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D5676-99 – Standard Test Method Technical Guide
♻️ Scope and Application of D5676-99
ASTM Specification D5676-99 specifically governs recycled polystyrene (RPS) materials intended for molding and extrusion applications. This specification covers only recycled post-consumer, or post-consumer and industrial/virgin blended polystyrene materials, in both crystal and rubber-modified forms.
🔍 Expert Guidance Recommended: Material selection should be made by those having expertise in the plastics field after careful consideration of the design and performance required of the part, the environment to which it will be exposed, the fabrication process to be used, and the economics of the project.
The standard establishes that the values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. As noted in the standard, no equivalent ISO standard currently exists.
🏷️ Classification System for RPS Materials
Under D5676-99, materials are designated by an alphanumeric system starting with “RPS” (Recycled Polystyrene). Following this, a series of digits define the Group (recycled content level), Class (source), and Grade (application).
For example, the designation RPS0111 indicates RPS recycled polystyrene, Group 1 (100% recycled), Class 1 (post-consumer), and Grade 1 (food service).
| 🟦 Component | 📏 Designation | 📐 Description |
|---|---|---|
| Group | 1 | 100% Recycled Content |
| Group | 2 | Blended (Post-Consumer or Industrial/Virgin) |
| Class | 1 | Post-Consumer Source |
| Class | 2 | Industrial Source |
| Grade | 1 | Food Service Application |
| Grade | 2 | General Purpose Application |
⚠️ Note on Material Availability: Although the values listed in the standard are necessary to include the range of properties available in existing materials, users should not infer that every possible combination of the properties exists or can be obtained.
📊 Key Property Requirements and Testing
To ensure consistent quality and performance, D5676-99 relies on a battery of standard ASTM test methods. The specific property limits for a given RPS designation are defined by the basic property table (Table RPS) and any applicable suffix requirements.
| 🎯 Property | ⚡ Referenced Test Method |
|---|---|
| Tensile Properties | ASTM D 638 |
| Notched Impact Resistance (Izod) | ASTM D 256 |
| Melt Flow Rate (MFR) | ASTM D 1238 |
| Vicat Softening Temperature | ASTM D 1525 |
| Ignition Loss (Fillers) | ASTM D 2584 |
Conditioning of test specimens must be performed in accordance with Practice D 618. The use of significant digits in reporting test data should follow Practice E 29 to determine conformance with the specification. Standard injection molding practices for specimens are covered in Practice D 3641.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🔍 What does the designation RPS0111 mean?
RPS represents Recycled Polystyrene. The first digit ‘1’ is the Group (100% recycled content). The second digit ‘1’ is the Class (post-consumer source). The third digit ‘1’ is the Grade (food service application). The specific requirements for this material are found in the basic property table (Table RPS) of the standard.
💡 How are ‘blended’ materials classified?
The scope covers “post-consumer or industrial/virgin blended” materials. These are classified under a different Group (likely Group 2) in the basic property table, distinguishing them from 100% recycled materials (Group 1).
⚡ Does this specification cover applications beyond basic molding and extrusion?
Necessary requirements for identifying particular characteristics important to specialized applications can be called out using the suffixes as given in Section 5 of the standard, in conjunction with the basic property table.
📌 What units of measurement are standard for this specification?
The values stated in SI units are