In the world of materials testing, consistency is king. Without standardized conditions, a single plastic material could yield three different strength results on three different days simply because of humidity or temperature changes. This is where ASTM D618-21 becomes indispensable.
ASTM standards are copyrighted and typically require a purchase. You can find the official document and related "Redline" versions (which highlight changes from the previous 2013 version) at these official distributors: astm d618-21 pdf
ASTM D618 defines several specific procedures labeled by letters. The choice of procedure depends on the material type and the final test to be performed: Environment Typical Duration Procedure A Standard Lab Atmosphere (23°C, 50% RH) Min. 40 hours Procedure B Oven conditioning at 50°C Procedure C Immersion in distilled water (23°C) Procedure D High humidity (96% RH at 23°C) Procedure E High temperature water immersion (50°C) Standard Lab Atmosphere ASTM standards are copyrighted and typically require a
💡 Pro Tip: Always check if your specific material standard (like ASTM D638 for tensile properties) mandates a specific procedure from D618. Find specific tolerances for high-precision testing. 40 hours Procedure B Oven conditioning at 50°C
ASTM D618-21 has significant implications for various industries that rely on plastics, including:
International Equivalency: While similar to ISO 291, ASTM D618 is considered more adaptable and describes a wider range of conditions than the two specified in the ISO standard.
Provides tables of accepted conditions, including: