ASTM Standards

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards are recognized worldwide and play a central role in the mechanical testing of materials and components. They ensure product quality and create uniformity, so that products and materials that comply with ASTM standards are considered internationally recognized quality assurance.

In the plastics industry tensile tests are governed by ASTM standards such as ASTM D638, while in metals testing standards such ASTM E8 are used to measure tensile strength. The tensile test on composites are mainly performed according to ASTM D3039. ASTM standards play a crucial role in the aerospace, wind energy and automotive sectors. They are essential for characterizing composite materials, aiding in material development, and determining characteristic values for designing and structuring composite components. In the medical industry, ASTM standards are applied to test implants, catheters and stents, as well as to evaluate the sealing seams in medical packaging.

ASTM standards are suitable for testing a wide variety of different materials such as Metals, Plastics, Rubber & Elastomers, Composites, Paper & Cardboard, Springs, Textiles, Construction materials and much more.

ASTM standards are often used in parallel with ISO and DIN standards. However, since this can lead to overlaps or even conflicting requirements, it is important to observe a few principles:

• Determine in advance which standard applies to what
• Verify technical equivalence, as the standards are usually not identical
• Explicitly document combinations of standards
• Consider national implementation
  

The binding version of ASTM standards is always the English original. Translations (e.g., into German) are unofficial unless ASTM itself has authorized them – which is rare. Translations are often good in terms of content and make them easier to understand, but technical terms or normative terms may be translated differently or inconsistently. To avoid misuse, the English original should therefore always be used.

Compliance with ASTM standards is not automatically mandatory for every company, as they are voluntary standards. They only become binding when they are required by law, contractually agreed, or demanded by the market or customers.

ASTM standards can be divided into several main types depending on their purpose and content:

• Test methods
  These describe in detail how tests are to be performed, e.g., tensile, compression, flexure or impact tests
• Product specifications
  These define requirements for materials or products, such as chemical composition or physical properties
• Guidelines
  These provide recommendations and guidance for tests or applications without specifying a specific procedure
• Classifications
  Classifications are used to divide systems, materials or products into classes or groups based on defined criteria
• Practice standards
  These describe best practices, e.g., for specimen preparation, calibration or handling of test equipment
• Terminologies
  These define technical terms to ensure a uniform understanding

Together, ASTM standards cover test methods, requirements, definitions of terms and recommendations.