D20.40 - Optical Properties

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The attribute of clarity of a sheet, measured by its ability to transmit image-forming light, correlates with its regular transmittance. Sensitivity to differences improves with decreasing incident beam- and receptor-angle. If the angular width of the incident beam and of the receptor aperture (as seen from the specimen position) are of the order of 0.1° or less, sheeting of commercial interest have a range of transparency of about 10 to 90 % as measured by this test. Results obtained by the use of this test method are greatly influenced by the design parameters of the instruments; for example, the resolution is largely determined by the angular width of the receptor aperture. Caution should therefore be exercised in comparing results obtained from different instruments, especially for samples with low regular transmittance.  
4.2 Regular transmittance data in accordance with this test method correlate with the property commonly known as “see-through,” which is rated subjectively by the effect of a hand-held specimen on an observer's ability to distinguish clearly a relatively distant target. This correlation is poor for highly diffusing materials because of interference of scattered light in the visual test.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the transparency of plastic sheeting in terms of regular transmittance (Tr). Although generally applicable to any translucent or transparent material, it is principally intended for use with nominally clear and colorless thin sheeting.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Note 1: There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
Note 2: For additional information, see Terminology E284 and Practice E1164.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This test method measures a fundamental property of matter which is useful for the control of purity and composition for simple identification purposes, and for optical parts design. This test method is capable of readability to four figures to the right of the decimal point.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for measuring the index of refraction of transparent organic plastic materials.  
1.2 A refractometer method is presented. This procedure will satisfactorily cover the range of refractive indices found for such materials. Refractive index measurements require optically homogeneous specimens of uniform refractive index.
Note 1: This test method and ISO 489 are technically equivalent.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Specular gloss is used primarily as a measure of the shiny appearance of films and surfaces. Precise comparisons of gloss values are meaningful only when they refer to the same measurement procedure and same general type of material. In particular, gloss values for transparent films should not be compared with those for opaque films, and vice versa. Gloss is a complex attribute of a surface which cannot be completely measured by any single number.  
4.2 Specular gloss usually varies with surface smoothness and flatness. It is sometimes used for comparative measurements of these surface properties.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes procedures for the measurement of gloss of plastic films and solid plastics, both opaque and transparent. It contains four separate gloss angles (Note 1):  
1.1.1 60-deg, recommended for intermediate-gloss films,  
1.1.2 20-deg, recommended for high-gloss films,  
1.1.3 45-deg, recommended for intermediate and low-gloss films,  
1.1.4 85-deg, recommended for intermediate and low gloss films, and  
1.1.5 75-deg, recommended for plastic siding and soffit.
Note 1: The 85-deg, 75-deg, 60-deg, and 20-deg apparatus and method of measurement duplicate those in Test Method D523 and D3679; those for the 45° procedure are similarly taken from Test Method C346.  
1.2 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.
Note 2: There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.  
1.3 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Light that is scattered upon passing through a film or sheet of a material can produce a hazy or smoky field when objects are viewed through the material. Another effect can be veiling glare, as occurs in an automobile windshield when driving into the sun.  
4.2 Although haze measurements are made most commonly by the use of a hazemeter, a spectrophotometer may be used, provided that it meets the geometric and spectral requirements of Section 5. The use of a spectrophotometer for haze measurement of plastics can provide valuable diagnostic data on the origin of the haze,4 and Procedure B is devoted to the use of a spectrophotometer.  
4.2.1 Procedure A (hazemeter) test values are normally slightly higher and less variable than Procedure B (spectrophotometer) test values.  
4.3 Regular luminous transmittance is obtained by placing a clear specimen at some distance from the entrance port of the integrating sphere. However, when the specimen is hazy, the total hemispherical luminous transmittance must be measured by placing the specimen at the entrance port of the sphere. The measured total hemispherical luminous transmittance will be greater than the regular luminous transmittance, depending on the optical properties of the sample. With this test method, the specimen is necessarily placed at the entrance port of the sphere in order to measure haze and total hemispherical luminous transmittance.  
4.4 Haze data representative of the material may be obtained by avoiding heterogeneous surface or internal defects not characteristic of the material.  
4.5 Haze and luminous-transmittance data are especially useful for quality control and specification purposes.  
4.6 Before proceeding with this test method, reference should be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of specific light-transmitting and wide-angle-light-scattering properties of planar sections of materials such as essentially transparent plastic. Two procedures are provided for the measurement of luminous transmittance and haze. Procedure A uses a hazemeter as described in Section 5 and Procedure B uses a spectrophotometer as described in Section 8. Material having a haze value greater than 30 % is considered diffusing and should be tested in accordance with Practice E2387.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
Note 1: For greater discrimination among materials that scatter a high percent of light within a narrow forward angle, such as is the case with abraded transparent plastics, adjust the hazemeter and perform measurements in accordance with Test Method D1044.  
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.
Note 2: This test method is not equivalent to ISO 13468-1 and ISO/DIS 14782.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Before proceeding with this test method, refer to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or a combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method. If there are no material specifications, then default conditions apply.
Note 2: Some materials, such as polyamide (nylon), can be cooled very differently during the production of the pellets. This variation in the cooling of the pellets can result in different levels of crystallinity in the pellets only. More crystalline nylons will be more opaque than amorphous nylons. This will result in differences in pellet opacity. The pellet shape is independent of the crystallinity of the material. This variation in pellet appearance, due to varying levels of crystallinity, does not affect final properties.
Note 3: This test method should not be used for general material specifications.  
4.2 This test method describes a technique useful for making color comparisons of resins in pellet form that is fast and convenient as it does not require preparation, such as molding or extruding specimens. The test method shall be used only to compare specimens of similar pellet shape, size, texture, and degree of translucency. For example, compare translucent disc-shaped pellets to translucent disc-shaped pellets, not with opaque, rectangular shaped pellets.  
4.3 Exact measurements of resin pellet color are not necessarily directly related to the color of the final cast, molded or extruded product due to the multitude of variables, such as producing variables, methods, and pellet shape and size. Color measurements can be useful for comparing resins in pellet form when all samples are similar in shape and size.  
4.4 A three-number tristimulus system is necessary to quantify color completely and precisely. The general method used in this procedure measures color using the CIE ...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is used for the instrumental measurement of the degree of yellowness (or change of degree of yellowness) under daylight illumination of homogeneous, nonfluorescent, nearly-colorless transparent or nearly-white translucent or opaque plastics. The measurement is made on pellets and based on tristimulus values obtained with a spectrophotometer or colorimeter.  
1.2 This test method is applicable to the color analysis of plastic pellets. It is possible that each material will have unique characteristics that determine the color values.  
1.3 This procedure outlines a method to determine color measurements, such as Yellowness Index (YI), CIE X, Y, Z, and Hunter L, a, b, or CIE L*, a*, b*.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.5 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.
Note 1: This standard and ISO 17223 address the same subject matter but differ in technical content.  
1.6 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Before proceeding with this test method, refer to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or a combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method. If there are no material specifications, then default conditions apply.
Note 2: Some materials, such as polyamide (nylon), can be cooled very differently during the production of the pellets. This variation in the cooling of the pellets can result in different levels of crystallinity in the pellets only. More crystalline nylons will be more opaque than amorphous nylons. This will result in differences in pellet opacity. The pellet shape is independent of the crystallinity of the material. This variation in pellet appearance, due to varying levels of crystallinity, does not affect final properties.
Note 3: This test method should not be used for general material specifications.  
4.2 This test method describes a technique useful for making color comparisons of resins in pellet form that is fast and convenient as it does not require preparation, such as molding or extruding specimens. The test method shall be used only to compare specimens of similar pellet shape, size, texture, and degree of translucency. For example, compare translucent disc-shaped pellets to translucent disc-shaped pellets, not with opaque, rectangular shaped pellets.  
4.3 Exact measurements of resin pellet color are not necessarily directly related to the color of the final cast, molded or extruded product due to the multitude of variables, such as producing variables, methods, and pellet shape and size. Color measurements can be useful for comparing resins in pellet form when all samples are similar in shape and size.  
4.4 A three-number tristimulus system is necessary to quantify color completely and precisely. The general method used in this procedure measures color using the CIE ...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is used for the instrumental measurement of the degree of yellowness (or change of degree of yellowness) under daylight illumination of homogeneous, nonfluorescent, nearly-colorless transparent or nearly-white translucent or opaque plastics. The measurement is made on pellets and based on tristimulus values obtained with a spectrophotometer or colorimeter.  
1.2 This test method is applicable to the color analysis of plastic pellets. It is possible that each material will have unique characteristics that determine the color values.  
1.3 This procedure outlines a method to determine color measurements, such as Yellowness Index (YI), CIE X, Y, Z, and Hunter L, a, b, or CIE L*, a*, b*.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.5 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.
Note 1: This standard and ISO 17223 address the same subject matter but differ in technical content.  
1.6 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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The attribute of clarity of a sheet, measured by its ability to transmit image-forming light, correlates with its regular transmittance. Sensitivity to differences improves with decreasing incident beam- and receptor-angle. If the angular width of the incident beam and of the receptor aperture (as seen from the specimen position) are of the order of 0.1° or less, sheeting of commercial interest have a range of transparency of about 10 to 90 % as measured by this test. Results obtained by the use of this test method are greatly influenced by the design parameters of the instruments; for example, the resolution is largely determined by the angular width of the receptor aperture. Caution should therefore be exercised in comparing results obtained from different instruments, especially for samples with low regular transmittance.  
4.2 Regular transmittance data in accordance with this test method correlate with the property commonly known as “see-through,” which is rated subjectively by the effect of a hand-held specimen on an observer's ability to distinguish clearly a relatively distant target. This correlation is poor for highly diffusing materials because of interference of scattered light in the visual test.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the transparency of plastic sheeting in terms of regular transmittance (Tr). Although generally applicable to any translucent or transparent material, it is principally intended for use with nominally clear and colorless thin sheeting.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses 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.
Note 1: There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
Note 2: For additional information, see Terminology E284 and Practice E1164.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This test method measures a fundamental property of matter which is useful for the control of purity and composition for simple identification purposes, and for optical parts design. This test method is capable of readability to four figures to the right of the decimal point.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for measuring the index of refraction of transparent organic plastic materials.  
1.2 A refractometer method is presented. This procedure will satisfactorily cover the range of refractive indices found for such materials. Refractive index measurements require optically homogeneous specimens of uniform refractive index.Note 1—This test method and ISO 489 are technically equivalent.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Light that is scattered upon passing through a film or sheet of a material can produce a hazy or smoky field when objects are viewed through the material. Another effect can be veiling glare, as occurs in an automobile windshield when driving into the sun.  
4.2 Although haze measurements are made most commonly by the use of a hazemeter, a spectrophotometer may be used, provided that it meets the geometric and spectral requirements of Section 5. The use of a spectrophotometer for haze measurement of plastics can provide valuable diagnostic data on the origin of the haze,4 and Procedure B is devoted to the use of a spectrophotometer.  
4.2.1 Procedure A (hazemeter) test values are normally slightly higher and less variable than Procedure B (spectrophotometer) test values.  
4.3 Regular luminous transmittance is obtained by placing a clear specimen at some distance from the entrance port of the integrating sphere. However, when the specimen is hazy, the total hemispherical luminous transmittance must be measured by placing the specimen at the entrance port of the sphere. The measured total hemispherical luminous transmittance will be greater than the regular luminous transmittance, depending on the optical properties of the sample. With this test method, the specimen is necessarily placed at the entrance port of the sphere in order to measure haze and total hemispherical luminous transmittance.  
4.4 Haze data representative of the material may be obtained by avoiding heterogeneous surface or internal defects not characteristic of the material.  
4.5 Haze and luminous-transmittance data are especially useful for quality control and specification purposes.  
4.6 Before proceeding with this test method, reference should be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of specific light-transmitting and wide-angle-light-scattering properties of planar sections of materials such as essentially transparent plastic. Two procedures are provided for the measurement of luminous transmittance and haze. Procedure A uses a hazemeter as described in Section 5 and Procedure B uses a spectrophotometer as described in Section 8. Material having a haze value greater than 30 % is considered diffusing and should be tested in accordance with Practice E2387.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.Note 1—For greater discrimination among materials that scatter a high percent of light within a narrow forward angle, such as is the case with abraded transparent plastics, adjust the hazemeter and perform measurements in accordance with Test Method D1044.  
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. Note 2—This test method is not equivalent to ISO 13468-1 and ISO/DIS 14782.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Before proceeding with this test method, make reference should be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or a combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method. If there are no material specifications, then default conditions apply.Note 2—Some materials, such as polyamide (nylon), can be cooled very differently during the production of the pellets. This variation in the cooling of the pellets can result in different levels of crystallinity in the pellets only. More crystalline nylons will be more opaque than amorphous nylons. This will result in differences in pellet opacity. The pellet shape is independent of the crystallinity of the material. This variation in pellet appearance, due to varying levels of crystallinity, does not affect final properties.Note 3—This test method should not be used for general material specifications.  
4.2 This test method describes a technique useful for making color comparisons of resins in pellet form that is fast and convenient as it does not require preparation, such as molding or extruding specimens. The test method shall be used only to compare specimens of similar pellet shape, size, texture, and degree of translucency. For example, compare translucent disc-shaped pellets to translucent disc-shaped pellets, not with opaque, rectangular shaped pellets.  
4.3 Exact measurements of resin pellet color are not necessarily directly related to the color of the final cast, molded or extruded product due to the multitude of variables, such as producing variables, methods, and pellet shape and size. Color measurements can be useful for comparing resins in pellet form when all samples are similar in shape and size.  
4.4 A three-number tristimulus system is necessary to quantify color completely and precisely. The general method used in this procedure measures col...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is intended primarily for the instrumental measurement of the degree of yellowness (or change of degree of yellowness) under daylight illumination of homogeneous, nonfluorescent, nearly-colorless transparent or nearly-white translucent or opaque plastics. The measurement is made on pellets and based on tristimulus values obtained with a spectrophotometer or colorimeter.  
1.2 This test method is applicable to the color analysis of plastic pellets. It is possible that each material will have unique characteristics that determine the color values.  
1.3 This procedure outlines a method to determine color measurements, such as Yellowness Index, CIE X, Y, Z, and Hunter L, a, b, or CIE L*, a*, b*.  
1.4 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.Note 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This test method measures a fundamental property of matter which is useful for the control of purity and composition for simple identification purposes, and for optical parts design. This test method is capable of readability to four figures to the right of the decimal point.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for measuring the index of refraction of transparent organic plastic materials.  
1.2 A refractometer method is presented. This procedure will satisfactorily cover the range of refractive indices found for such materials. Refractive index measurements require optically homogeneous specimens of uniform refractive index.Note 1—This test method and ISO 489 are technically equivalent.  
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Specular gloss is used primarily as a measure of the shiny appearance of films and surfaces. Precise comparisons of gloss values are meaningful only when they refer to the same measurement procedure and same general type of material. In particular, gloss values for transparent films should not be compared with those for opaque films, and vice versa. Gloss is a complex attribute of a surface which cannot be completely measured by any single number.  
4.2 Specular gloss usually varies with surface smoothness and flatness. It is sometimes used for comparative measurements of these surface properties.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes procedures for the measurement of gloss of plastic films and solid plastics, both opaque and transparent. It contains four separate gloss angles (Note 1):  
1.1.1 60-deg, recommended for intermediate-gloss films,  
1.1.2 20-deg, recommended for high-gloss films,  
1.1.3 45-deg, recommended for intermediate and low-gloss films,  
1.1.4 85-deg, recommended for intermediate and low gloss films, and  
1.1.5 75-deg, recommended for plastic siding and soffit.Note 1—The 85-deg, 75-deg, 60-deg, and 20-deg apparatus and method of measurement duplicate those in Test Method D523 and D3679; those for the 45° procedure are similarly taken from Test Method C346.  
1.2 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. Note 2—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Light that is scattered upon passing through a film or sheet of a material can produce a hazy or smoky field when objects are viewed through the material. Another effect can be veiling glare, as occurs in an automobile windshield when driving into the sun.
Although haze measurements are made most commonly by the use of a hazemeter, a spectrophotometer may be used, provided that it meets the geometric and spectral requirements of Section 5. The use of a spectrophotometer for haze measurement of plastics can provide valuable diagnostic data on the origin of the haze, and Procedure B is devoted to the use of a spectrophotometer.
Procedure A (hazemeter) test values are normally slightly higher and less variable than Procedure B (spectrophotometer) test values.
Regular luminous transmittance is obtained by placing a clear specimen at some distance from the entrance port of the integrating sphere. However, when the specimen is hazy, the total hemispherical luminous transmittance must be measured by placing the specimen at the entrance port of the sphere. The measured total hemispherical luminous transmittance will be greater than the regular luminous transmittance, depending on the optical properties of the sample. With this test method, the specimen is necessarily placed at the entrance port of the sphere in order to measure haze and total hemispherical luminous transmittance.
Haze data representative of the material may be obtained by avoiding heterogeneous surface or internal defects not characteristic of the material.
Haze and luminous-transmittance data are especially useful for quality control and specification purposes.
Before proceeding with this test method, reference should be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method. If there are no...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of specific light-transmitting and wide-angle-light-scattering properties of planar sections of materials such as essentially transparent plastic. Two procedures are provided for the measurement of luminous transmittance and haze. Procedure A uses a hazemeter as described in Section 5 and Procedure B uses a spectrophotometer as described in Section 8. Material having a haze value greater than 30 % is considered diffusing and should be tested in accordance with Practice E2387.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
Note 1—For greater discrimination among materials that scatter a high percent of light within a narrow forward angle, such as is the case with abraded transparent plastics, adjust the hazemeter and perform measurements in accordance with Test Method D1044.
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.
Note 2—This test method is not equivalent to ISO 13468-1 and ISO/DIS 14782.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Light that is scattered upon passing through a film or sheet of a material can produce a hazy or smoky field when objects are viewed through the material. Another effect can be veiling glare, as occurs in an automobile windshield when driving into the sun.
Although haze measurements are made most commonly by the use of a hazemeter, a spectrophotometer may be used, provided that it meets the geometric and spectral requirements of Section 5. The use of a spectrophotometer for haze measurement of plastics can provide valuable diagnostic data on the origin of the haze, and Procedure B is devoted to the use of a spectrophotometer.
Procedure A (hazemeter) test values are normally slightly higher and less variable than Procedure B (spectrophotometer) test values.
Regular luminous transmittance is obtained by placing a clear specimen at some distance from the entrance port of the integrating sphere. However, when the specimen is hazy, the total hemispherical luminous transmittance must be measured by placing the specimen at the entrance port of the sphere. The measured total hemispherical luminous transmittance will be greater than the regular luminous transmittance, depending on the optical properties of the sample. With this test method, the specimen is necessarily placed at the entrance port of the sphere in order to measure haze and total hemispherical luminous transmittance.
Haze data representative of the material may be obtained by avoiding heterogeneous surface or internal defects not characteristic of the material.
Haze and luminous-transmittance data are especially useful for quality control and specification purposes.
Before proceeding with this test method, reference should be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method. If there are no...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of specific light-transmitting and wide-angle-light-scattering properties of planar sections of materials such as essentially transparent plastic. Two procedures are provided for the measurement of luminous transmittance and haze. Procedure A uses a hazemeter as described in Section 5 and Procedure B uses a spectrophotometer as described in Section 8. Material having a haze value greater than 30 % is considered diffusing and should be tested in accordance with Practice E2387.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
Note 1—For greater discrimination among materials that scatter a high percent of light within a narrow forward angle, such as is the case with abraded transparent plastics, adjust the hazemeter and perform measurements in accordance with Test Method D1044.
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.
Note 2—This test method is not equivalent to ISO 13468-1 and ISO/DIS 14782.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The attribute of clarity of a sheet, measured by its ability to transmit image-forming light, correlates with its regular transmittance. Sensitivity to differences improves with decreasing incident beam- and receptor-angle. If the angular width of the incident beam and of the receptor aperture (as seen from the specimen position) are of the order of 0.1° or less, sheeting of commercial interest have a range of transparency of about 10 to 90 % as measured by this test. Results obtained by the use of this test method are greatly influenced by the design parameters of the instruments; for example, the resolution is largely determined by the angular width of the receptor aperture. Caution should therefore be exercised in comparing results obtained from different instruments, especially for samples with low regular transmittance.
Regular transmittance data in accordance with this test method correlate with the property commonly known as “see-through,” which is rated subjectively by the effect of a hand-held specimen on an observer's ability to distinguish clearly a relatively distant target. This correlation is poor for highly diffusing materials because of interference of scattered light in the visual test.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the transparency of plastic sheeting in terms of regular transmittance (Tr). Although generally applicable to any translucent or transparent material, it is principally intended for use with nominally clear and colorless thin sheeting.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses 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.
Note 1—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
Note 2—For additional information, see Terminology E 284 and Practice E 1164.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Specular gloss is used primarily as a measure of the shiny appearance of films and surfaces. Precise comparisons of gloss values are meaningful only when they refer to the same measurement procedure and same general type of material. In particular, gloss values for transparent films should not be compared with those for opaque films, and vice versa. Gloss is a complex attribute of a surface which cannot be completely measured by any single number.
Specular gloss usually varies with surface smoothness and flatness. It is sometimes used for comparative measurements of these surface properties.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes procedures for the measurement of gloss of plastic films and solid plastics, both opaque and transparent. It contains four separate gloss angles (Note 1):
1.1.1 60-deg, recommended for intermediate-gloss films,
1.1.2 20-deg, recommended for high-gloss films,
1.1.3 45-deg, recommended for intermediate and low-gloss films, and
1.1.4 75-deg, recommended for plastic siding and soffit.
Note 1—The 75-deg, 60-deg, and 20-deg apparatus and method of measurement duplicate those in Test Method D 523; those for the 45° procedure are similarly taken from Test Method C 346.
1.2 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.
Note 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Specular gloss is used primarily as a measure of the shiny appearance of films and surfaces. Precise comparisons of gloss values are meaningful only when they refer to the same measurement procedure and same general type of material. In particular, gloss values for transparent films should not be compared with those for opaque films, and vice versa. Gloss is a complex attribute of a surface which cannot be completely measured by any single number.
Specular gloss usually varies with surface smoothness and flatness. It is sometimes used for comparative measurements of these surface properties.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes procedures for the measurement of gloss of plastic films and solid plastics, both opaque and transparent. It contains four separate gloss angles (Note 1):
1.1.1 60-deg, recommended for intermediate-gloss films,
1.1.2 20-deg, recommended for high-gloss films,
1.1.3 45-deg, recommended for intermediate and low-gloss films, and
1.1.4 75-deg, recommended for plastic siding and soffit.
Note 1—The 75-deg, 60-deg, and 20-deg apparatus and method of measurement duplicate those in Test Method D523; those for the 45° procedure are similarly taken from Test Method C346.
1.2 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.
Note 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of specific light-transmitting and wide-angle-light-scattering properties of planar sections of materials such as essentially transparent plastic. Two procedures are provided for the measurement of luminous transmittance and haze. Procedure A uses a hazemeter as described in Section and Procedure B uses a spectrophotometer as described in Section . Material having a haze value greater than 30 % is considered diffusing and should be tested in accordance with Practice E 167.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. Note 1For greater discrimination among materials that scatter a high percent of light within a narrow forward angle, such as is the case with abraded transparent plastics, adjust the hazemeter and perform measurements in accordance with Test Method D 1044.
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.
This test method is not equivalent to ISO 13468-1 and ISO/DIS 14782.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Light that is scattered upon passing through a film or sheet of a material can produce a hazy or smoky field when objects are viewed through the material. Another effect can be veiling glare, as occurs in an automobile windshield when driving into the sun.
Although haze measurements are made most commonly by the use of a hazemeter, a spectrophotometer may be used, provided that it meets the geometric and spectral requirements of Section 5. The use of a spectrophotometer for haze measurement of plastics can provide valuable diagnostic data on the origin of the haze, and Procedure B is devoted to the use of a spectrophotometer.
Procedure A (hazemeter) test values are normally slightly higher and less variable than Procedure B (spectrophotometer) test values.
Regular luminous transmittance is obtained by placing a clear specimen at some distance from the entrance port of the integrating sphere. However, when the specimen is hazy, the total hemispherical luminous transmittance must be measured by placing the specimen at the entrance port of the sphere. The measured total hemispherical luminous transmittance will be greater than the regular luminous transmittance, depending on the optical properties of the sample. With this test method, the specimen is necessarily placed at the entrance port of the sphere in order to measure haze and total hemispherical luminous transmittance.
Haze data representative of the material may be obtained by avoiding heterogeneous surface or internal defects not characteristic of the material.
Haze and luminous-transmittance data are especially useful for quality control and specification purposes.
Before proceeding with this test method, reference should be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method. If there are no...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of specific light-transmitting and wide-angle-light-scattering properties of planar sections of materials such as essentially transparent plastic. Two procedures are provided for the measurement of luminous transmittance and haze. Procedure A uses a hazemeter as described in Section 5 and Procedure B uses a spectrophotometer as described in Section 8. Material having a haze value greater than 30 % is considered diffusing and should be tested in accordance with Practice E 167.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
Note 1—For greater discrimination among materials that scatter a high percent of light within a narrow forward angle, such as is the case with abraded transparent plastics, adjust the hazemeter and perform measurements in accordance with Test Method D 1044.  
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.
Note 2—This test method is not equivalent to ISO 13468–1 and ISO/DIS 14782.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method measures a fundamental property of matter which is useful for the control of purity and composition for simple identification purposes, and for optical parts design. This test method is capable of readability to four figures to the right of the decimal point.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for measuring the index of refraction of transparent organic plastic materials.
1.2 A refractometer method is presented. This procedure will satisfactorily cover the range of refractive indices found for such materials. Refractive index measurements require optically homogeneous specimens of uniform refractive index.Note 1This test method and ISO 489-1983 are technically equivalent.
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.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method is intended primarily for the instrumental measurement of the degree of yellowness (or change of degree of yellowness) under daylight illumination of homogeneous, nonfluorescent, nearly-colorless transparent or nearly-white translucent or opaque plastics. The measurement is made on pellets and based on tristimulus values obtained with a spectrophotometer or colorimeter.
1.2 This test method is applicable to the color analysis of plastic pellets. Each material may have unique characteristics that determine the color values.
1.3 This procedure outlines a method to determine color measurements, such as Yellowness Index, CIE X, Y, Z, and Hunter L, a, b, or CIE L*, a*, b*.
1.4 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.
Note 1—There is no equivalent ISO Standard.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Before proceeding with this test method, reference should be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or a combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method. If there are no material specifications, then default conditions apply.
Note 2—Some materials, such as polyamide (nylon), can be cooled very differently during the production of the pellets. This variation in the cooling of the pellets can result in different levels of crystallinity in the pellets only. More crystalline nylons will be more opaque than amorphous nylons. This will result in differences in pellet opacity. The pellet shape is independent of the crystallinity of the material. This variation in pellet appearance, due to varying levels of crystallinity, does not affect final properties.
Note 3—This test method should not be used for general material specifications.
This test method describes a technique useful for making color comparisons of resins in pellet form that is fast and convenient as it does not require preparation, such as molding or extruding specimens. The test method shall be used only to compare specimens of similar pellet shape, size, texture, and degree of translucency. For example, translucent disc-shaped pellets should be compared to translucent disc-shaped pellets, not with opaque, rectangular shaped pellets.
Exact measurements of resin pellet color may not be directly related to the color of the final cast, molded or extruded product due to the multitude of variables, such as producing variables, methods, and pellet shape and size. Color measurements can be useful for comparing resins in pellet form when all samples are similar in shape and size.
A three-number tristimulus system is necessary to quantify color completely and precisely. The general method used in this procedure measures color using the CI...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method is intended primarily for the instrumental measurement of the degree of yellowness (or change of degree of yellowness) under daylight illumination of homogeneous, nonfluorescent, nearly-colorless transparent or nearly-white translucent or opaque plastics. The measurement is made on pellets and based on tristimulus values obtained with a spectrophotometer or colorimeter.
1.2 This test method is applicable to the color analysis of plastic pellets. Each material may have unique characteristics that determine the color values.
1.3 This procedure outlines a method to determine color measurements, such as Yellowness Index, CIE X, Y, Z, and Hunter L, a, b, or CIE L*, a*, b*.
1.4 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.
Note 1—There is no equivalent ISO Standard.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Specular gloss is used primarily as a measure of the shiny appearance of films and surfaces. Precise comparisons of gloss values are meaningful only when they refer to the same measurement procedure and same general type of material. In particular, gloss values for transparent films should not be compared with those for opaque films, and vice versa. Gloss is a complex attribute of a surface which cannot be completely measured by any single number.
Specular gloss usually varies with surface smoothness and flatness. It is sometimes used for comparative measurements of these surface properties.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes procedures for the measurement of gloss of plastic films and solid plastics, both opaque and transparent. It contains four separate gloss angles (Note 1):
1.1.1 60-deg, recommended for intermediate-gloss films,
1.1.2 20-deg, recommended for high-gloss films,
1.1.3 45-deg, recommended for intermediate and low-gloss films, and
1.1.4 75-deg, recommended for plastic siding and soffit.
Note 1—The 75-deg, 60-deg, and 20-deg apparatus and method of measurement duplicate those in Test Method D 523; those for the 45 procedure are similarly taken from Test Method C 346.
1.2 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.
Note 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The attribute of clarity of a sheet, measured by its ability to transmit image-forming light, correlates with its regular transmittance. Sensitivity to differences improves with decreasing incident beam- and receptor-angle. If the angular width of the incident beam and of the receptor aperture (as seen from the specimen position) are of the order of 0.1° or less, sheeting of commercial interest have a range of transparency of about 10 to 90 % as measured by this test. Results obtained by the use of this test method are greatly influenced by the design parameters of the instruments; for example, the resolution is largely determined by the angular width of the receptor aperture. Caution should therefore be exercised in comparing results obtained from different instruments, especially for samples with low regular transmittance.
Regular transmittance data in accordance with this test method correlate with the property commonly known as “see-through,” which is rated subjectively by the effect of a hand-held specimen on an observer’ability to distinguish clearly a relatively distant target. This correlation is poor for highly diffusing materials because of interference of scattered light in the visual test.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the transparency of plastic sheeting in terms of regular transmittance ( Tr ). Although generally applicable to any translucent or transparent material, it is principally intended for use with nominally clear and colorless thin sheeting.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. the values given in parentheses 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.
Note 1—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
Note 2—For additional information, see Terminology E 284 and Practice E 1164.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for measuring the index of refraction of transparent organic plastic materials.
1.2 A refractometer method is presented. This procedure will satisfactorily cover the range of refractive indices found for such materials. Refractive index measurements require optically homogeneous specimens of uniform refractive index.
Note 1--This test method and ISO 489 are technically equivalent.
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.

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Light that is scattered upon passing through a film or sheet of a material can produce a hazy or smoky field when objects are viewed through the material. Another effect can be veiling glare, as occurs in an automobile windshield when driving into the sun.
Although haze measurements are made most commonly by the use of a hazemeter, a spectrophotometer may be used, provided that it meets the geometric and spectral requirements of Section 5. The use of a spectrophotometer for haze measurement of plastics can provide valuable diagnostic data on the origin of the haze,6 and Procedure B is devoted to the use of a spectrophotometer.
4.2.1 Procedure A (hazemeter) test values are normally slightly higher and less variable than Procedure B (spectrophotometer) test values.
Regular luminous transmittance is obtained by placing a clear specimen at some distance from the entrance port of the integrating sphere. However, when the specimen is hazy, the total hemispherical luminous transmittance must be measured by placing the specimen at the entrance port of the sphere. The measured total hemispherical luminous transmittance will be greater than the regular luminous transmittance, depending on the optical properties of the sample. With this test method, the specimen is necessarily placed at the entrance port of the sphere in order to measure haze and total hemispherical luminous transmittance.
Haze data representative of the material may be obtained by avoiding heterogeneous surface or internal defects not characteristic of the material.
Haze and luminous-transmittance data are especially useful for quality control and specification purposes.
Before proceeding with this test method, reference should be made to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method. If there...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of specific light-transmitting and wide-angle-light-scattering properties of planar sections of materials such as essentially transparent plastic. A procedure is provided for the measurement of luminous transmittance and haze. Material having a haze value greater than 30% is considered diffusing and should be tested in accordance with Practice E167.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.  Note 1-For greater discrimination among materials that scatter a high percent of light within a narrow forward angle, such as is the case with abraded transparent plastics, adjust the hazemeter and perform measurements in accordance with Test Method D1044.
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.  Note 2-There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method is intended primarily for the instrumental measurement of the degree of yellowness (or change of degree of yellowness) under daylight illumination of homogeneous, nonfluorescent, nearly-colorless transparent or nearly-white translucent or opaque plastics. The measurement is made on pellets and based on tristimulus values obtained with a spectrophotometer or colorimeter.
1.2 This test method is applicable to the color analysis of plastic pellets. Each material may have unique characteristics that determine the color values.
1.3 This procedure outlines a method to determine color measurements, such as Yellowness Index, CIE X, Y, Z, and Hunter L, a, b, or CIE L*, a*, b*.
1.4 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.  
Note 1--There is no equivalent ISO Standard.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the transparency of plastic sheeting in terms of regular transmittance ( Tr ). Although generally applicable to any translucent or transparent material, it is principally intended for use with nominally clear and colorless thin sheeting.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. the values given in parentheses 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.
Note 1-There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
Note 2-For additional information, see Terminology E 284 and Practice E 1164.

SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes procedures for the measurement of gloss of plastic films and solid plastics, both opaque and transparent. It contains three separate gloss angles (Note 1):  
1.1.1 60-deg, recommended for intermediate-gloss films,  
1.1.2 20-deg, recommended for high-gloss films, and  
1.1.3 45-deg, recommended for intermediate and low-gloss films.  
Note 1-The 60-deg and 20-deg apparatus and method of measurement duplicate those in Test Method D 523; those for the 45° procedure are similarly taken from Test Method C 346.  
1.2 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.
Note 2- There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.

SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes microscopical examination of plastic compounds to check quality of pigment dispersion. Thin sections of polymers are prepared for observation with transmitted light. Microscopical examination is normally made for grading or classification by comparison against observational standards.  
1.2 Operations are listed for practice generally applicable to many thermoplastic compounds. Details specific to wire- and cable-grade Type I polyethylene is given in Appendix X1. Note 1-There is no similar or equivalent ISO 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.