ASTM D4703-10

The methods by which sample materials are prepared and molded influence the mechanical properties of the specimen. Unlike injection molding, the objective of compression molding is to produce test specimens or sheets that are both homogeneous and isotropic. Molded specimens may be made from powder or pellets such as are received directly from a material manufacturer, particles produced in a recycle recovery operation, or from a milled preform or sheet prepared on a two-roll mill. The powder, pellets, particles, preform, or sheet are melted and molded in a mold designed to produce a finished specimen of a given geometry, size, and thickness, or melted and molded in the form of a smooth plaque or sheet of uniform thickness from which desired specimens are cut, punched, or machined. Working a compound on a two-roll mill prior to molding will disperse and distribute the compound additives in a manner that will affect the physical properties of the compound. The need for milling a sample prior to compression molding may be determined by reference to the relevant material specification or the material manufacturer. It is important to treat different samples of the same type of material in the same way: if milling was done prior to molding on a material which is to be used as a standard for comparison, all new materials to be tested against this practice should be prepared and molded in a similar manner.

The apparatus and exact conditions required to prepare adequate specimens may vary for each plastic material. Apparatus and procedures which should be satisfactory for molding many different plastic materials are given in this practice in Sections 5 and 6. The apparatus and procedures which have been found satisfactory for molding certain specific materials are given in the Appendix. In any case, the apparatus and procedures to be used in producing compression-molded specimens of a given material may be obtained by reference to the relevant material specification and should be agreed upon between the purchaser and the supplier.

1.1 This practice covers the compression molding of thermoplastic granules and milled stock for the preparation of test specimens.

1.2 While conditions for certain materials are given, the primary source of specific conditions shall be the material specification standards for each type of material.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.4 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 1—The main body of this practice is equivalent to ISO 293-1986. Annex A1 and ISO 293-1986 differ in some details; however, specimens prepared using Annex A1, Procedure A should be equivalent to those prepared using ISO 293-1986, Cooling Method D. Specimens prepared using Annex A1, Procedure C should be equivalent to those prepared using ISO 293-1986, Cooling Method B. However, due to the greater cooling rate tolerances of the ISO standard, specimens prepared in accordance with ISO Cooling Method B may not be equivalent to Annex A1, Procedure C.