This specification covers bale coatings on rubber bales made from natural sources. This is not applicable to natural rubbers packaged with plastic wrappers. Samples for testing should be carefully collected at random from the outside of the wrapper sheets from any three sides of the bale and properly handled and stored. Test methods include an ashing procedure to determine the amount of mineral filler from the bale coating on the wrapper sheets. A brushing or scraping procedure is also detailed for determining the amount of bale coating in the outside of the wrapper sheets of smoked sheet rubbers only.

1.1 This specification covers bale coating on bales of natural rubber (that have rubber wrapper sheets on the bales) and includes test method description. It specifies the maximum permissible amount of such coating.

1.2 This specification is not applicable to natural rubber that is packaged with plastic wrappers, as no bale coating is used.

1.3 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 5, of this specification: 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.4 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.