ASTM D4397-16(2023)

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.
Designation: D4397 − 16 (Reapproved 2023)
Standard Specification for
Polyethylene Sheeting for Construction, Industrial, and
Agricultural Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4397; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-
1.1 This specification covers polyethylene sheeting, 250 μm
Gradient Technique
(0.010 in. or 10 mils) or less in thickness, intended for
D1709 Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film
construction, industrial, and agricultural applications.
by the Free-Falling Dart Method
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
D2103 Specification for Polyethylene Film and Sheeting
standard.
D3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
1.3 The following precautionary statement pertains only to D4976 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and
the test methods portion, Section 8 of this specification: This
Extrusion Materials
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, D6988 Guide for Determination of Thickness of Plastic Film
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
Test Specimens
of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and E96/E96M Test Methods for Gravimetric Determination of
environmental practices and determine the applicability of
Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Materials
regulatory limitations prior to use. E1347 Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Mea-
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
surement by Tristimulus Colorimetry
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the F88/F88M Test Method for Seal Strength of Flexible Barrier
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Materials
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 2.2 Military Standard:
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
MIL-STD-1916 DoD Preferred Methods for Acceptance of
Product
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
3. Terminology
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1 Definitions—The plastics terminology used in this speci-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
fication is in accordance with the definitions given in Termi-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
nology D883.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.2.1 nominal length—the length of sheeting in any roll, as
2. Referenced Documents
specified on product labels, invoices, sales literature, and the
like.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
3.2.2 nominal net weight—the weight of sheeting in any
D882 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic
roll, as specified on product labels, invoices, sales literature,
Sheeting
and the like.
3.2.3 nominal thickness—the thickness of sheeting in any
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
roll, as specified on product labels, invoices, sales literature,
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.19 on Film, Sheeting,
and the like.
and Molded Products.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2023. Published November 2023. Originally
3.2.4 nominal width—the width of sheeting in any rolls, as
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as D4397 – 16. DOI:
specified on product labels, invoices, sales literature, and the
10.1520/D4397-16R23.
like.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. Available online at http://quicksearch.dla.mil.
*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 States
D4397 − 16 (2023)
A
TABLE 1 Dart Drop Impact Resistance
4. Materials
Nominal Thickness, μm (mils) Dart Drop Impact Resistance, min, g
4.1 The sheeting shall be made from polyethylene or modi-
25 (1.0) 40
fied polyethylene, such as an ethylene copolymer consisting of
38 (1.5) 65
a major portion of ethylene in combination with a minor 50 (2.0) 85
75 (3.0) 125
portion of some other monomer, or a mixture of polyethylene
100 (4.0) 165
with a lesser amount of other polymers.
125 (5.0) 205
150 (6.0) 260
NOTE 2—Polyethylene sheeting is made in a variety of colors, opacities,
175 (7.0) 315
translucencies, and dimensions. It is recommended that manufacturers be
200 (8.0) 370
consulted on the varieties available.
225 (9.0) 420
250 (10.0) 475
A
5. General Requirements
Values for nominal thickness other than those listed shall be determined by
arithmetical interpolation.
5.1 Appearance—The sheeting shall have appearance quali-
ties conforming with those produced by good commercial
practices. It shall be as free as is commercially possible of gels,
TABLE 2 Mechanical Properties
streaks, pinholes, particles of foreign matter, and undispersed
Lengthwise Crosswise
raw material. There shall be no other visible defects such as
Direction Direction
Tensile strength, min, MPa (psi) 11.7 (1700) 8.3 (1200)
blocking, holes, tears, or blisters. The edges shall be free of
A
Elongation, min, % 225 350
nicks and cuts visible to the unaided eye.
A
For films of nominal thickness of <2 mils (<50 μm), minimum % to be 200 and
5.2 Dimensions:
325, respectively (LD/CD).
5.2.1 Size—The nominal thickness, width, and length of the
sheeting in each roll shall be agreed upon between the buyer
and the seller.
5.2.2 Tolerances:
1 %, when determined in accordance with 8.13. This low level
5.2.2.1 Thickness—The thickness at any point, when mea-
of luminous transmittance indicates a high degree of opacity.
sured in accordance with 8.7, shall not be less than 80 % of the
6.6 Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR)—The average
nominal thickness.
water vapor transmission shall not be greater than 22.0 g/m
5.2.2.2 Width—The tolerance for widths of 0.3 m (1 ft) or
(1.40 g/100 in. ) per 24 h for sheeting 25 μm (1 mil) in
more, shall be 3.2 mm ( ⁄8 in.) per foot of nominal width. For
thickness, when determined in accordance with 8.14. The
all widths less than 0.3 m (1 ft), the tolerance shall be 3.2 mm
water vapor transmission rate is inversely proportional to the
( ⁄8 in.). Width to be measured in accordance with 8.8.
thickness. Maximum limits for rate of water transmission as a
5.2.2.3 Length—The length of sheeting per roll, when mea-
function of thickness are given in Table 3. Equivalent maxi-
sured in accordance with 8.8, shall be within +3 % to −1 % of
mum limits in terms of permeance are given in Table 4. The
the length specified.
WVTR requirement is not necessary for all applications (such
5.2.3 Minimum Net Weight—The actual net weight of each
as pallet wrap). However, Table 3 and Table 4 can be used for
roll shall be not less than the nominal net weight, when
those cases where the WVTR is an important consideration.
determined in accordance with the formula established in 8.9.
The nominal net weight shall, in turn, be the labeled net
7. Sampling
weight.
7.1 Samples for test purposes shall be taken from rolls,
selected at random from the total number of rolls in each
6. Detail Requirements
shipment or lot, in accordance with Table 5.
6.1 Color and Finish—The sheeting can be natural, (essen-
tially colorless), color tinted, translucent, or opaque. The
surface finish can be plain, printed, or otherwise treated as
TABLE 3 Specification for Water Vapor Transmission Rate
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller.
A
(WVTR)
6.2 Impact Resistance—The average impact resistance shall
WVTR (g/
2 Nominal Thickness
WVTR (g/24·h·m )
be not less than the resistance specified in Table 1, when tested 24·h·100·in. )
max
μm (mils)
max
in accordance with 8.10.
22.0 25 (1) 1.40
6.3 Mechanical Properties—The average tensile strength
11.0 50 (2) 0.70
7.3 75 (3) 0.47
and elongation at break for all thicknesses of sheeting shall be
5.5 100 (4) 0.35
as specified in Table 2, when tested in accordance with 8.11.
4.4 125 (5) 0.28
3.7 150 (6) 0.23
6.4 Reflectance—The daylight reflectance of white opaque
3.1 175 (7) 0.20
sheeting, intended for use in curing concrete, shall be not less
2.8 200 (8) 0.18
than 70 %, when determined in accordance with 8.12. 2.4 225 (9) 0.16
2.2 250 (10) 0.14
6.5 Luminous Transmittance—Black sheeting i
...