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D4673-23 – Standard Test Method Technical Guide
📜 Scope and Classification System
ASTM D4673-23 establishes a standard classification system for ABS plastics and alloys intended for injection molding and extrusion processes. This standard applies exclusively to ABS materials and their alloys, covering compositions suitable for these processes, with some also viable for compression molding as noted in Section 1.1. The system is designed to provide a means of calling out plastic materials in end-item fabrication, but it does not serve as a selection guide. Material selection requires expertise in the plastics field, considering economics, environment, properties, part design, and manufacturing. The standard is issued under the fixed designation D4673 with updates in 2023, replacing previous versions.
⚙️ Test Methods and Specifications
The standard references multiple ASTM test methods to evaluate critical properties of ABS materials. These tests ensure consistent quality and performance for molding and extrusion applications. Practice D618 is used for conditioning prior to testing. The following table summarizes key test methods referenced in D4673-23:
| 🟦 Standard | 📏 Property Tested | 🎯 Description |
|---|---|---|
| D256 | Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance | Determines impact resistance of plastics under standard conditions. |
| D638 | Tensile Properties | Measures tensile strength, yield point, and elongation at break. |
| D790 | Flexural Properties | Assesses flexural strength and modulus of elasticity for rigidity. |
| D648 | Deflection Temperature | Measures heat deflection temperature under flexural load for thermal performance. |
| D1525 | Vicat Softening Temperature | Evaluates softening temperature of thermoplastics under specified load. |
📊 Key Measured Properties and Requirements
The classification system includes essential properties such as impact strength, tensile characteristics, flexural behavior, and thermal resistance to identify ABS compositions. For specialized applications, additional requirements are addressed using the suffixes described in Section 5 of the standard. All values in SI units are regarded as the standard, with parenthetical values for information only, as per Section 1.4. This system is intended for specifying materials in parts, not for initial selection, and follows practices outlined in standards like D4000 and D3892 for packaging.
📌 Important Note: This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and follows international standardization principles per the WTO TBT Committee. For specialized testing, refer to E29 for significant digits and D3641 for injection molding specimens.
💡 Tip: When specifying ABS materials for your application, ensure the line callout includes all necessary suffixes from Section 5 to guarantee properties like impact or heat resistance meet performance requirements. This standard differs from ISO 19062 in technical content, so verify alignment for international use.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🔍 What materials does D4673-23 cover?
It covers only ABS materials and ABS alloys suitable for injection molding and extrusion, with some also suitable for compression molding per Section 1.1.
💡 How are specialized properties addressed?
Specialized requirements are addressed using the suffixes in Section 5 of the standard, as mentioned in Section 1.3 for particular characteristics important to applications.
⚡ What is the conditioning standard for testing?
Practice D618 is used for conditioning plastics for testing, as referenced in Section 2.1 of the standard.
📌 Does this standard align with ISO 19062?
Both address the same subject matter but differ in technical content, as noted in Note 1 of the standard.