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D4805-88 – Standard Test Method Technical Guide
🎯 Purpose and Scope of D4805-88
ASTM Standard D 4805 – 88 (Reapproved 1994)e1 serves as the central repository for terminology under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics. Its primary mission is to compile a comprehensive collection of terms and definitions that have been formally standardized by the subcommittees within D-20.
As stated in Section 1.2, the core purpose of this compilation is to provide a single, authoritative source for existing consensus terms. It is crucial to understand that this standard is not a vehicle for the creation or balloting of new terminology. Instead, it consolidates definitions from specialized sub-standards like D 883 and D 1600 for the convenience of the user.
⚠️ Important Distinction: Per Section 1.2 of the standard, D4805 is strictly a compilation document. It does not serve as a medium for standardizing new terms. Always verify the consensus definitions in their original source standards.
The standard was originally approved in 1988 and reapproved with editorial corrections applied to Sections 1 and 2 in December 1994.
📚 Key Referenced Standards and Relationships
The strength of D4805 lies in its network of referenced terminology standards. Section 2.2 details the primary source documents whose terminology is alphabetically compiled. Each definition in the compilation carries an attribution to its specific standard and the subcommittee responsible for its development.
| 🟦 Designation | 📏 Title | 🎯 Subcommittee |
|---|---|---|
| D 883 | Terminology Relating to Plastics | D20.92 |
| D 1600 | Terminology of Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics | D20.92 |
| D 3016 | Practice for Use of Liquid Exclusion Chromatography Terms and Relationships | D20.70 |
| D 3918 | Definitions of Terms Relating to Reinforced Plastic Pultruded Products | D20.18 |
| D 4092 | Terminology Relating to Dynamic Mechanical Measurements on Plastics | D20.10 |
| E 375 | Definitions of Terms Relating to Resinography | D20.92, D20.71 |
Furthermore, the non-mandatory Appendix X1 provides a broader view by listing related terminology standards managed by other ASTM committees. This cross-committee reference system helps users navigate terminology that overlaps into textiles, rubber, mechanical testing, and plastic piping systems.
| 📐 Designation | ⚡ Title | 🔍 Committee |
|---|---|---|
| D 123 | Terminology Relating to Textiles | D-13 |
| D 1418 | Practice for Rubber and Rubber Latices—Nomenclature | D-11 |
| D 4392 | Terminology for Statistically Related Terms | D-13 |
| E 6 | Terminology Relating to Methods of Mechanical Testing | E-28 |
| E 41 | Terminology Relating to Conditioning | G-3 |
| F 412 | Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems | F-17 |
💡 Efficient Usage: The terms are alphabetically listed in Section 4, followed by a separate alphabetical list of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols. Use the appendix to quickly find related terminology in adjacent technical fields such as textiles or mechanical testing.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🔍 What is the official definition of ‘standard terminology’ provided in this document?
According to Section 3.2, standard terminology is defined as “a word, phrase, symbol, acronym, or abbreviation that has been given explicit meaning in ASTM Standards by the consensus procedure.”
💡 Can I use D4805 to propose and standardize a new technical term for plastics?
No. Section 1.2 explicitly states: “It is not the purpose of this standard to provide a medium for standardizing terms and definitions.” This standard is a compilation resource only. New terms must be standardized through the consensus process in their specific subcommittee standard (e.g., D 883).
⚡ Which ASTM subcommittee is directly responsible for the maintenance of D4805?
As indicated in the footnote of the standard, D4805 is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D20.92 on Definitions, which is part of the broader ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics.
📌 Is the information in this version of the standard (D 4805 – 88) current?
The standard text itself bears a notice stating: “This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued. Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.” Always ensure you are referencing the most current official version for compliance and authoritative terminology.