This practice has been found to be very useful for preparing polyethylene samples suitable for determination of density by Test Method D 1505, for quality control purposes, especially in a resin manufacturing facility where fast, reproducible, comparative results are needed. It is not necessarily recommended for resin specifications which may be a part of a sales contract between the buyer and the seller.

The density of a polyethylene sample is highly dependent on the preparation and thermal history of the specimens. The level of density results obtained by this practice of sample preparation differs from that obtained by other methods as described in Practice D 4703.

Before proceeding with this practice, reference should be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or some combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this practice. If there are no material specifications, the default conditions apply.

1.1 This practice covers the preparation of a sample for polyethylene density determination in accordance with Test Method D 1505. The sample consists of a strand produced by extrusion of the polyethylene in accordance with Test Method D 1238, Condition 190/2.16 (Melt Index).

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in brackets are for information only.

1.3 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 health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.