Designation: D 704 – 99

Standard Specification for

Melamine-Formaldehyde Molding Compounds1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 704; 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 * and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materi-

1.1 This specification covers compression molding, thermo- als3
setting, melamine-formaldehyde molding compounds as fur- D 792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
ther defined in 4.1, resin binder, with or without other resins, tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement3
intimately combined with fillers, pigments, and any chemical D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics2
agents needed. D 1895 Test Methods for Apparent Density, Bulk Factor,
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the and Pourability of Plastic Materials3
standard. D 1896 Practice for Transfer Molding Test Specimens of
Thermosetting Compounds3
NOTE 1—The properties included in this specification are those re- D 3638 Test Method for Comparative Tracking Index of
quired to identify the types of molding compounds covered. There may be
Electrical Insulating Materials4
other requirements necessary to identify particular characteristics. These
will be added to the specification as their inclusion becomes generally D 3795 Test Method for Thermal Flow and Cure Properties
desirable and the necessary test data and methods become available. of Thermosetting Plastics by Torque Rheometer5
Transfer or injection molding will usually result in different physical and D 3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics6
electrical characteristics than compression molding. D 5224 Practice for Compression Molding Test Specimens
NOTE 2—ISO 2122-1977(E) is similar but not equivalent to this of Thermosetting Molding Compounds7
specification. Product classification and characterization are not equiva- D 6289 Test Method for Measuring Shrinkage from Mold
lent.
Dimensions of Molded Thermosetting Plastics7
2. Referenced Documents 2.2 ASTM Special Technical Publication:
2.1 ASTM Standards: STP 15 D Manual on Quality Control of Materials8
D 149 Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and 2.3 ISO Standard:
Dielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials ISO 2122-1977(E) Plastics—Aminoplastic Molding
at Commercial Power Frequencies2 Materials—Specification9
D 150 Test Methods for A-C Loss Characteristics and 3. Terminology
Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical Insu-
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of technical terms pertain-
lating Materials2
ing to plastics used in this specification see Terminology
D 256 Test Method for Determining the Pendulum Impact
D 883.
Resistance of Notched Specimens of Plastics3
D 495 Test Method for High-Voltage, Low-Current, Dry 4. Classification
Arc Resistance of Solid Electrical Insulation2
4.1 The molding compounds covered by this specification
D 570 Test Method for Water Absorption of Plastics2
shall be designated by types, based upon their principal
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing3
characteristics and the fillers used.
D 648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics
4.1.1 Type 1—General-purpose compound with cellulose
Under Flexural Load3
filler, available in colors, white, and black. Suitable for general,
D 731 Test Method for Molding Index of Thermosetting
mechanical, and electrical applications.
Molding Powder3
4.1.2 Type 2—A mineral- and flock-filled compound for
D 790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced

1 4
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.02.
5
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.16 on Thermosetting Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.03.
6
Materials. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.
7
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1999. Published February 2000. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.03.
8
published as D 704 – 43 T. Last previous edition D 704 – 94. Available from ASTM Headquarters. Request PCN 04-015030-34.
2 9
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.01. Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01. Floor, New York, NY 10036.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 704
industrial uses involving elevated-temperature and electrical when practicable, and the range of test results must always be
applications. reported. For all other tests, a single result beyond the range of
4.1.3 Type 3—A compound with chopped cotton-cloth filler, four times the estimated standard deviation must be discarded,
having greater impact strength than the other Types 1 through retests made, and the resulting value substituted for the
7. discarded value (Note 6).
4.1.4 Type 5—Unreinforced molding compound with high NOTE 5—The moisture content of the molding compound and the
translucency, particularly suited for small pearlescent mold- molded part, as well as mold design, molding process, and molding
ings. conditions, also influence test results.
4.1.5 Type 6—A wood-filled compound for general indus- NOTE 6—A method for determining 99 % confidence limits is given in
trial uses involving mechanical and electric applications. STP 15 D.
4.1.6 Type 7—Similar to Type 6, but with cellulose filler and
7. Sampling
improved insert-holding properties.
4.1.7 Type 8—A glass-fiber-reinforced compound with high 7.1 A batch or lot shall be considered as a unit of manufac-
impact strength and good electrical properties. ture and may consist of a blend of two or more production runs
4.1.8 Type 9—Short-fiber, glass-filled compound with good of compound.
dimensional stability and mechanical properties. 7.2 Adequate statistical sampling shall be used.
4.1.9 Type 10—A glass fiber-filled compound, with medium 8. Test Specimen Preparation
impact strength.
8.1 Where molded specimens are required, Practice D 5224
4.1.10 Type 11—A glass-filled, chopped strand compound
shall be followed as applicable (Note 7). Molds shall be
with extremely high impact strength and good arc resistance.
constructed in accordance with Practice D 1896.
4.1.11 Type 12—A fabric-filled compound with medium
impact strength. NOTE 7—Some melamine compounds may not feed, plasticize, or mold
satisfactorily at the designated temperatures of Practice D 5224. In such
NOTE 3—Melamine molding compounds are of a limited storage cases the recommendation of the manufacturer shall be followed.
stability. Melamine resins advance rapidly when stored at elevated
temperatures. 9. Conditioning
5. Ordering Information 9.1 Measure the plasticity on compounds in the “as re-
ceived” condition. However, for referee tests, store and condi-
5.1 The order for the compound shall specify name, type,
tion the samples as described in Test Method D 731.
color, and plasticity.
9.2 Condition molded test specimens in accordance with
NOTE 4—Compounds with a higher bulk factor than specified in Table Procedure B of Practice D 618.
1 may be available. 9.3 Conduct all testing in the Standard Laboratory Atmo-
6. Property Requirements sphere as specified in Practice D 618, unless otherwise speci-
fied in the referenced test methods or in this specification.
6.1 The molding compounds covered by this specification,
when molded in accordance with Practice D 5224, shall 10. Test Methods
conform to the requirements prescribed in Table 1. 10.1 Determine the properties enumerated in this specifica-
6.2 The required plasticity shall be agreed upon between the tion in accordance with the following methods:
purchaser and producer or supplier. Test Methods D 731 and 10.1.1 Bulk Factor—Test Methods D 1895, using the ap-
D 3795 are suggested for measuring plasticity and rate of cure. propriate method for the compound involved.
6.3 The requirements in Table 1 shall be considered as 10.1.2 Specific Gravity—Method A of Test Methods D 792.
minimum or maximum average values. Individual test results A 3.2 by 51-mm disk is a recommended specimen for com-
may vary 610 % from the average, in most cases (Note 5). In pounds containing long-fiber fillers that are subject to resin-
the case of arc resistance, all test results must be averaged, squeeze-out and flow under pressure.

TABLE 1 Requirements for Compression-Molded Test SpecimensA

Types
Property
1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Bulk factor, max 2.7 3.0 ... ... 2.9 ... ... 4.0 5.0 10.0 14.0
Specific gravity, max 1.60 1.80 1.60 1.55 1.60 1.55 2.00 1.90 2.20 2.00 1.55
Water absorption, max, weight 0.40 0.25 0.60 0.35 0.60 0.60 0.20 0.15 0.20 0.20 0.50
gain %
Impact resistance, min, J/m of notch 13.3 16.0 29.4 7.5 16.0 16.0 170.8 32.0 48.0 1066 53.3
Flexural strength, min, MPa 68.9 51.0 82.7 65.5 44.8 40.0 68.9 96.5 82.7 137.8 96.5
Deflection temperature, min, ° C 177 168 162.7 148.8 166 166 204 196 166 204 202
Dielectric strength, min, S/S, kV/mm 9.8 9.8 3.9 ... 7.9 7.9 6.7 9.45 9.06 ... 6.89
Dissipation factor, max, 0.05 0.060 ... ... 0.055 ... ... 0.02 0.02 ... 0.07
1 MHz
Arc resistance, min, s 120 180 125 ... 180 70 180 180 180 180 140
Shrinkage, max, m/m 0.008 0.006 0.005 0.012 0.008 0.008 0.003 0.004 0.003 0.004 0.005
CTI, min, V 500 ... 600 ... 400 ... ... ... ... 700 ...
A
The values shown herein were obtained under specified conditions. Any other conditions may significantly alter these values.

2
 D 704
10.1.3 Water Absorption—Test Method D 570, 24-h immer- NOTE 8—The short-time test determines the initial voltage for the
sion procedure. step-by-step test.
10.1.4 Impact Resistance (Izod)—Method A of Test Meth- 10.1.8 Permittivity and Dissipation Factor—Test Method
ods D 256, using a 12.7 by 12.7 by 63.5-mm bar. D 150, using a 3.2 by 102-mm specimen for all frequencies up
10.1.5 Flexural Strength—Method I, Procedure A of Test to and including 1 MHz.
Methods D 790, using a 6.4 by 12.7 by 127-mm bar, tested 10.1.9 Arc Resistance—Test Method D 495, using tungsten
parallel to molding pressure. electrodes.
10.1.6 Deflection Temperature—Test Method D 648, at a 10.1.10 Shrinkage—Test Method D 6289.
fiber stress of 1.82 MPa on a 12.7 by 12.7 by 127-mm bar, 10.1.11 Comparative Tracking Index (CTI)—Test Method
loaded perpendicular to molding pressure at a 102-mm span. D 3638.
10.1.7 Dielectric Strength—Test Methods D 149, using
specimens 3.2 by 102 mm or larger, tested under transformer 11. Packaging and Package Marking
oil between cylindrical brass electrodes 25.4 mm in diameter, 11.1 All packing, packaging, and marking provisions of
with edges next to specimen rounded to a radius of 3.2 mm and Practice D 3892 shall apply to this specification.
a length of 25.4 mm. The rate of rise for the short-time test
shall be 0.5 kV/s (Note 8). For the step-by-step test the 12. Keywords
increment of voltage increase shall be 2 kV and shall be 12.1 formaldehyde; melamine-formaldehyde; molding com-
applied for a period of 1 min. pounds (thermosetting)

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

This section identifies the location of selected changes to this specification. For the convenience of the user,
Committee D-20 has highlighted those changes that may impact the use of this specification. This section also
may include descriptions of the changes or reasons for the changes, or both.

D 704–94: (2) Removed inch-pound units throughout.

(1) ISO equivalency statement was included. (3) Deleted references to Practice D 1898 as Practice D 1898
(2) Keywords were editorially incorporated. has been discontinued with no replacement.
(3) Removal of sections regarding purchaser/producer agree- (4) Practice D 647 has been replaced by Practice D 1896;
ments outside Practice D 1898. Method D 955 has been replaced by Practice D 6289; and,
(4) Removal of quality assurance (QA) provisions for Practice D 956 has been replaced by Practice D 5224.
government/military procurement. (5) Revised 6.1, 6.3, 7.2, 8.1 and Notes 6 and 7 reflecting
D 704–99: discontinued and replacement standards.
(1) Editorial change to clarify scope in 1.1. (6) Added Summary of Changes.

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