Designation: D 6585 – 00

Standard Specification for

Unsintered Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Extruded Film or
Tape1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6585; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope Resin Produced from Dispersion5

1.1 This specification covers unsintered extruded films or D 6040 Test Methods for Unsintered Polytetrafluoroethyl-
tapes manufactured from virgin polytetrafluoroethylene, in ene (PTFE) Extruded Film or Tape5
nominal thickness from 0.025 to 0.39 mm (0.001 to 0.010 in.), IEEE/ASTM SI 10 Standard for Use of the International
and are > 97 % PTFE in composition. System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System3
1.1.1 The use of recycled PTFE for production of unsintered 2.2 ISO Standard:
extruded films or tapes has not been identified at this time. ISO 12086-2: 1995 Plastics-Fluoropolymer Dispersions and
When commercial usable processes and materials are avail- Molding and Extrusion Materials Part-2 Preparation of
able, this specification will be revised to include recycled Test Specimens and Determination of Properties6
materials. 2.3 GSA Standard:
1.2 The values stated in SI units are detailed in IEEE/ASTM A-A-58092 Tape, Antiseize, Polytetrafluorethylene7
SI 10 are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in NOTE 2—Supersedes MIL-T-27730A (ASG) 7 January 1997.
parentheses are for information only.
1.3 The following precautionary statement pertains only to 3. Terminology
the test method portion, Section 8 of this specification: This 3.1 Definitions—Definitions are in accordance with Termi-
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, nology D 1711, Terminology D 883, and Test Method D 257
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user and abbreviated terms are in accordance with Terminology
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health D 1600, unless otherwise specified.
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita- 3.1.1 lot, n—one production run or a uniform blend of two
tions prior to use. or more production runs.
NOTE 1—There is no ISO standard that covers information included in 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
this specification. A few of the test methods are mentioned in ISO 3.2.1 film, n—full width material received as finished film.
12086–2: 1995. 3.2.2 tape, n—material that has been slit from the finished
film.
2. Referenced Documents 3.2.3 tensile strength at yield, n—from Test Methods D 638,
2.1 ASTM Standards: Fig. A2.3.
D 257 Test Methods for DC Resistance or Conductance of
Insulating Materials2 4. Classification
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical 4.1 This specification covers three types of unsintered
Insulating Materials for Testing3 extruded PTFE tapes:
D 638 Test Methods for Tensile Properties of Plastics3 4.1.1 Type I—Thread seal tape (T.S.T.) with an apparent
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics3 density of 0.50 to 1.60 g/cm3.
D 1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to 4.1.2 Type II—Low density tape with an apparent density of
Plastics3 0.60 to 0.80 g/cm3.
D 1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation2 NOTE 3—Other low apparent density products that do not fall into this
D 3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics4 density range are available. The values vary on these products and must be
D 4895 Specification for Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) agreed to between supplier and purchaser.

1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
5
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.03.
6
Materials. Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
Current edition approved Aug. 10, 2000. Published October 2000. Floor, New York, NY 10036.
2 7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.01. A-A-58092 can be obtained from General Services Administration, Engineer-
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01. ing and Commodity Management Division (9FTE-10), 400 15th St. SW, Auburn,
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02. WA 98001.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 6585
4.1.3 Type III—Wire and cable tape with an apparent humidity is not necessary. In reference cases, the standard
density of 1.50 to 1.70 g/cm3. atmosphere and 50 6 5 % relative humidity shall apply.
4.2 Grades of tape are identified in Tables 1-3. 8. Test Methods
4.3 A one-line system may be used to specify materials
covered by this specification. This system uses pre-defined 8.1 The properties enumerated in this specification shall be
cells to refer to specific aspects of this specification, as determined in accordance with test methods referenced in
illustrated below: Section 2 of Test Method D 6040.
Standard Number Type Specification Class Special Notes
8.1.1 The number of samples shall be consistent with the
Block Grade requirements of Section 6.
Example: III 2 mil — color to be 8.1.2 One set of test specimens shall be considered sufficient
ASTM D 6585 Muncel Red
for testing each lot. The average result of the specimens shall
For this example, the line call-out would be: ASTM D 6585, conform to the requirements of this specification.
III, 2 mil, color to be Muncel Red that would specify an 9. Inspection and Certification
unsintered wire and cable tape, 2 mil thick, and would have all
of the properties listed for that type and grade in the appropri- 9.1 Inspection and certification of the material supplied with
ate specified properties, tables, or both, in the specification reference to a specification based on this classification system
identified. A comma is used as the separator between the shall be for conformance to the requirements specified herein.
standard number and the type. Separators are not needed 9.2 Lot-acceptance inspection shall be the basis on which
between the type and grade because they are, in turn, roman acceptance or rejection of the lot is made. The lot-acceptance
numerals and arabic digits as provided in Section B8 of the inspection shall be agreed upon between the purchaser and the
Form and Style for ASTM Standards. Provision for “Special supplier as part of the purchase contract.
Notes” is included so that other information can be provided 9.3 Periodic check inspection with reference to a specifica-
when required. This example would be wire and cable tape tion based upon this classification system shall consist of the
noting that the color shall be a Muncel Red. When special notes tests for all requirements of the material under the specifica-
are used, they should be preceded by a comma. tion. Inspection frequency shall be adequate to ensure the
material is certifiable in accordance to 9.4.
5. Performance Requirements 9.4 Certification shall be that the material was manufactured
5.1 Basic requirements from the property tables are always by a process in statistical control, sampled, tested, and in-
in effect unless superseded by specific suffix requirements, spected in accordance with this classification system, and that
which always take precedence. the average values for the lot meet the requirements of the
5.2 The materials shall conform to the requirements in specification.
Tables 1-3 and suffix requirements as they apply. 9.5 A report of test results shall be furnished when re-
quested. The report shall consist of results of the lot-acceptance
6. Sampling inspection for the shipment and the results of the most recent
periodic-check inspection.
6.1 Sampling shall be in accordance with an adequate
statistical sampling procedure. 10. Packaging and Package Marking
10.1 Packaging—The materials shall be packaged in stan-
7. Conditioning dard commercial containers constructed so as to ensure accep-
7.1 For those tests where conditioning is required, condition tance by common carrier unless otherwise specified in the
the test specimens in accordance with Procedure A of Practice contract or order.
D 618, except the time shall be for a period of at least 4 h prior 10.2 Package Marking—Shipping containers shall be
to test instead of the 40 h required by this method. If the test marked with the name of the material, type, thickness, and
material has been exposed to temperatures below 20°C (68°F) quantity contained therein. Each roll or package of sheets shall
within 24 h period prior to test, the conditioning shall be at be marked to designate type, lot number and manufactures
least 24 h. name.
7.2 Conduct tests at the standard laboratory temperature of 10.3 All packaging and marking provision of Practice
23 6 2°C (73.4°F 6 3°F). The maintenance of constant D 3892 shall apply to this specification.

TABLE 1 Type I Thread Seal Tape with an Apparent Density of 0.50 to 1.60 g/cm3
NOTE 1—Where no property is listed there is no requirement.
Grade Apparent Thickness Tensile Strength at Elongation at Maximum
Density, g/cm3 Yield Strength
min max mm tolerance in. tolerance MPa psi min, %
Economy 0.50 0.90 0.076 ... 0.0030 ... ... ... ...
Standard 0.80 1.10 0.076 6 0.0127 0.0030 6 0.0005 ... ... 50
Mil Spec., 1.20 0.088 +10.0254, 0.0035 +10.0010, ... ... 40
A-A-58092 − 0.0381 − 0.0015
Premium 1.20 1.60 0.076 6 0.0127 0.0030 6 0.0005 11.72 1700 75

2
 D 6585
TABLE 2 Type II Low Density Tape with an Apparent Density of 0.60 to 0.80 g/cm3
Grade Apparent Thickness Tensile Strength at Elongation at Maximum
Density, g/cm3 Yield Strength
min max mm tolerance in. tolerance MPa psi min, %
4 mil 0.60 0.80 0.102 6 0.0076 0.004 6 0.0003 13.10 1900 40
5 mil 0.60 0.80 0.127 6 0.0102 0.005 6 0.0004 13.10 1900 40
10 mil 0.60 0.80 0.254 6 0.0127 0.010 6 0.0005 8.27 1200 40

TABLE 3 Type III Wire and Cable Tape with an Apparent Density of 1.50 to 1.70 g/cm3
Grade Apparent Thickness Tensile Strength at Elongation at Maximum
Density, g/cm3 Yield Strength
min max mm tolerance in. tolerance MPa psi min, %
2 mil 1.50 1.70 0.050 6 0.0076 0.002 6 0.0003 12.41 1800 50
3 mil 1.50 1.70 0.076 6 0.0076 0.003 6 0.0003 12.41 1800 50
4 mil 1.50 1.70 0.102 6 0.0076 0.004 6 0.0003 10.34 1500 50
5 mil 1.50 1.70 0.127 6 0.0076 0.005 6 0.0003 10.34 1500 50
10 mil 1.50 1.70 0.254 6 0.0127 0.010 6 0.0005 4.83 700 100

11. Keywords
11.1 apparent density; elongation; extruded; film; fluorocar-
bon film and tape; PTFE; tape; tensile; thread seal tape;
unsintered

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