ASTM_D_3530_-_20.pdf

Designation:D353020Standard Test Method forVolatiles Content of Composite Material Prepreg1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3530;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S.Department of Defense.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers the determination of the vola-tiles content,in mass percent of composite material prepregs.This standard focuses on composites with thermosetting resins,which tend to lose a few percent of the matrix mass whenheated due to loss of both retained water and low molecularweight matrix constituents that volatilize during heating.1.2 Use of this test method is limited to maximum tempera-ture of circulating air ovens,approximately 300 C(572 F).1.3 Use of this test method is limited to temperatures belowwhich the matrix flows from the reinforcement.1.4 UnitsThe values stated in SI units are to be regardedas standard.The values given in parentheses after SI units areprovided for information only and are not considered standard.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety,health,and environmental practices and deter-mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 8.1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-ization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards,Guides and Recom-mendations issued by the World Trade Organization TechnicalBarriers to Trade(TBT)Committee.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D883 Terminology Relating to PlasticsD3878 Terminology for Composite MaterialsE177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias inASTM Test Methods2.2 NFPA Standard:3NFPA 86 Standard for Ovens and Furnaces3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsTerminology D3878 defines terms relatingto composite materials.Terminology D883 defines termsrelating to plastics.Practice E177 defines terms relating tostatistics.In the event of a conflict between terms,TerminologyD3878 shall have precedence over other documents.3.1.1 prepreg,nthe admixture of fibrous reinforcementand polymeric matrix used to fabricate composite materials;itsform may be sheet,tape,or tow.3.1.1.1 DiscussionFor thermosetting matrices,it has beenpartially cured to a controlled viscosity called“B stage.”SeeTerminology D3878.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 volatiles,nthe solvent(s),water,low molecularweight matrix components,and other constituents that volatil-ize or evaporate during heating.3.2.2 volatiles content,nthe amount of volatiles present ina prepreg expressed as a mass percent.3.3 Symbols:Mfthe final mass of the sample,after oven exposure.Mithe initial mass of the sample,before oven exposure.Vcthe mass percent volatiles content.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 Specimens of prepreg are cut and weighed gravimetri-cally(Mi).These specimens are then exposed to elevatedtemperature for a specified time,equal to the nominal cure orconsolidation temperature of the material,in an air-circulatingoven to remove the volatiles.After a specified time in the oven,the specimens are removed and reweighed(Mf).The percentchange in mass is expressed as volatiles content.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D30 onComposite Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D30.03 onConstituent/Precursor Properties.Current edition approved Sept.1,2020.Published November 2020.Originallyapproved in 1976.Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D3530 97(2015).DOI:10.1520/D3530-20.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from National Fire Protection Association(NFPA),1 BatterymarchPark,Quincy,MA 02269-9101.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United StatesThis international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards,Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade(TBT)Committee.15.Significance and Use5.1 This test method is used to obtain the volatiles contentof composite material prepreg.Knowledge of the volatilescontent is useful in developing optimum manufacturing pro-cesses.5.2 The volatiles content is determin