Designation: D 6436 – 99

Standard Guide for

Reporting Properties for Plastics and Thermoplastic
Elastomers1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6436; 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 accordance with Terminologies D 883, D 1600, and IEEE/

1.1 This guide provides recommendations for reporting the ASTM SI-10.
results of commonly used plastics and thermoplastic elastomer 4. Significance and Use
tests but is not intended to replace any part of any individual
test method. 4.1 This guide is intended to provide ready access to the
1.2 This guide is intended to promote uniformity in the recommended property name, test method reference, maximum
manner in which published test data are reported to minimize number of significant digits,5 and appropriate units for com-
confusion when comparisons are made in published literature, monly used plastics and thermoplastic elastomer tests.
data sheets, presentations, comparative analyses, etc. 4.2 It is particularly useful for those involved in the writing
and proofreading of documents containing data for a large
NOTE 1—There is no equivalent or similar ISO standard. number of tests since the need to go to each individual test
2. Referenced Documents method should be greatly minimized.
4.3 SI units are to be regarded as the standard. U.S.
2.1 Due to the large number of ASTM test methods refer- Customary units and conversion factors are provided to accom-
enced in this guide, they will not be identified individually in modate those situations where it is necessary to report both.
this section. U.S. Customary refers to units commonly used in the United
2.2 ASTM Standards (other than test methods): States and is not always the same as inch-pound units.
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics2
D 1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to 5. Procedure
Plastics2 5.1 Refer to Table 1 for the recommended nomenclature and
IEEE/ ASTM SI-10 Standard for Use of the International units for physical properties and the recommended number of
System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System3 significant digits for test data associated with each property.
2.3 NFPA Standard: 5.2 Abbreviations not shown in Table 1 that may be
NFPA 99 Standard for Health Care Facilities4 necessary to further clarify the conditions of testing, such as
3. Terminology MHz and kHz for electrical tests, can be found in IEEE/ASTM
SI–10.
3.1 Definitions—The terminology used in this guide is in
6. Keywords
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics and
6.1 conversion factors; decimal places; properties reporting;
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.94 on Government/Industry reporting guide; significant figures
Standards.
Current edition approved July 10, 1999. Published October 1999.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
4 5
Available from National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, The recommended maximum number of significant digits is based on experi-
Quincy, MA 02269–9101. ence of experts in the plastics industry.

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

1
 D 6436

TABLE 1 Reference Guide for Properties Reported

Conversion Factor (CV)

Maximum Number of
Property Reported Units, SI (U.S. Customary) ASTM Test Method (SI 3 CV 5 U.S.
Significant Digits
Customary)
Arc Resistance s (s) D 495 2 1

Bulk Density kg/m3(lb/ft3) D 1895 3 0.06242797

Coefficient of Friction — D 1894 2 —

Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion mm/mm 3 °C (in./in. 3 °F) D 696 2 0.5555556

(expressed in scientific
notation)

Color, CIE, L*, a*, b* — E 308 3 —

Crystalline Peak Melting Point (Tm) °C (°F) D 3418 3 (°C 3 1.8) + 32

2nd Heating Cycle

Dart Impact g (g) D 1709 2 1

(1 if value is <100)

Deflection Temperature °C (°F) D 648 3 (°C 3 1.8) + 32

@ 1.82 MPa (264 psi)
@ 0.455 MPa (66 psi)

Density kg/m3(g/cm3) D 792 3 0.001

g/cm3(g/cm3) D 1505 3 1
g/cm3(g/cm3) D 4883 3 1

Dielectric Strength (Specify Method Used) V/mm (V/mil) D 149 3 0.0254

Dissipation Factor (Specify Test Frequency) — D 150 2 —

Durometer Hardness — D 2240 2 —

Shore A
Shore D

Elmendorf Tear Resistance N (gf) D 1922 3 101.9716

Elongation @ Break % (%) D 638 2 1

D 882 2 1
D 412 2 1

Elongation @ Yield % (%) D 638 2 1

D 882 2 1
D 412 2 1

Flammability cm/min (in./min) D 635 2 0.394

Flexural Modulus MPa (105 psi) D 790 3 0.001450377

Flexural Modulus, ___% Secant MPa (105 psi) D 790 3 0.001450377

Flexural Strength MPa (psi) D 790 3 145.0377

Flexural Yield Strength MPa (psi) D 790 3 145.0377

Flow Rate, Condition ___°C/___kg g/10 min (g/10 min) D 1238 2 1

Gardner Impact Strength @ F50 J (in. 3 lbf) D 5420 2 8.8507452

Gas Permeability, CO2 cm 3 mm/m 3 24 h 3 atm

3 2
D 1434 2 2.54
(cm33 mil/100 in.23 24 h 3 atm)

Gas Permeability, O2 cm33 mm/m2 3 24 h 3 atm D 3985 2 2.54

(cm33 mil/100 in.23 24 h 3 atm)

Gas Transmission Rate, CO2 cm3/m23 24 h 3 atm D 1434 2 0.064516128

(cm3/100 in.23 24 h 3 atm)

Gas Transmission Rate, O2 cm3/m23 24 h 3 atm D 3985 2 0.064516128

(cm3/100 in.23 24 h 3 atm)

2
 D 6436

TABLE 1 Continued
Conversion Factor (CV)
Maximum Number of
Property Reported Units, SI (U.S. Customary) ASTM Test Method (SI 3 CV 5 U.S.
Significant Digits
Customary)

Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) °C (°F) D 3418 3 (°C 3 1.8) + 32

Gloss @ ___° — D 2457 3 —

Haze % (%) D 1003 2 1

Heat of Fusion kJ/kg (cal/g)

1st Heating Cycle E 793 2 0.2388459
2nd Heating Cycle D 3417 2 0.2388459

Impact Resistance (Puncture), Energy @ Maximum J (ft 3 lbf) D 3763 2 0.7375621

Load

Impact Resistance of Plastic Film, Energy to J (ft 3 lbf) D 4272 2 0.7375621

Rupture

Impact Strength, Unnotched J/m (ft 3 lbf/in.) D 4812 3 0.01873408

Izod Impact Strength, Notched J/m (ft 3 lbf/in.) D 256 3 0.01873408

Light Transmission % (%) E 308 2 1

3 3
Melt Density @ ___°C kg/m (g/cm ) D 3835 3 0.001
D 1238 (Note A, Table 2)

Mold Shrinkage mm/mm (in./in.) D 955 3 1

Oxygen Index % (%) D 2863 2 1

Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) — D 150 2 —

(Specify Test Frequency)

PPT Tear Resistance N (lbf) D 2582 2 0.2248089

Refractive Index, nD — D 542 4 —

Rockwell Hardness (Specify Scale) — D 785 3 —

Soluble Matter Loss % (%) D 570 2 1

Specific Gravity — D 792 3 —

Specific Heat @ ___°C (°F) kJ/kg 3 K E 1269 3 (cal/g 3 °C)

(cal/g 3 °C or Btu/lb 3 °F) 0.2388459
(Btu/lb 3 °F)
0.2388459

Static Decay Rate s (s) D 4470 3 1

NFPA 99

Surface Resistivity ohms/square D 257 2 1

(ohms/square) (expressed in scientific
notation)

Tear Propagation Resistance, Split-Tear Method N (lbf) D 1938 2 0.2248089

N/mm (lbf/in.) 2 5.710147

Tear Propagation Resistance N/mm (lbf/in.) D 624 3 5.710147

(Specify Specimen Type)

Tensile Modulus MPa (105 psi) D 638 3 0.001450377

MPa (105 psi) D 882 3 0.001450377
MPa (105 psi) D 412 3 0.001450377

Tensile Modulus, __% Secant MPa (105 psi) D 638 3 0.001450377

MPa (105 psi) D 882 3 0.001450377
MPa (105 psi) D 412 3 0.001450377

Tensile Stress @ Break MPa (psi) D 638 3 145.0377

MPa (psi) D 882 3 145.0377
MPa (psi) D 412 3 145.0377

3
 D 6436

TABLE 1 Continued
Conversion Factor (CV)
Maximum Number of
Property Reported Units, SI (U.S. Customary) ASTM Test Method (SI 3 CV 5 U.S.
Significant Digits
Customary)

Tensile Stress @ Yield MPa (psi) D 638 3 145.0377

MPa (psi) D 882 3 145.0377
MPa (psi) D 412 3 145.0377

Thickness of Film Tested microns (mils) D 5947 2 0.03937008

#250 microns (#10 mils)

Thickness of Sheet Tested mm (mils) D 5947 2 39.37008

>0.25 mm (>10 mils)

Transmittance (Specify Regular Transmittance % (%) D 1003 2 1

and/or Total Transmittance)

Transparency (Clarity) % (%) D 1746 2 1

Vicat Softening Temperature °C (°F) D 1525 3 (°C 3 1.8) + 32

Volume Resistivity ohms 3 cm (ohms 3 cm) D 257 2 1

(expressed in scientific
notation)

Water Absorption % (%) D 570 2 1

Water Vapor Transmission Rate g/m23 24 h F 372 (film/sheet) 2 0.06451628

(g/100 in.23 24 h)

Yellowness Index — E 313 2 —

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