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  Home > Resources > Plastic Properties Descriptions > Melt Mass-Flow and Melt Volume Rate
 ASTM D1238 Explained

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Melt Mass-Flow and Melt Volume-Flow Rate - ASTM D1238

ASTM D1238 Purchase and download the official ASTM D1238 standard today!

Extrusion rate of a resin through an orifice of defined dimensions at a specified temperature and load. Flow rates can be used to differentiate grades or provide a measure of degradation of a material as a result of molding.

Melt Flow Rate Procedures
Procedure Description
A Manual Operation
B Automatically Timed Flow Rate Measurement
C Automatically Timed Flow Rate Measurement for High Flow Rate Polyolefins Using Half-Height, Half Diameter Die

The testing conditions are most commonly reported as temperature/load (i.e. 190°C/2.16 kg). In the past several test conditions were given alphabetical designations, these designations are described below.

Historical Melt Flow Rate Conditions
Condition Temperature (°C) Load (kg)
A 125 0.325
B 125 2.16
C 150 2.16
D 190 0.325
E 190 2.16
F 190 21.6
G 200 5
H 230 1.2
I 230 3.8
J 265 12.5
K 275 0.325
L 230 2.16
M 190 1.05
N 190 10
O 300 1.2
P 190 5
Q 235 1
R 235 2.16
S 235 5
T 250 2.16
U 310 12.5
V 310 2.16
W 285 2.16
X 315 5

The term Melt Index is commonly used in place of the Melt Flow Rate for polyethylene at 190°C/2.16 kg.

Common Melt Flow Rate Conditions by Material
Material Condition
Acetals (copolymer and homopolymer) 190/2.16
190/1.05
Acrylics 230/1.2
230/3.8
Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene 200/5.0
230/3.8
220/10
Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene/polycarbonate 230/3.8
250/1.2
265/3.8
265/5.0
Cellulose esters 190/0.325
190/2.16
190/21.60
210/2.16
Ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer 271.5/2.16
Ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer 297/5.0
Nylon 275/0.325
235/1.0
235/2.16
235/5.0
275/5.0
Perfluoro(ethylene-propylene) copolymer 372/2.16
Perfluoroalkoxyalkane 372/5.0
Polycaprolactone 125/2.16
80/2.16
Polychlorotrifluorethylene 265/12.5
Polyethylene 125/0.325
125/2.16
250/1.2
190/0.325
190/2.16
190/21.60
190/10
310/12.5
Polycarbonate 300/1.2
Polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene 265/21.6
265/31.6
Polypropylene 230/2.16
Polystyrene 200/5.0
230/1.2
230/3.8
190/5.0
Polyterephthalate 250/2.16
210/2.16
285/2.16
Poly(vinyl acetal) 150/21.6
Poly(vinylidene fluoride) 230/21.6
230/5.0
Poly(phenylene sulfide) 315/5.0
Styrene acrylonitrile 220/10
230/10
230/3.8
Styrenic Thermoplastic Elastomer 190/2.16
200/5.0
Thermoplastic Elastomer-Ether-Ester 190/2.16
220/2.16
230/2.16
240/2.16
250/2.16
Thermoplastic elastomers (TEO) 230/2.16
Vinylidene fluoride copolymers 230/21.6
230/5.0

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