Significance and Use
p>Injection Molding—In injection molding, the difference between the dimensions of a mold cavity and of the molded specimen may vary according to the design of the mold and operation of the molding process. Factors such as mold and melt temperature, fill times, and packing conditions are known to affect shrinkage significantly. Adherence to the specified mold design (see 7.1) and specifications outlined in Practice D 3641 or ISO 294-4 or the appropriate material specification will improve the reproducibility of the test.
Compression Molding—In compression molding, the difference between the dimensions of a mold cavity and of the molded specimen may vary according to the design of the mold and operation of the molding process. Factors, such as the amount of material in charge, cooling time, and pressure application are known to affect shrinkage significantly. Adherence to the specified mold design (see 7.2) and specifications outlined in Practice D 4703 or ISO 293 or the appropriate material specifications will improve the reproducibility of the test.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method is intended to measure shrinkage from mold cavity to molded dimensions of thermoplastics when molded by compression or injection processes with specified process conditions.
1.2 This test method covers shrinkage measurements at 24 and 48 h.
1.3 This method will give comparable data based on standard specimens and can not predict absolute values in actual molded parts with varying flow paths, wall thicknesses, pressure and temperature gradients and process conditions. Differences in mold shrinkage may also be observed among the three specimen geometries described in this test method.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are given for information only.
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. Note 1—This standard and ISO 294-3 are equivalent in the design of specimen D2. This test method is equivalent to ISO 294-4 where Type D2 specimens and the procedure in Appendix X2 are used.
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
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D788 Classification System for Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) Molding and Extrusion Compounds
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D3641 Practice for Injection Molding Test Specimens of Thermoplastic Molding and Extrusion Materials
D4066 Classification System for Nylon Injection and Extrusion Materials (PA)
D4549 Classification System and Basis for Specification for Polystyrene and Rubber-Modified Polystyrene Molding and Extrusion Materials (PS)
D4703 Practice for Compression Molding Thermoplastic Materials into Test Specimens, Plaques, or Sheets
D4976 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
D5947 Test Methods for Physical Dimensions of Solid Plastics Specimens
D6778 Classification System and Basis for Specification for Polyoxymethylene Molding and Extrusion Materials (POM)
D6779 Classification System for and Basis of Specification for Polyamide Molding and Extrusion Materials (PA)
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
Keywords
mold shrinkage; shrinkage; thermoplastics; Molding/extrusion compounds/materials; Mold shrinkage; Shrinkage--plastics; Thermosetting plastics;
ICS Code
ICS Number Code 83.140.10 (Films and sheets)
DOI: 10.1520/D0955-08
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.
Citing ASTM Standards
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