Abstract

This specification provides for the identification of polyethylene plastics extrusion materials for wire and cable in such a manner that the seller and the purchaser can agree on the acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments. The polyethylene plastics are identified primarily on the basis of two characteristics, namely, density and flow rate (previously identified as melt index). The former is the criterion for assignment as to type which are as follows: Type 0,Type I, Type II, Type III, and Type IV, the latter for designation as to category which are: Category 1,Category 2, Category 3,Category 4, and Category 5. Other attributes important for certain applications are covered by three general classes and by specifying in greater detail, by grades, a minimum number of key characteristics covered too broadly or not at all by the type, class, and category designations. Each of five types and categories is subdivided into four classes according to composition and use as follows: Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D. In addition, the materials can be classified into different grades namely Grade E1, Grade E2, Grade E3, Grade E4, Grade E5, Grade E6, Grade E7, Grade E8, Grade E9, and Grade E10. The extrusion material for wire and cable shall be polyethylene plastic in the form of powder, granules, or pellets. The extrusion materials for wire and cable shall be as uniform in composition and size and as free of contamination as can be achieved by good manufacturing practice. Different tests shall be conducted in order to determine the following physical properties of extrusion materials: tensile stress, elongation, brittleness temperature, environmental stress-crack resistance, thermal stress-crack resistance without cracking, dissipation factor before and after milling, dielectric constant, volume resistivity, water immersion stability, absorption coefficient, weatherability for colored materials, and carbon content.

This abstract is a brief summary of the referenced standard. It is informational only and not an official part of the standard; the full text of the standard itself must be referred to for its use and application. ASTM does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents of this abstract are accurate, complete or up to date.

1. Scope

1.1 This specification provides for the identification of polyethylene plastics extrusion materials for wire and cable in such a manner that the seller and the purchaser can agree on the acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments. The tests involved in this specification are intended to provide information for identifying materials according to the types, classes, categories, and grades covered. It is not the function of this specification to provide specific engineering data for design purposes.

1.2 This specification does not allow for the use of recycled plastics (see Note 3).

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to inch-pound units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 12, of this specification: 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 1There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.

Note 2This standard has undergone major revision from the reapproval of 1989 and now covers only polyethylene for wire and cable applications. For information regarding molding and extrusion materials, see Specification D4976 . For information regarding plastic pipe materials, see Specification D3350 .

Note 3See Guide D7209 and 3.1.2 of this standard for information and definitions related to recycled plastics.

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

D150 Test Methods for AC Loss Characteristics and Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical Insulation

D257 Test Methods for DC Resistance or Conductance of Insulating Materials

D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing

D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics

D746 Test Method for Brittleness Temperature of Plastics and Elastomers by Impact

D792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement

D1238 Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer

D1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-Gradient Technique

D1531 Test Methods for Relative Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) and Dissipation Factor by Fluid Displacement Procedures

D1603 Test Method for Carbon Black Content in Olefin Plastics

D1693 Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of Ethylene Plastics

D2565 Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outdoor Applications

D2633 Test Methods for Thermoplastic Insulations and Jackets for Wire and Cable

D2839 Practice for Use of a Melt Index Strand for Determining Density of Polyethylene

D2951 Test Method for Resistance of Types III and IV Polyethylene Plastics to Thermal Stress-Cracking

D3182 Practice for Rubber--Materials, Equipment, and Procedures for Mixing Standard Compounds and Preparing Standard Vulcanized Sheets

D3349 Test Method for Absorption Coefficient of Ethylene Polymer Material Pigmented with Carbon Black

D3350 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fittings Materials

D3636 Practice for Sampling and Judging Quality of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials

D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics

D4329 Practice for Fluorescent UV Exposure of Plastics

D4703 Practice for Compression Molding Thermoplastic Materials into Test Specimens, Plaques, or Sheets

D4976 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials

D6360 Practice for Enclosed Carbon-Arc Exposures of Plastics

D7209 Guide for Waste Reduction, Resource Recovery, and Use of Recycled Polymeric Materials and Products

E1131 Test Method for Compositional Analysis by Thermogravimetry

G151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources

G153 Practice for Operating Enclosed Carbon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials

G154 Practice for Operating Fluorescent Light Apparatus for UV Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials

G155 Practice for Operating Xenon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials

Federal Specification

Keywords

polyethylene classification system; polyethylene for wire and cable; polyethylene plastics; wire and cable insulations and jackets; Classification (standards)--plastics; Molding/extrusion compounds/materials--specifications; Polyethylene (PE)--specifications

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 83.140.99 (Other rubber and plastic products)

DOI: 10.1520/D1248-12

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM D1248