ASTM D7138-07

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An American National Standard
Designation:D7138–07
Standard Test Method to
1
Determine Melting Temperature of Synthetic Fibers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 7138; 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.
1. Scope 3.1.2 For all other terminology related to textiles, see
Terminology D 123.
1.1 Either of two test methods are used to determine the
melting temperature of thermoplastic fibers, yarns, or threads.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.2 Method 1 can be used to determine metling tempera-
4.1 Method 1:
tures for blends of multiple fiber material types. Method 2 can
4.1.1 A specimen of fiber and a reference sample are
only be used to determine the melting temperature of a single
positioned into the designated heating blocks of a Differential
fiber material type.
Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) instrument.
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or other units are to
4.1.2 Use the DSC data to determine the fiber specimen
beregardedseparately.Thevaluesstatedineachsystemarenot
melting temperature.
exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used inde-
4.2 Method 2:
pendently without combining values.
4.2.1 A specimen of fiber is positioned in a melting tem-
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
perature device.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.2.2 The temperature of the device is raised until the fiber
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
specimen reaches its melting temperature as determined by
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
visual observation.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents
2
5.1 Either of these two test methods is used to determine the
2.1 ASTM Standard:
temperature at which a synthetic fiber specimen changes from
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
a solid to a liquid-like state.
D 276 Test Methods for Identification of Fibers in Textiles
5.1.1 Synthetic fibers may be either amorphous or semi-
D 1776 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Textiles
crystalline thermoplastics or thermosets. Synthetic fibers may
D 2257 Test Method for Extractable Matter in Textiles
change from the solid to a liquid-like state on heating because
D 2258 Practice for Sampling Yarn for Testing
of the glass transition of amorphous polymers, the melting of
D 3333 Practice for Sampling Manufactured Staple Fibers,
crystalline regions of semi-crystalline polymers, or at the onset
Sliver, or Tow for Testing
of degradation. Thermoplastic fibers consist of crystalline and
3. Terminology amorphous regions and may be manufactured with a range of
molecular weights. The amorphous and crystalline fiber struc-
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
ture and variable molecular weight can lead to a melting
3.1.1 melting temperature, n— the temperature or range of
temperaturerangeinsteadofadiscreetmeltingpoint(seeTable
temperatures at which a substance is observed to transition to
1).
a liquid-like state.
5.2 This test method is considered satisfactory for accep-
tance testing of commercial shipments.
5.2.1 If there are differences of practical significance be-
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D13 onTextiles
tween reported test results for two or more laboratories,
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.51 on Conditioning and,
performcomparativetestingtodetermineifthereisastatistical
Chemical and Thermal Properties.
Current edition approved May 1, 2007. Published July 2007.
bias between them, using competent statistical assistance.As a
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
minimum, use the samples for such a comparative test that are
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
as homogeneous as possible, drawn from the same lot of
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. material as the samples that resulted in disparate results during
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D7138–07
TABLE 1 List of Typical Fiber Melting Temperatures and
Practice D 3333, as applicable. Consider containers, such as
A,B,C
Temperature Ranges
cartons, bales or other shipping containers to be the primary
Fiber Type Melting Temperature, °C
sampling units.
Vinyon HH Softens at 85º
7.2 Laboratory Sample Unit:
PVC About 100º
As a laboratory sampling unit for acceptance te
...