IDES > Resources > Plastic Material Properties > Optical

Gardner Gloss - ASTM D523 Plastic Test Standard

Apply for Access to 84,000 Datasheets • Share this page

Property information for specific grades of resin are available in the Prospector Plastics Database.
Property Search let's you search for plastics by more than 400 material properties.

Gardner Gloss - ASTM D523

Gloss is a measure of how shiny, or reflective a material is at a specified angle based on refractive index.

An incandescent light source is directed at the test specimen at a specified incidence angle. A receptor is located at the mirror reflection of the incident beam. Polished black glass with a refractive index of 1.567 is used as a standard and is assigned a gloss of 100 at all geometries. Measurements are made using a glossmeter.

Gardner Gloss Measurement

Gloss Geometries
Angle	Use	Note
20°	Good for comparing specimens having 60° gloss values higher than 70.	Equivalent to ASTM D2457 at 20°.
60°	Comparing specimens and determining when 20° gloss is more applicable.	Equivalent to ASTM D2457 at 60°.
85°	Good for comparing specimens for sheen. Most often used when specimens have 60° gloss values lower than 10.	Commonly known as "Sheen".

Similar Standards

ASTM D2457

Property information for specific grades of resin are available in the Prospector Plastics Database.