The prepreg volatiles content, matrix content, reinforcement content, and filler content of composite prepreg materials are used to control material manufacture and subsequent fabrication processes, and are key parameters in the specification and production of such materials, as well as in the fabrication of products made with such materials.

The extraction products resulting from this test method (the extract, the residue, or both) can be analyzed to assess chemical composition and degree of purity.

1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers a Soxhlet extraction procedure to determine the matrix content, reinforcement content, and filler content of composite material prepreg. Volatiles content, if appropriate, and required, is determined by means of Test Method D 3530/D 3530M.

1.1.1 The reinforcement and filler must be substantially insoluble in the selected extraction reagent and any filler must be capable of being separated from the reinforcement by filtering the extraction residue.

1.1.2 Reinforcement and filler content test results are total reinforcement content and total filler content; hybrid material systems with more than one type of either reinforcement or filler cannot be distinguished.

1.2 This test method focuses on thermosetting matrix material systems for which the matrix may be extracted by an organic solvent. However, other, unspecified, reagents may be used with this test method to extract other matrix material types for the same purposes.

1.3 Alternate techniques for determining matrix and reinforcement content include Test Methods D 3171 (matrix digestion), D 2584 (matrix burn-off/ignition), and D 3529/D 3529M (matrix dissolution). Test Method D 2584 is preferred for reinforcement materials, such as glass, quartz, or silica, that are unaffected by high-temperature environments.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.

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. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 9 and 7.2.3 and 8.2.1.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics

D2584 Test Method for Ignition Loss of Cured Reinforced Resins

D3171 Test Methods for Constituent Content of Composite Materials

D3529/D3529M Test Method for Matrix Solids Content and Matrix Content of Composite Prepreg

D3530/D3530M Test Method for Volatiles Content of Composite Material Prepreg

D3878 Terminology for Composite Materials

E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or Process

E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods

E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics

E1309 Guide for Identification of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Matrix Composite Materials in Databases

E1471 Guide for Identification of Fibers, Fillers, and Core Materials in Computerized Material Property Databases

NFPA Standard

Keywords

composite materials; filler content; matrix content; prepreg; reinforcement content; resin content; resin matrix content; volatiles content; Carbon fiber-epoxy prepregs; Composites; Prepregs; Resins (composite); Soxhlet extraction; Carbon fiber-epoxy prepregs; Composites; Prepregs; Resins (composite); Soxhlet extraction;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 83.080.01 (Plastics in general); 83.120 (Reinforced plastics)

Citing ASTM Standards

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