 Test Method for Compressive Properties of Rigid Plastics
D706 Specification for Cellulose Acetate Molding and Extrusion Compounds
D707 Specification for Cellulose Acetate Butyrate Molding and Extrusion Compounds
D747 Test Method for Apparent Bending Modulus of Plastics by Means of a Cantilever Beam
D785 Test Method for Rockwell Hardness of Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials
D787 Specification for Ethyl Cellulose Molding and Extrusion Compounds
D788 Classification System for Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) Molding and Extrusion Compounds
D789 Test Methods for Determination of Solution Viscosities of Polyamide (PA)
D790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials
D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D955 Test Method of Measuring Shrinkage from Mold Dimensions of Thermoplastics
E104 Practice for Maintaining Constant Relative Humidity by Means of Aqueous Solutions
E119 Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
E162 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E662 Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
E96/E96M Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials
F372 Test Method for Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Flexible Barrier Materials Using an Infrared Detection Technique
Department of Transportation Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 302
IEC 600093 Recommended Methods of Tests for Volume and Surface Resistivities of Electrical Insulation Materials
IEC 600112 Recommended Method for Determining the Comparative Tracking Index of Solid Insulation Materials Under Moist Conditions
IEC 600243 Recommended Methods of Test for Electrical Strength of Solid Insulating Materials at Power Frequencies
IEC 600250 Recommended Methods for the Determination of the Permittivity and Dielectric Dissipation Factor of Electrical Insulation Materials at Power, Audio, and Radio Frequencies Including Metre Wavelengths
IEC 60695-11-10 Fire Hazard Testing-Part 11-10: Test Flames-50 W Horizontal and Vertical Flame Tests
IEC60695-11-20 Fire Hazard Testing-Part 11-20: Test Flames-500 W Flame Test Methods
IEC60695-2-12 Fire Hazard Testing-Part 2-12: Glowing/Hot-Wire Based Test Methods-Glow-Wire Flammability Test Method for Materials
ISO 1133 Plastics-Determination of the Melt Mass-Flow Rate (MFR) and the Melt Volume-Flow Rate (MVR) of Thermoplastics
ISO 11357-1 Plastics-Differential Scanning Calorimetry-Part 1: General principles
ISO 11357-3 Plastics-Differential Scanning Calorimetry-Part 3: Determination of Temperature and Enthalpy of Melting and Crystallization
ISO 1183 Plastics-Methods for Determining the Density and Relative Density of Non-Cellular Plastics
ISO 178 Plastics-Determination of Flexural Properties of Rigid Plastics
ISO 179 Plastics-Determination of Charpy Impact Strength of Rigid Materials
ISO 180 Plastics-Determination of Izod Impact Strength of Rigid Materials
ISO 2039-2 Plastics-Determination of Hardness-Part 2: Rockwell Hardness
ISO 294-4 Plastics-Injection Moulding of Test Specimens of Thermoplastic Materials-Part 4: Determination of Moulding Shrinkage
ISO 3795 Road Vehicles, Tractors, and Machinery for Agriculture and Forestry-Determination of Burning Behavior of Interior Materials
ISO 4577 Plastics-Polypropylene and Propylene-Copolymers-Determination of Thermal Oxidative Stability in Air-Oven Method
ISO 4589 Plastics-Determination of Flammability by Oxygen Index
ISO 4607 Plastics-Method of Exposure to Natural Weathering
ISO 4892 Plastics-Methods of Exposure to Laboratory Light Sources
ISO 4892-4 Plastics-Methods of Exposure to Laboratory Light Sources-Part 4: Open-flame Carbon-arc
ISO 527-1 Plastics-Determination of Tensile Properties-Part 1: General Principles
ISO 527-2 Plastics-Determination of Tensile Properties-Part 2: Test Conditions for Moulding and Extrusion Plastics
ISO 604 Plastics-Determination of Compressive Properties
ISO 62 Plastics-Determination of Water Absorption
ISO 6603-1 Plastics-Determination of Multiaxial Impact Behavior of Rigid Plastics-Part 1: Falling Dart Method
ISO 6721-1 Plastics-Determination of Dynamic Mechanical Properties-Part 1: General Principles
ISO 6721-2 Plastics-Determination of Dynamic Mechanical Properties-Part 2: Torsion-Pendulum Method
ISO 75-1 Plastics-Determination of Temperature of Deflection Under Load-Part 1: General Principles
ISO 75-2 Plastics-Determination of Temperature of Deflection Under Load-Part 2: Plastics and Ebonite
ISO 868 Plastics-Determination of Indention Hardness by Means of a Durometer (Shore Hardness)
ISO 877 Plastics-Determination of Resistance to Change Upon Exposure Under Glass to Daylight
ISO 974 Plastics-Determination of the Brittleness Temperature by Impact
ISO5659 Plastics-Smoke Regeneration-Part 2: Determination of Optical Density by a Single-Chamber Test
ISO9772 Cellular Plastics-Determination of Horizontal Burning Characteristics of Small Specimens Subjected to a Small Flame
ISO9773 Plastics-Determination of Burning Behaviour of Thin Flexible Vertical Specimens in Contact with a Small-Flame Ignition Source
UL94 Standards for Tests for Flammability for Parts in Devices and Appliances

Index Terms

classification; classification system; line callout; plastic; plastic materials; Classification (standards)--plastics; Line call-out specifications--plastics; Plastics; ICS Number Code 01.040.83; 83.080.01

Citing ASTM Standards

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