ASTM D 4617 : 1996

1.1 This specification covers phenolic compounds suitable for molding.

1.2 This specification is intended to be a means of calling out plastic materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not intended for the selection of materials. Material selection should be made by those having expertise in the plastics field after careful consideration of the design and the performance required of the part, the environment to which it will be exposed, the fabrication process to be employed, the inherent properties of the material other than those covered by this specification, and the economics.

1.3 The properties included in this specification are those required to identify the compositions covered. There may be other requirements necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications. These will be agreed upon between the user and the supplier, by using the suffixes specified in Section 5.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.5 This standard should be used to measure and describe the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response to heat and flame under controlled laboratory conditions and should not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may be used as elements of a fire risk assessment which takes into account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use.

1.6 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 13 of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

Note 1- ISO 800-1977(E) is similar but not equivalent to this specification. Product classification and characterization are not the same.