ASTM D6109-19

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D6109 − 13 D6109 − 19
Standard Test Methods for
Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastic
1
Lumber and Related Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6109; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 These test methods are suitable for determining the flexural properties for any solid or hollow manufactured plastic lumber
product of square, rectangular, round, or other geometric cross section that shows viscoelastic behavior. The test specimens are
whole “as manufactured” pieces without any altering or machining of surfaces beyond cutting to length. As such, this is a test
method for evaluating the properties of plastic lumber as a product and not a material property test method. Flexural strength
cannot be determined for those products that do not break or that do not fail in the extreme outer fiber.
1.2 Test Method A—A, designed principally for products in the flat or “plank” position.
1.3 Test Method B—B, designed principally for those products in the edgewise or “joist” position.
1.4 Plastic lumber currently is produced using several different plastic manufacturing processes. These processes utilize a
number of diverse plastic resin material systems that include fillers, fiber reinforcements, and other chemical additives. The test
methods are applicable to plastic lumber products where the plastic resin is the continuous phase, regardless of its manufacturing
process, type or weight percentage of plastic resin utilized, type or weight percentage of fillers utilized, type or weight percentage
of reinforcements utilized, and type or weight percentage of other chemical additives.
1.4.1 Alternative to a single resin material system, diverse and multiple combinations of both virgin and recycled thermoplastic
material systems are permitted in the manufacture of plastic lumber products.
1.4.2 Diverse types and combinations of inorganic and organic filler systems are permitted in the manufacturing of plastic
lumber products. Inorganic fillers include such materials as talc, mica, silica, wollastonite, calcium carbonate, and so forth. Organic
fillers include lignocellulosic materials made or derived from wood, wood flour, flax shive, rice hulls, wheat straw, and
combinations thereof.
1.4.3 Fiber reinforcements used in plastic lumber include manufactured materials such as fiberglass (chopped or continuous),
carbon, aramid and other polymerics; or lignocellulosic-based fibers such as flax, jute, kenaf, and hemp.
1.4.4 A wide variety of chemical additives are added to plastic lumber formulations to serve numerous different purposes.
Examples include colorants, chemical foaming agents, ultraviolet stabilizers, flame retardants, lubricants, anti-static products,
biocides, heat stabilizers, and coupling agents
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatorregulatory limitations prior to use.
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.20 on Plastic Lumber (Section
D20.20.01).
Current edition approved June 1, 2013April 1, 2019. Published June 2013May 2019. Originally approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 20102013 as
D6109 - 10.D6109 - 13. DOI: 10.1520/D6109-13.10.1520/D6109-19.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United Sta
...

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D6109 − 19
Standard Test Methods for
Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastic
1
Lumber and Related Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6109; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* derived from wood, wood flour, flax shive, rice hulls, wheat
straw, and combinations thereof.
1.1 These test methods are suitable for determining the
1.4.3 Fiber reinforcements used in plastic lumber include
flexural properties for any solid or hollow manufactured plastic
manufactured materials such as fiberglass (chopped or
lumber product of square, rectangular, round, or other geomet-
continuous), carbon, aramid and other polymerics; or
ric cross section that shows viscoelastic behavior. The test
lignocellulosic-based fibers such as flax, jute, kenaf, and hemp.
specimens are whole “as manufactured” pieces without any
1.4.4 A wide variety of chemical additives are added to
altering or machining of surfaces beyond cutting to length. As
plastic lumber formulations to serve numerous different pur-
such, this is a test method for evaluating the properties of
poses. Examples include colorants, chemical foaming agents,
plastic lumber as a product and not a material property test
ultraviolet stabilizers, flame retardants, lubricants, anti-static
method. Flexural strength cannot be determined for those
products, biocides, heat stabilizers, and coupling agents
products that do not break or that do not fail in the extreme
outer fiber.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
1.2 Test Method A, designed principally for products in the
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
flat or “plank” position.
and are not considered standard.
1.3 Test Method B, designed principally for those products
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
in the edgewise or “joist” position.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.4 Plastic lumber currently is produced using several dif-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ferent plastic manufacturing processes. These processes utilize
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
a number of diverse plastic resin material systems that include
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
fillers, fiber reinforcements, and other chemical additives. The
test methods are applicable to plastic lumber products where
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
the plastic resin is the continuous phase, regardless of its
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
manufacturing process, type or weight percentage of plastic
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
resin utilized, type or weight percentage of fillers utilized, type
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
or weight percentage of reinforcements utilized, and type or
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
weight percentage of other chemical additives.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.4.1 Alternative to a single resin material system, diverse
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
and multiple combinations of both virgin and recycled thermo-
plastic material systems are permitted in the manufacture of
2. Referenced Documents
plastic lumber products.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.4.2 Diverse types and combinations of inorganic and
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
organic filler systems are permitted in the manufacturing of
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
plastic lumber products. Inorganic fillers include such materi-
D2915 Practice for Sampling and Data-Analysis for Struc-
als as talc, mica, silica, wollastonite, calcium carbonate, and so
tural Wood and Wood-Based Products
forth. Organic fillers include lignocellulosic materials made or
D5033 Guide for Development of ASTM Standards Relating
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
Plastics and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.20 on Plastic Lumber
2
(Section D20.20.01). For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved April 1, 2019. Published May 2019. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D6109 - 13. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D6109-19.
...