ASTM_D_1972_-_97_2005.pdf

Designation:D 1972 97(Reapproved 2005)Standard Practice forGeneric Marking of Plastic Products1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1972;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(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope*1.1 This practice covers a system for uniform marking ofproducts that have been fabricated from polymeric materials.Provision for the process or processes to be used for markingis outside the scope of this practice.NOTE1Precise details of the marking,for example,the minimum sizeof the item to be marked,the size of the lettering,and the appropriatelocation of the marking,may be subject to agreement between themanufacturer and the user.1.2 The abbreviated terms used are to provide genericidentification of the polymer(s).1.3 This practice is especially pertinent for use with durableplastic components of products.This practice is not intended tosupplant,replace,or in any way interfere with the requirementsfound in legislation for marking or labeling of packaging.1.4 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 and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.NOTE2In many respects,this practice is similar to ISO 11469.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D 883 Terminology Relating to PlasticsD 1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating toPlasticsD 3935 Specification for Polycarbonate(PC)Unfilled andReinforced MaterialD 4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Mate-rials2.2ISO Standards:3ISO/DIS 1043-1 PlasticsSymbols and AbbreviatedTermsPart 1:Basic Polymers and Their Special Char-acteristicsISO 1043-2 PlasticsSymbolsPart 2:Fillers and Rein-forcing MaterialsISO 1043-3 PlasticsSymbolsPart 3:PlasticizersISO/DIS 1043-4 1996 PlasticsSymbolsPart 4:FlameRetardantsISO 1087 TerminologyVocabularyISO 8604 PlasticsPrepregsDefinition of Terms andSymbols for DesignationsISO 11469 PlasticsGeneric Identification and Marking ofPlastics Products3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:Definitions are in accordance with Termi-nology D 883 unless otherwise specified.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 abbreviated terma term resulting from the omissionof any part of a term while designating the same concept.(SeeISO 1087.)3.2.2 Discussion“Abbreviated term”is a general termthat includes abbreviations,initialisms,and acronyms(initial-isms that can be pronounced as a word).International Standarddefinitions for each of these terms is included in ISO 1087.3.2.3 bulk molding compound(BMC)a product composedof thoroughly mixed resins and chopped reinforcing fibers withor without particulate fillers,supplied in mass form,capable ofbeing molded under heat and pressure.(See ISO 8604.)3.2.4 matrix polymerthe continuous phase in a polymericblend or alloy.3.2.5 plastic productsarticles or stock shapes of plasticmaterials intended for useful purposes.3.3 AbbreviationsAbbreviated terms used in this practiceare from Terminology D 1600 and ISO/DIS 1043-1.4.Significance and Use4.1 This marking system is to provide assistance in identi-fication of products for making subsequent decisions as tohandling,recycling,or disposal.4.2 The system is based on standard abbreviated termsrelating to plastics published in the ISO 1043 series ofstandards and in ASTM D 1600.1This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics andis the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.95 on Recycled Plastics.Current edition approved July 1,2005.Published August 2005.Originallyapproved in 1991.Last previous edition approved in 2001 as D 1972-97(2001).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 American National Standards Institute(ANSI),25 W.43rd St.,4th Floor,New York,NY 10036.1*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.4.3 A system for expanded generic marking is described innonmandatory Appendix X1.5.System for Marking Products5.1 Plastic products may be marked at some place on thesurface with the abbreviated term(s)set between the punctua-tion marks“”and“”(greater-than or less-than signs,sometimes referred to as reversed angled brackets).For ex-ample,for products made from acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenepolymer use:.ABS,5.2 Products made from polymer blends or alloys may bemarked with the appropriate abbreviated terms for the constitu-ent polymers that are present i