ASTM D1693-05

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:D 1693–05
Standard Test Method for
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Environmental Stress-Cracking of Ethylene Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1693; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 2.2 ASTM Adjuncts:
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Apparatus Drawings and Blueprints
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the sus-
ceptibility of ethylene plastics, as defined in Terminology
3. Terminology
D 883, to environmental stress-cracking when subjected to the
3.1 Definitions:
conditions herein specified. Under certain conditions of stress
3.1.1 stress-crack, n—an external or internal rupture in a
and in the presence of environments such as soaps, wetting
plastic caused by tensile stresses less than its short-time
agents, oils, or detergents, ethylene plastics may exhibit
mechanical strength.
mechanical failure by cracking.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—The development of such cracks is
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
frequently accelerated by the environment to which the plastic
standard.
is exposed. The stresses which cause cracking may be present
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
internally or externally, or may be a combination of these
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
stresses. The appearance of a network of fine cracks is called
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
crazing.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.2 stress-crack failure, n—for purposes of this test
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
method, any crack visible to an observer with normal eyesight
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NOTE 1—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
shall be interpreted as a failure of the entire specimen (1).
Extension of the controlled imperfection shall not be construed
2. Referenced Documents
as a failure. The appearance of more than one crack in a single
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
specimen shall be construed as a single failure.
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Cracks generally develop at the con-
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
trolled imperfection and run to the outer edge of the specimen
D 1204 Test Method for Linear Dimensional Changes of
approximately at right angles to it (2). The cracks need not
Nonrigid Thermoplastic Sheeting or Film at Elevated
extend completely through the specimen to constitute failure.
Temperature
Cracks sometimes develop under the polymer surface, mani-
D 1248 SpecificationforPolyethylenePlasticsMoldingand
festing themselves as depressions on the surface. The time
Extrusion Materials
when this occurs should be noted, and if the depression later
D 3350 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and
develops into a crack, the time of dimpling should be consid-
Fittings Materials
ered as the failure time.
D 4703 Practice for Compression Molded Thermoplastic
Materials into Test Specimens, Plaques, or Sheets 4. Summary of Test Method
D 4976 SpecificationforPolyethylenePlasticsMoldingand
4.1 Bent specimens of the plastic, each having a controlled
Extrusion Materials
imperfection on one surface, are exposed to the action of a
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
surface-active agent. The proportion of the total number of
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
specimens that crack in a given time is observed.
5. Significance and Use
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This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
5.1 This test method may be used for routine inspection
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic Materi-
als. purposes by subjecting a required number of specimens to the
Current edition approved August 15, 2005. Published August 2005. Originally
approved in 1959. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as D 1693 - 01.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Detail drawings of the apparatus are available from ASTM Headquarters.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Request ADJD169301, ADJD169302, ADJD169303, and ADJD169304.
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Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
the ASTM website. this test method.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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