: Condition 48/50 + Des indicates the specimen spent 48 hours at 50∘C50 raised to the composed with power C followed by a cooling phase inside a desiccator [1.10].
Proper application of is critical for any laboratory conducting accurate plastic characterization.
Outlines how to handle samples prior to the conditioning phase.
Standard Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing - ASTM
Polymers have low thermal conductivity. It takes time for the core of a thick plastic specimen to match the temperature of the testing room.
) compared to other materials. Minor shifts in ambient laboratory temperature can move a plastic closer to or further from its brittle-to-ductile transition point, severely skewing impact and tensile strength data. astm d618-21 pdf
For laboratory managers, quality engineers, and technicians searching for the , you are not just looking for a file—you are looking for the key to reproducible test results. This article explains everything you need to know about the standard, why the 2021 revision matters, and how to obtain a legitimate copy of the document.
The most common environment used for Procedure A is the "Standard Laboratory Atmosphere". It is strictly defined as:
At its core, this standard defines two things:
2021
: Eliminating the previous thermal or moisture history of a specimen to guarantee identical test baselines [1.1]. : Condition 48/50 + Des indicates the specimen
A: No. D618-21 requires closed, controlled chambers with active humidity control.
Nylons (polyamides) absorb water, which acts as a plasticizer, decreasing tensile strength but increasing impact resistance.
While free versions of older editions (such as ASTM D618-13) can sometimes be found on document-sharing websites, using these is highly discouraged. They are often outdated, may not be complete, and could contain errors. Furthermore, ASTM has explicit policies regarding the use of their standards, and using an unofficial copy could put a company at risk of non-compliance and legal liability.
To comply with ASTM D618-21, laboratories must utilize specialized environmental chambers.
To properly execute an ASTM D618-21 compliant test protocol, laboratories should implement the following quality controls: Standard Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing -
To remove moisture from hygroscopic plastics.
Plastics can gain or lose weight and change dimensions depending on the humidity and temperature of their storage environment. For example:
The suffix "-21" indicates that this is the version of the standard reviewed, updated, or reapproved in the year 2021. ASTM standards undergo periodic reviews to ensure they align with modern laboratory technologies, updated equipment tolerances, and industry best practices. Why Conditioning Matters for Polymers
The fundamental purpose of the standard is to mandate the conditions to which plastic specimens are exposed before and during testing. Because plastics are hygroscopic (they absorb moisture from the air) and thermally sensitive, their physical and electrical properties can vary dramatically with environmental conditions. Without a controlled conditioning step, comparing test results from different sources would be impossible. The standard ensures that: