Notes
Indian Journal of Chemical Technology
Vol. 10, September 2003, pp. 561-563
Density measurements of plastics - A solid plastics in water; and (ii) Test Method B for
simple standard test method
Dibyendu S Bag*, Bhanu Nandan, Sarfaraz Alam, L D
Kandpal & G N Mathur
Polymer Science Division, Defence Materials & Stores Research
& Development Establishment, Kanpur 208 013, India
Received I May 2002; revised received 6 May 2003;
accepted 28 May 2003
The standard test methods 1 for specific_gravity and density
measurements of plastic materials are we!}-known in ASTM
0792-98. The ASTM method uses the double pan beam
balance. However, the beam balance is;·-now-a-dais, being
replaced by the more easily available and more sophisticated
single pan electronic balance which is much easier fo handle
and is less time-consuming for mass measurements. The
procedure and formulae for specific gravity and · density
measurements using a single pan electronic balance are
described here. The formulae are justifie~ with some
experimental results.
The density or specific gravity is an important
property of solid materials 2 • The density of a plastic
sample may change due to change in crystallinity, loss
of plasticizers, absorption of solvent, etc. Also the
different portions of a sample may differ in density
because of the difference in crystallinity, porosity and
composition (types of resin, plasticizer, filler, etc.).
Therefore, it is very much important to know the
exact value of density as it is very much useful to (i)
identify the material ; (ii) follow the physical changes ·
in the sample; (iii) indicate the uniformity among
different sampling specimens; (iv) indicate the
average density of a large item; and (v) calculate the
strength weight and cost-weight ratios.
The ASTM test method describes the determination
of specific gravity and density of solid plastics of
different forms such as sheets, rods, tubes or other
molded items. The mass of the specimen of the solid
plastic in air is first measured. It is then immersed in a
liquid and its apparent mass upon immersion is
measured. The specific gravity and density are then
calculated. However according to the liquid used for
immersion of plastic specimen, ASTM test method is
categorized into two: (i) Test Method A for testing
*For correspondence (E-mail: dmsrde@sancharnet.in;
Fax:+ 91 -512-2450404/2404774)
testing solid plastics in liquid other than water. The
procedure and necessary formulae described in the
ASTM method is based on the utilization of doubl e
pan beam balance. If an electronic single pan balance
is used instead of a double pan beam balance, the
formulae given in the ASTM method do not hold
good. This paper reports the specific gravity and
density measurements of plastic materials using a
single pan electronic balance. The appropriate
formulae are derived. The procedure and calculation
of density and specific gravity measurements are
discussed with some experimental results .
Experimental Procedure
Determination of specific gravity and density using
electronic single pan balance
Test method A
In this method, water is used as the immersion
liquid. Therefore, this test method is suitable for
plastics that are not affected by water. It involves
weighing I to 50 g of specimen in air and in distill ed
or demineralized water after immersion . A beaker
may be used as an immersion vessel to contain the
water. If the specific gravity of plastic is less than that
of water, a sinker is used to immerse the plastic
specimen. The sinker must (i) be heavier than
necessary to sink the specimen, (ii) have a specific
gravity of 7.0 and above, (iii) be corrosion resistant.
(iv) have a regular shape with smooth surfaces, (v)
have an opening to attach the specimen and wire. A
fine wire is used to hang the specimen and/or sinker.
The wire must be corrosion resistant. All the care and
1
precautions are taken as per ASTM Test Method A •
The weight of the specimen was first taken in air
using an electronic single pan balance of 0. I mg
accuracy. Let this mass be 'a'. Then a beaker having
about 75% of its volume filled with water, called an
immersion. vessel was kept on the balance pan . A fin e
nichrome wire from outside was hanged from a stand
to the immersion vessel. The wire having a small bent
at the end to hold the specimen was partially
immersed in the vessel. After the above arrangement.
the balance was reset to zero. Then, the sample
specimen was completely immersed via the wire,
which was hanged. The wire was partially immersed
Notes Indian J. Chern. Techno!. , September 2003

to the initial level. Precautions were taken so that the
wire and specimen did not touch the vessel. The
weight was recorded as 'c'. This weight 'c' is the
weight of the equal volume of water.
Test method B
This method uses a iiquid other than water as
immersion liquid. So the plastic materials that are
lighter than water and affected by water are generally
"\tudied for its specific gravity and density
measurements using this test method. The selection of
liquid is such that the sample should not be dissolved,
swelled or otherwise affected by the liquid and the
specific gravity of the liquid should be less than that
of the sample. In addition, the immersion liquid
should have a low vapour pressure and be non-
hygroscopic.
In order to carry out experiments of specific gravity
and density measurements of plastics, xylene was
used as the immersion liquid. The specific gravity and
density of xylene was first measured using a
pycnometer. The specific gravity of plastic was
measured as discussed earlier using an electronic
single pan balance.
Results and Discussion
In order to verify the accuracy of the proposed
methods A and B, the densities of some plastic
materials were determined using electronic single pan
balance. The results of density measurements by
method A are included in Table 1 while Table 2
contains the data related to density measurements of
some plastic material using method B.
For materials which were used in method A, the
specific gravity was calculated using the relation:
Specific gravity= (a/c) (at 23°C) .. . ( I)
The density of the plastic material is thus calculated
as,
Density= (ale) x 0.9976 g/cm 3 . .. (2 )
where 0.9976 g/cm 3 is the density of distilled water at
23°C
For materials which were used in method 8
(Table 2), the specific gravity and density of
immersion liquid (xylene) were calculated using the
following relations:

Table !-Density of some plastic materials tested in water using electronic single pan balance

Material Densitt Standard Reported value 3.4 % Error

(g/cm· ) deviation (g/cm 3 )

Poly( ether ether ketone) (PEEK) 1.3048 0.0038

(Crystalline)
Poly( ether ether ketone) 1.2670 0.0025 1.2640 0.24
(PEEK) (Amorphous)
Poly( ether sulphone) (PES) 1.3665 0.0031 1.3700 0.35
PEEK/PES =50150 Blend 1.3425 0.0045
(Crystalline)
PEEK/PES =50150 Blend 1.3234 0.0038
(Amorphous)
"For each material, the density value is the mean of five specimens.

Table 2-Density of some plastic materials tested in xylene using electronic single pan balance

Material Densitf Standard Reported value 3.4 % Error

(g/cm) deviation {g/cm3 )
Poly( ether ether ketone) (PEEK) 1.3021 0.0021
(Crystalline)
Poly( ether ether ketone) 1.2670 0.0033 1.2640 0.24
(Amorphous)
Poly( ether sulphone) (PES) 1.3669 0.0035 1.3700 0.23
PEEK/PES =50150 Blend 1.3415 0.0013
(Crystalline)
PEEK/PES =50150 Blend 1.3204 0.0025
(Amorphous)
"For each material, the density value is the mean of five specimens .

.562
Bag eta/.: Simple test method for density measurements of plastics
Specific gravity (sL) = (w 2 - w)l(w 1 - w) 0 0
where, w, is the mass of the empty pycnometer, w 1
and w2 are the masses of the pycnometer filled with
water and filled with the liquid respectively.
Therefore, the density of the liquid (dd is:
000
The measured specific gravity and density of xylene
at 23°C are 0.8610 and 0.8589 glcm3 respectively.
Thus, the density of the plastic materials can be
calculated using the following equations:
Specific gravity= (ale) x sL 0 0
Density= (ale) x dL
=(ale) x sL x 0. 9976 g/cm3 0 0
where 'sL' and 'dL' are the specific gravity and
density of xylene respectively.
An observation of the experimental data presented
in Tables l and 2 indicates that the formulae used
above give sufficiently accurate results.
Articles
0 (3) Conclusion
The procedure and formulae described in ASTM
0792-98 method of determination of specific gravity
and density is based on the use of double pan beam
balance. But, now-a-days the more sophisticated
electronic single pan balance is widely used and is
replacing the beam balance because of its advantages
like ease of handling, less time-consuming for
(4) measurements etc. If this balance is used instead of
double pan beam balance for the determination of
specific gravity and density, the procedure and
formulae described in ASTM method should be
revised/modified. The appropriate procedure and
equations are described for specific gravity and
density measurements of plastics using single pan
electronic balance. The methods suggested are very
0 (5)
easy to use and are of reliable accuracy.
References
0 (6) I Annual Book of ASTM Standards, American Society for
Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, Section 8-Plastics.
vol. 08.01, Designation: 0792-98, 1998, 1-5.
2 McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 8'h ed ..
Vol. 2 (McGraw-Hill, New York), 1997, 79.
3 Hay J N, Kemmish D J, Langford J I & Rae A I M, Polymer.
29(1984) 175.
4 Ghosal K, Chern R T & Freeman B D, J Polym Sci Polym Phvs
Ed, 31 (1993) 891.
563