4.1 The freeze/thaw conditioning procedures prescribed in this practice are designed to provide a standard procedure to be used to evaluate and compare the effect of 100 freeze/thaw cycles under controlled laboratory conditions on pultruded FRP composites to be used in structural design applications. The conditioning procedures prescribed in this practice are designed to obtain reproducible results to compare and evaluate these materials but are not intended to produce equilibrium conditions or actual service conditions for these materials.

1.1 In general, it is feasible that the mechanical properties of FRP composites will be affected by environmental conditions such as freeze/thaw cycling. In order to make reliable comparisons between different materials under freeze/thaw environmental conditions, it is necessary to standardize the freeze/thaw conditions to which specimens of these materials are subjected prior to and during testing. This practice defines procedures for freeze/thaw conditioning of pultruded FRP composites intended for use in structural design applications.

1.2 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems has the potential to result in nonconformance with the standard.

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, 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.