ASTM D4440-23

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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: D4440 − 15 D4440 − 23
Standard Test Method for
Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties Melt Rheology
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4440; 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 This test method outlines the use of dynamic mechanical instrumentation in determining and reporting the rheological
properties of thermoplastic resins and other types of molten polymers. It may be used as a method The method is useful for
determining the complex viscosity and other significant viscoelastic characteristics of such materials as a function of frequency,
strain amplitude, temperature, and time. Such properties may be influenced by It is known that fillers and other additives. additives
influence rheological properties.
1.2 It incorporates a laboratory test method for determining the relevant rheological properties of a polymer melt subjected to
various oscillatory deformations on an instrument of the type commonly referred to as a mechanical or dynamic spectrometer.
1.3 This test method is intended to provide a means of determining the rheological properties of molten polymers, such as
thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers over a range of temperatures by nonresonant, forced-vibration techniques. Plots of
modulus, viscosity, and tan delta as a function of dynamic oscillation (frequency), strain amplitude, temperature, and time are
indicative of the viscoelastic properties of a molten polymer.
1.4 This test method is valid for a wide range of frequencies, typically from 0.010.01 Hz to 100 Hz.
1.5 This test method is intended for homogenous and heterogeneous molten polymeric systems and composite formulations
containing chemical additives, including fillers, reinforcements, stabilizers, plasticizers, flame retardants, impact modifiers,
processing aids, and other important chemical additives often incorporated into a polymeric system for specific functional
properties, and which could affect the processability and functional performance. These polymeric material systems have molten
6 7
viscosities typically less than 10 Pa·s (10 poise).
1.6 Apparent discrepancies may arise in results obtained under differing experimental conditions. Without changing the observed
data, reporting in full (as described in this test method) the conditions under which the data was obtained may enable apparent
differences observed in another study to be reconciled.
1.6 Test data obtained by this test method are relevant and appropriate for use in engineering design.
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.8 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 and healthsafety, health, and environmental practices and determine
the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.10 on Mechanical Properties.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2015Oct. 1, 2023. Published February 2015November 2023. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 20082015
as D4440 - 08.D4440 - 15. DOI: 10.1520/D4440-15.10.1520/D4440-23.
*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
D4440 − 23
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 6721, Part 10.
1.9 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
D4065 Practice for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: Determination and Report of Procedures
D4092 Terminology for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
2.2 ISO Standard:
ISO 6721, Part 10 Plastics—Determination of Dynamic Mechanical Properties, Part 10, Complex Shear Viscosity Using a
Parallel-Plate Oscillatory Rheometer
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Definitions are Terms used in this standard are defined in accordance with Terminology StandardD4092 D4092.
and Terminology D883 unless otherwise specified. For terms relating to precision and bias and other associated statistical issues,
the terms used in this standard are defined in accordance with Terminology E456.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 A known amount of thermoplastic polymer (molten powder or pellet, or solid preform disk) is placed in mechanical oscillation
at a fixed or varying frequency at isothermal conditions or over a linear temperature increase or a time-temperature relation
simulating a processing condition. Storage (elastic) modulus, G' or loss (viscous) modulus, G'', or both, or the corresponding
dynamic viscosity functions n' = g'' ⁄w and n'' = g' ⁄w, of the polymeric material specimen are measured in shear as a function of
frequency, strain, temperature, or time.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method provides a simple means of characterizing the important rheological properties and viscosity of thermoplastic
polymers using very small amounts of material (approximately 25 to 50 mm in diameter by 1 to 3 mm in thickness .
approximately 3 to 5 g). Data are generally used for quality control, research and development, and establishment of optimum
processing conditions.
5.2 Dynamic mechanical testing provides a sensitive method for determining molten polymer properties by measuring the elastic
and loss moduli as a function of frequency, strain, temperature, or time. Plots of viscosity, storage, and loss moduli, and tan delta
as a function of the aforementioned process parameters provide graphical representation indicative of molecular weight, molecular
weight distribution, effects of chain branching, and melt-processability for specified conditions.
5.2.1 Observed data are specific to experimental conditions. Reporting in full (as described in this test method) the conditions
under which the data was obtained is essential to assist users with interpreting the data an reconciling apparent or perceived
discrepancies.
5.3 Values obtained in this test method can be used to assess the following:
5.3.1 Complex viscosity of the polymer melt as a function of dynamic oscillation,
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D4440 − 23
5.3.2 Processing viscosity, minimum as well as changes in viscosity as a function of experimental parameters,
5.3.3 Effects of processing treatment,
5.3.4 Relative polymer behavioral properties, including viscosity and damping, and
5.3.5 Effects of formulation additives that might affect processability or performance.
5.4 Before proceeding with this test method, refer to the specification for the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation,
conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or combination thereof, covered in the relevant ASTM materials specification shall
take precedence over those mentioned in the test method. If there are no relevant ASTM material specifications, then the default
conditions apply.
6. Interferences
6.1 Since small quantities of polymer are used, it is essential that the specimens be homogeneous and representative.
6.2 Toxic or corrosive effluents, or both, have the potential to be released when heating the polymer specimen to its molten state
and could be harmful to personnel or to the instrumentation.
6.3 Entrapped air/gas has the potential to affect the results obtained using powder or pellet-type samples.
7. Apparatus
7.1 The function of the apparatus is to hold a molten polymer of known volume and dimensions so that the material acts as the
elastic and dissipative element in a mechanically driven oscillatory system, as outlined in Practice D4065. These instruments
operate in one or more of the following modes for measuring rheological behavior in dynamic oscillatory shear: (1) forced constant
amplitude, fixed frequency, (2) forced constant amplitude, varying frequency, and (3) forced varying amplitude, fixed frequency.
7.2 The apparatus shall consist of the following:
7.2.1 Test Fixtures—A choice of either polished cone and plate (having a known cone angle) or parallel plates having either
smooth, polished, or serrated surfaces. Variations of this tooling, such as bottom plates with concentric overflow rims, can be used
as necessary.
7.2.2 Oscillatory Deformation (Strain)—A device for applying a continuous oscillatory deformation (strain) to the specimen.
7.2.3 Detectors—A device or devices for determining dependent and independent experimental parameters, such as force (stress
or strain), frequency, and temperature. Measure temperature with a precision of 61°C, frequency to 61 %, strain to 61 %, and
force to 61 %.
7.2.4 Temperature Controller and Oven—A device for controlling the specimen temperature, either by heating (in steps or ramps),
cooling (in steps or ramps), or maintaining a constant specimen environment, or a combination thereof. Fig. 1 illustrates several
time-temperature profiles. A Use a temperature programmer that is sufficiently stable to permit measurement of sample temperature
to 1°C.
7.3 Nitrogen, or other gas supply for purging purposes, if appropriate.
8. Test Specimens
8.1 The molten polymer composition shall be both homogeneous and representative.
8.2 Due to various geometries that might be used for dynamic mechanical characterization of molten polymeric systems, size is
not fixed by this test method; however, sample geometry (diameter and thickness) shall be reported for any series of comparisons.
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