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Designation: D 2741 – 95

Standard Test Method for

Susceptibility of Polyethylene Bottles to Soot
Accumulation1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2741; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 5. Significance and Use

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the relative 5.1 This test method provides a useful means for determin-
susceptibility of polyethylene bottles to soot accumulation. ing the relative susceptibility of polyethylene bottles to accu-
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the mulate soot. In particular, this test method has been found
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information useful in evaluating antistatic additives or antistatic bottle
only. surface treatments, or both. Experience has shown that the
behavior of bottles in this test can be directly related to dust
NOTE 1—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
and lint accumulation under actual use conditions.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 5.2 This test method provides a means of accelerating soot
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the accumulation. However, the correlation of the results of this
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- test method to actual use conditions must be established for
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- each application.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau- 5.3 Although no formal round-robin testing has been done
tionary statements are given in Section 8 and Note 7. on other types of plastics, this test method has been found
useful for testing other than polyethylene plastics.4
2. Referenced Documents
5.4 Before proceeding with this test method, reference
2.1 ASTM Standards: should be made to the specification of the material being tested.
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or
Insulating Materials for Testing2 testing parameters, or combination thereof, covered in the
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics2 materials specification shall take precedence over those men-
E 104 Practice for Maintaining Constant Relative Humidity tioned in this test method. If there are no material specifica-
by Means of Aqueous Solutions3 tions, then the default conditions apply.
3. Terminology 6. Apparatus
3.1 Definitions: 6.1 Soot Test Chamber, having a 0.066-m3 (2.3-ft3) testing
3.1.1 Standard definitions for plastics as they appear in volume essentially like that shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.
Terminology D 883 shall apply. Chambers of other design (normally larger or having multiple
3.1.2 soot—the finely divided carbon rich particles resulting test chambers to allow testing of greater numbers of bottles at
from incomplete combustion of an organic material. the same time) that provide comparable results are considered
4. Summary of Test Method acceptable alternatives. With such chambers it is essential that
the following items be sized and kept in direct proportion to the
4.1 An electrostatic charge is generated on the bottle sur- total test chamber volume:
face. Under controlled conditions, the charged samples are 6.1.1 Blower or fan size,
exposed in a chamber to soot created by burning toluene- 6.1.2 Amount of filter paper and toluene, and
wetted filter paper. Soot accumulation is rated visually by 6.1.3 Amount of drying agent if required.
comparing the amount of carbon particles accumulated on the 6.2 Manifold System has been proven desirable for uniform
bottle to that shown on a preestablished graded scale. air circulation in larger units. Experience has shown that 0.05
mL of toluene on 452 mm2 of filter paper/0.028 m3 (1 ft3) of
test chamber volume produces a satisfactory smoke concentra-
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics
tion. The test chamber shall be equipped with:
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.20 on Plastic Products.
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1995. Published January 1996. Originally
published as D 2741 – 68. Last previous edition D 2741 – 91.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01. Schanzle, R. E., “New Test for Plastics Antistatics,” Modern Packaging,
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vols 08.03 and 11.03. MOPAA, May 1964, pp. 129, 130, and 204.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
D 2741

FIG. 1 Smoke Chamber for Plastic Bottle Soot Accumulation Test

6.2.1 Means for maintaining a 15 6 5 % relative humidity NOTE 3—Not required when humidity reduction is obtained by other
atmosphere (Note 2), means.
6.2.2 A fan or blower for air circulation, 8. Safety Precautions
6.2.3 Means for igniting toluene wetted filter paper, and
6.2.4 Removable 80-mesh wire screens covering test cham- 8.1 Use caution when handling toluene and trichlorethylene.
ber inlet and outlet. Small quantities may produce noticeable toxic effects if in-
haled, contacted, or ingested. Have adequate ventilation.
NOTE 2—The test chamber described in this procedure provides for 8.2 Have a fire extinguisher nearby when handling and
humidity reduction by means of a chemical drying agent contained within
igniting toluene.
the chamber. However, satisfactory results have been obtained by locating
the chamber in a room maintained in 15 % humidity or by use of other air 9. Test Specimens
drying equipment.
9.1 The test specimens shall be the plastic bottles under
6.3 Tongs. investigation. For accurate determination of relative soot ac-
6.4 Dry Cloth. cumulation properties, all of the bottles should be of the same
6.5 Paper Towels.5 configuration. The specimens shall be free from visible water
6.6 Filter Paper, 24 mm in diameter, ashless type. and dirt. Surfaces to be judged for soot accumulation properties
6.7 Relative Humidity Indicator.6 shall not be handled either beforehand or during the perfor-
mance of the test. A minimum of three specimens for each test
7. Materials
variable is necessary.
7.1 Trichlorethylene, Caution, see 8.1.
7.2 Toluene, Caution, see Section 8. 10. Calibration and Standardization
7.3 Calcium Chloride, or equivalent granules, 8-mesh. 10.1 Check for test chamber tightness by sealing off smoke
entrance and exit screens (Note 4), generating smoke as
indicated in 12.8, and inspecting for smoke leakage into test
5
Kaypee Industrial Wipes, Tidi-Unidisco Co., Troy, MI, or equivalent have been chamber.
found satisfactory for this purpose.
6
Abbeon Relative Humidity Indicator Model HTAB-169, Abbeon Cal, Inc., NOTE 4—Two-mil thick polyethylene film may be placed over the
123-56Y Gray Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. openings and held in place with pressure-sensitive tape.

2
D 2741

FIG. 2 Special Construction Details for Soot Accumulation Smoke Chamber

10.2 With the chamber smoke entrance and exit covered just NOTE 6—The grading scale employed in round-robin testing (Fig. 3)
by the screens, measure the time for the smoke cloud to cross may be used as a guide.
the test chamber to the chamber outlet. Adjust the blower speed 10.5.2 Acceptability of the reference standards shall be
to accomplish this in 7 6 1 s. agreed upon between the purchaser and the seller.
10.3 Calibrate the humidity indicator for 12 % relative
humidity by storing over a saturated solution of lithium 11. Conditioning
chloride at 20 6 1°C in accordance with Method C of Practice 11.1 Conditioning—Condition the test specimens at 23 6
E 104. It is necessary to alternate the indicator between the 2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F) and 50 6 5 % relative humidity for not less
12 % humidity and a higher humidity (40 to 50 %) several than 40 h prior to test in accordance with Procedure A of
times to be certain that the indicator returns to the 12 % Practice D 618, for those tests where conditioning is required.
reading accurately. In cases of disagreement, the tolerances shall be 61°C
10.4 Operation of the test chamber may be checked using (61.8°F) and 62 % relative humidity.
bottles with known soot accumulation properties. 11.2 Test Conditions—Conduct tests in the standard labora-
NOTE 5—White pigmented bottles made from high-density polyethyl- tory atmosphere of 23 6 2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F) and 50 6 5 %
ene resin containing 0.5 % titanium dioxide and no antistatic additive7 and relative humidity, unless otherwise specified in the test meth-
bottles made from the same material but sprayed over all with an antistatic ods. In cases of disagreements, the tolerances shall be 61°C
agent8 can be used. (61.8°F) and 62 % relative humidity.
10.5 Reference Standards and Blanks:
10.5.1 Reference standards in the form of standard samples 12. Procedure
or photographs should be established as a grading scale to 12.1 Remove the wire screens from the chamber and clean
which tested specimens may be compared (Note 6). Bottles them by brushing in trichlorethylene. Dry with a clean cloth.
prepared under 10.4 may be used as extremes. Wipe out the empty chamber with a clean dry cloth to remove
all loose soot.
7
12.2 For the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, spread
Hercules 4600 E polyethylene resin, Hercules Inc. or equivalent containing
200 6 5 g of calcium chloride on the screen in the drying
0.5 % TiO2 pigment has been found satisfactory for this purpose.
8
A 10 % water solution of Arquad 2HT-75, Armour Industrial Co., Box 1805, drawer. If the chamber has been used previously, check the
Chicago, IL 60690, or equivalent. condition of the calcium chloride drying agent in the drying

3
D 2741

FIG. 3 Smoke Chamber Grading Scale for Polyethylene Bottles

drawer and replace if the chamber has been left open or if the made less severe if the blower is allowed to run longer than the specified
ambient humidity is extremely high. If not replaced sooner, time after ignition because particles are carried past the bottles, lodging on
replace the calcium chloride after every ten tests. the blower blades, lower chamber surfaces, drying agent, etc.
12.3 Close and latch all the chamber openings, start the 12.8 After 15 6 1 min, open the chamber door and
blower, and reduce the relative humidity in the chamber to 15 immediately remove the specimens for inspection.
6 5 %; turn off the blower. NOTE 10—Bottle contact time with the smoke generated affects the
12.4 Charge each bottle to be tested separately by rubbing severity of the test results. Less contact time reduces the soot collected on
with a paper towel. Stroke each bottle surface to be tested the bottles, while a longer contact time increases the amount of soot
(Note 7) ten times in one direction starting at the top of the collected. If desired, the bottles may be lightly sprayed with clear lacquer
bottle and contacting the full panel surface as the stroke is to preserve their appearance.
made to the bottom of the panel. Use a new towel for each resin
13. Interpretation of Results
or surface treatment variable tested.
13.1 Subjectively rate the soot accumulation on the speci-
NOTE 7—Frequently only part of a bottle, such as an unlabeled side mens by comparison with the grading scale established. Soot
panel, is to be tested rather than the total bottle surface. In these instances
the bottle area to be tested must be specified.
accumulation may be rated as none, slight, moderate, or severe.
12.5 Immediately after charging, place each bottle in the 14. Report
chamber allowing no less than 50 mm (2 in.) between bottles 14.1 Report the following information:
or between the chamber walls and the bottles. Keep the test 14.1.1 Complete identification of the plastic bottles tested
chamber door closed except when opened to position a charged including source, manufacturer, type, form, date of manufac-
bottle in the chamber. ture (if internal antistatic agent employed) or date of surface
12.6 Latch the chamber door. Start the blower. Maintain the treatment (if applicable), previous history, etc.,
chamber humidity at 15 6 5 % for 2 h. 14.1.2 Purpose of test,
12.7 Turn the blower off. Wet a piece of filter paper held 14.1.3 Atmospheric conditions during conditioning and
with tongs with 0.10 mL of toluene.9 Immediately place the testing,
wetted filter paper on the holder in the combustion drawer, 14.1.4 Bottle surface or surfaces rubbed,
close the drawer, and immediately ignite the toluene using the 14.1.5 Degree of soot accumulation and location on the
ignition system (Note 8). Allow the filter paper to burn for 15 bottle surface for each bottle tested, and
6 1 s; then immediately start the blower. Turn off the blower 14.1.6 Date of test.
after 7 6 1 s.
15. Precision and Bias
NOTE 8—Caution: A delay in ignition could allow solvent vapors to
15.1 A round-robin was conducted in which untreated
mix with air in the chamber creating a possible explosion hazard.
NOTE 9—The time the blower is run should be sufficient to just carry bottles were compared with bottles of the same type sprayed
the smoke cloud across the test chamber to the chamber outlet. The test is with an antistatic agent known to be effective. Three sets, each
consisting of three untreated bottles and three bottles of each
level of treatment, were tested by each of five laboratories.
9
A hypodermic syringe, Hamilton Co., Inc., Whittier, CA, Microliter No. 725, or Each laboratory rated the specimens it had against the same
equivalent, has been found useful in accurately dispensing small amounts of toluene. four-division photographic scale: Grade 1 (clean), Grade 2

4
D 2741
(slight accumulation), Grade 3 (moderate accumulation), and tion properties. The testing of additional specimens is advised
Grade 4 (severe accumulation) (Fig. 3). in such cases.
15.2 Interlaboratory agreement in this round-robin was very 15.3 Data obtained by rating specimens against a set of
good (Table 1). However, more difficulty would be experienced arbitrary standards may be analyzed statistically in the form of
in comparing containers having intermediate soot accumula- contingency tables.10 The dependence of rating on the material
type or the surface treatment or on the individual graders may
TABLE 1 Soot Accumulation on White Polyethylene Bottles be assessed.
15.4 Since there is no accepted reference method for this
Number of Specimens Rated Total
Bottle test method, the bias of this test method cannot be determined.
Grade Grade Grade Grade Speci-
Treatment
1 2 3 4 mens
A—no additives, no
16. Keywords
0 0 0 45 45
surface treatment 16.1 polyethylene bottles; soot accumulation
B—no additives,
sprayed with 36 7 2 0 45
10
antistatic agent Mood, A. M., Introduction to the Theory of Statistics, McGraw-Hill Book Co.,
Inc., NY, p. 273.

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