Rationale

Rationale There is increasing interest in the use of hemp hurd for partial replacement of plastic components, building construction or manufacturing. Two terms require definitions will assist clarity within test methods and other standards for hurd, the woody inner core of the hemp stalk. A review of existing terms within ASTM and in other standards was completed in 2021-22 after two D37 Main committee ballots for several terms. A small working group reviewed ballot comments and addressed through revisions. Terms existing as satisfactory to hemp purposes are not being re-balloted if they exist in D13 or other ASTM committee Terminology documents. Since 2024 a revised D37 hemp hurd task group has been working on adapting concrete test methods and grading categories for hemp hurd. The following terms are important to D37 hurd processors, particularly those supplying raw product for building and construction (hempcrete, also known as hemplime). The process and equipment used to process hemp stalks is similar to flax however differing enough to warrant hemp-specific terms. These terms may also be used by other ASTM committee members, as the raw products from hemp stalks can be used within concrete and plastic product manufacturing components for example. The D37.07 hemp hurd task group finalized these terms in 2024-25, needed as it advances test methods and property descriptions for different sizes of raw hurd. As the D37 fiber task group work advances these terms may be melded with other ASTM committees or revised as needed. At this time D37 member feedback is sought in this re-ballot of two terms relating to hurd that can be harvested from the durable stalks of hemp plants. Project 91-2021-01 and Project 91-2022-02 revisions (WK77680, WK87979) Item 1 Hemp hurd, n—the inner woody core of the hemp stalk. Discussion: This is synonymous with hemp shivs, shives or xylem. Item 2 decortication, n—the process of separating hemp bast, hemp hurd, hemp fiber screenings and dust of the hemp stalk. Discussion: This is similar to scutching which historically is completed manually. -end-