Designation: D 1921 – 01

Standard Test Methods for

Particle Size (Sieve Analysis) of Plastic Materials1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1921; 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 E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to

1.1 These test methods cover the measurement of the Determine the Precision of a Test Method2
particle size of plastic materials in the powdered, granular, or 3. Summary of Test Methods
pelleted forms in which they are commonly supplied. As these
test methods utilize dry sieving, the lower limit of measure- 3.1 A dry mass of plastic material is placed on a series of
ment is considered to be about 38 µm (No. 400 sieve). For sieves arranged in order of increasing fineness and the mass is
smaller particle sizes, sedimentation test methods are recom- divided into fractions corresponding to the sieve opening.
mended. 4. Significance and Use
1.2 Two test methods are described:
1.2.1 Test Method A—This test method uses multiple sieves 4.1 These test methods can be used to determine particle
selected to span the particle size of the material. The mean size distribution and therefore are useful for determining
particle diameter and distribution can be determined by this test lot-to-lot uniformity.
method. 4.2 The particle sizes of plastic materials affect the handling
1.2.2 Test Method B—This test method is an abbreviated characteristics and may affect the processing characteristics of
version of Test Method A conducted with a few specific sieves. some polymers.
This test method determines “percent passing” or “percent 5. Interferences
retained” on a given sieve. Test Method B is applicable to
materials which do not have a normal particle size distribution 5.1 Some materials develop a static charge during sieving.
such as pellets and cubes. This charge interferes with the sieving process and results in a
1.3 The values stated in SI units shall be considered coarse bias. Use of an antistat is necessary to obtain meaning-
standard for dimensions of the wire cloth openings and the ful results.
diameter of the wires used in the wire cloth. The values stated 5.2 The choice of antistat (or slip agent) will affect the
in inch-pound units shall be considered standard with regard to coarse bias. Some materials are more effective in aiding the
the sieve frames. fines to separate from the mass.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 5.3 Too much material on a sieve causes mass blinding and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the results in a coarse bias. The sieve selection and charge weight
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- must be chosen to avoid overloading any sieve.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 5.4 Wavy, improperly stretched wire-cloth may allow wires
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. to separate without being visually damaged. Sieves with wavy
or torn wires should be discarded, as they no longer conform to
NOTE 1—There is no technically equivalent ISO standard. Specification E 11.
2. Referenced Documents 6. Apparatus
2.1 ASTM Standards: 6.1 Balance, 500-g minimum capacity with the capability of
E 11 Specification for Wire-Cloth Sieves for Testing Pur- reading to the nearest 0.1 g.
poses2 6.2 Mechanical Sieving Device and Time Switch—A me-
chanical sieve-shaking device equipped with an automatic time
1
switch. This device shall be capable of imparting uniform
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
Plastics and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.70 on Analytic rotary motion and a tapping action at a rate of 150 6 10
Methods (Section D20.70.01). taps/min.
Current edition approved August 10, 2001. Published October 2001. Originally 6.3 Wire Cloth Sieves, woven wire cloth conforming to
published as D 1921 – 61 T. Last previous edition D 1921 – 96.
This revision adds an ISO equivalency statement, includes Table 1 showing sieve
Specification E 11, as shown in Table 1, mounted in 8-in.
size openings, and has wording changes in Sections 10, 12, 13, and 15. (203-mm) frames. The number of sieves and the choice of sizes
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.

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 D 1921
TABLE 1 Nominal Dimensions, Permissible Variations for Wire Cloth of Standard Test Sieves (U.S.A.) Standard Series
Permissible
Sieve Designation Opening Dimension
Variation of
Nominal Sieve Exceeded By Not Maximum Nominal Wire
Average Opening
Opening, in.A More Than 5 % of Individual Opening Diameter, mmB
Standard C
Alternative from the Standard
the Openings
Sieve Designation
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
125 mm 5 in. 5 63.70 mm 130.0 mm 130.9 mm 8.00
106 mm 4.24 in. 4.24 63.20 mm 110.2 mm 111.1 mm 6.30
100 mmD 4 in.D 4 63.00 mm 104.0 mm 104.8 mm 6.30
90 mm 31⁄2 in. 3.5 62.70 mm 93.6 mm 94.4 mm 6.30
75 mm 3 in. 3 62.20 mm 78.1 mm 78.7 mm 6.30
63 mm 21⁄2 in. 2.5 61.90 mm 65.6 mm 66.2 mm 5.80
53 mm 2.12 in. 2.12 61.60 mm 55.2 mm 55.7 mm 5.00
50 mmD 2 in.D 2 61.50 mm 52.1 mm 52.6 mm 5.00
45 mm 13⁄4 in. 1.75 61.40 mm 46.9 mm 47.4 mm 4.50
37.5 mm 11⁄2 in. 1.5 61.10 mm 39.1 mm 39.5 mm 4.50
31.5 mm 11⁄4 in. 1.25 61.00 mm 32.9 mm 33.2 mm 4.00
26.5 mm 1.06 in. 1.06 6800 mm 27.7 mm 28.0 mm 3.55
25.0 mmD 1.00 in.D 1 6800 mm 26.1 mm 26.4 mm 3.55
22.4 mm 7⁄8 in. 0.875 6700 mm 23.4 mm 23.7 mm 3.56
19.0 mm 3⁄4 in. 0.750 6600 mm 19.9 mm 20.1 mm 3.15
16.0 mm 5⁄8 in. 0.625 6500 mm 16.7 mm 17.0 mm 3.15
13.2 mm 0.530 in. 0.530 6410 mm 13.83 mm 14.05 mm 2.80
12.5 mmD 1⁄2in.D 0.500 6390 mm 13.10 mm 13.31 mm 2.50
11.2 mm 7⁄16 in. 0.438 6350 mm 11.75 mm 11.94 mm 2.50
9.5 mm 3⁄8 in. 0.375 6300 mm 9.97 mm 10.16 mm 2.24
8.0 mm 5⁄16 in. 0.312 6250 mm 8.41 mm 8.58 mm 2.00
6.7 mm 0.265 in. 0.265 6210 mm 7.05 mm 7.20 mm 1.80
6.3 mmD 1⁄4in.D 0.250 6200 mm 6.64 mm 6.78 mm 1.80
5.6 mm No. 31⁄2E 0.223 6180 mm 5.90 mm 6.04 mm 1.60
4.75 mm No. 4 0.187 6.150 mm 5.02 mm 5.14 mm 1.60
4.00 mm No. 5 0.157 6.130 mm 4.23 mm 4.35 mm 1.40
3.35 mm No. 6 0.132 6.110 mm 3.55 mm 3.66 mm 1.25
2.80 mm No. 7 0.110 6.095 mm 2.975 mm 3.070 mm 1.12
2.36 mm No. 8 0.0937 6.080 mm 2.515 mm 2.800 mm 1.00
2.00 mm No. 10 0.0787 6.070 mm 2.135 mm 2.215 mm 0.900
1.7 mm No. 12 0.0661 6.060 mm 1.820 mm 1.890 mm 0.800
1.4 mm No. 14 0.0556 6.050 mm 1.505 mm 1.565 mm 0.710
1.18 mm No. 16 0.0469 6.045 mm 1.270 mm 1.330 mm 0.830
1.00 mm No. 18 0.0394 6.040 mm 1.080 mm 1.135 mm 0.560
850 µmF No. 20 0.0331 635 µm 925 µm 970 µm 0.500
710 µm No. 25 0.0278 630 µm 775 µm 815 µm 0.450
600 µm No. 30 0.0234 625 µm 660 µm 695 µm 0.400
500 µm No. 35 0.0197 620 µm 550 µm 585 µm 0.315
425 µm No. 40 0.0165 619 µm 471 µm 502 µm 0.280
355 µm No. 45 0.0139 616 µm 396 µm 426 µm 0.224
300 µm No. 50 0.0117 614 µm 337 µm 363 µm 0.200
250 µm No. 60 0.0098 612 µm 283 µm 306 µm 0.160
212 µm No. 70 0.0083 610 µm 242 µm 263 µm 0.140
180 µm No. 80 0.0070 69 µm 207 µm 227 µm 0.125
150 µm No. 100 0.0059 68 µm 174 µm 192 µm 0.100
125 µm No. 120 0.0049 67 µm 147 µm 163 µm 0.090
106 µm No. 140 0.0041 66 µm 126 µm 141 µm 0.071
90 µm No. 170 0.0035 65 µm 108 µm 122 µm 0.063
75 µm No. 200 0.0029 65 µm 91 µm 103 µm 0.050
63 µm No. 230 0.0025 64 µm 77 µm 89 µm 0.045
53 µm No. 270 0.0021 64 µm 66 µm 76 µm 0.036
45 µm No. 325 0.0017 63 µm 57 µm 66 µm 0.032
38 µm No. 400 0.0015 63 µm 48 µm 57 µm 0.030
32 µm No. 450 0.0012 63 µm 42 µm 50 µm 0.028
25 µmD No. 500 0.0010 63 µm 34 µm 41 µm 0.025
20 µmD No. 635 0.0008 63 µm 29 µm 35 µm 0.020
A
Only approximately equivalent to the metric values in Column 1.
B
The average diameter of the wires in the x and y direction, measured separately, of any wire cloth shall not deviate from the nominal values by more than 615 %.
C
These standard designations correspond to the values for test sieve openings recommended by the International Standards Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, except
where noted.
D
These sieves are not in the standard series, but they have been included because they are in common usage.
E
These numbers (31⁄2 to 635) are the approximate number of openings per linear inch, but it is preferred that the sieve be identified by the standard designation in
millimetres or micrometres.
F
1000 µm—1 mm.

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 D 1921
shall be selected for the material being tested. A cover and a 12.2 Weigh 50 g of sample to the nearest 0.1 g and transfer
bottom pan are also required. it to the top of the stack. Record the sample weight used. A
6.4 Accessories for Cleaning the Screens: larger sample size could cause screen blinding and skew the
6.4.1 Brush3, results to the coarse particle size. A screen can be considered
6.4.2 Vacuum Cleaner, and blinded if it is holding 20 or more g. For repeatable results, use
6.4.3 Air Hose. a smaller sample size.
NOTE 3—For some materials an antistat (or slip agent) is needed. Add
7. Reagents and Materials 1% of the antistat (or slip agent) to the sample and mix in with a spatula.
7.1 Antistat (or slip) agent suitable to the material being State in the report the agent used. With polyvinyl chloride resins, it has
tested. been found that the distribution will skew to either the fine or the coarse
particle size depending on the antistat used. Record the antistat (or slip
agent) used.
8. Hazards
8.1 The sieving operation and cleaning of the sieves can 12.3 Cover the stack and place it in the mechanical sieve
introduce dust from the plastic material and antistat agent into shaker. Start the shaker and run for 10 min. Longer times may
the atmosphere. Taking precautions to avoid breathing these be required depending on the efficiency of the shaker.
particles may be necessary with some materials. 12.4 After shaking, carefully separate the stack of sieves,
beginning at the top, and weigh each sieve with powder to the
9. Sampling nearest 1⁄10 g. Determine the net weight of the powder
remaining in each sieve by subtracting the sieve tare masses
9.1 Plastic materials may segregate by particle size during from the total weight of the sieve and the powder in that sieve.
handling. Homogenize the lot where possible before removing 12.5 If the cumulative total of actual weight is less than 98
the test sample. %, carefully check the weights and operations and repeat the
work if necessary.
10. Preparation of Apparatus
10.1 Thorough cleaning and inspection of the sieve are 13. Analysis of Particle Distribution
required prior to initiating a test. Carefully clean the sieves 13.1 Calculation of Particle Distribution:
with a brush and vacuum cleaner or compressed air, or both. 13.1.1 Obtain net weight of material retained on each sieve.
Periodic washing with soap and water or suitable solvent may Calculate percentage by dividing net weight by total sample
be required with some materials. weight 3 100.
10.2 Tare each sieve and the pan. Record tare weights to the 13.1.2 Repeat for each sieve.
nearest 0.1 g. 13.2 Calculation of Mean Particle Size:
10.3 Assemble sieves so that the sieve openings decrease in 13.2.1 Obtain net weight of material retained on each sieve.
size in sequence from the top of the stack. Place the pan at the 13.2.2 Determine an average particle size for each sieve.
bottom. The average particle size is defined as the nominal opening size
10.4 Use full- or half-size screens to accommodate the of that sieve plus the nominal opening size of the next larger
holder in the shaker. sieve in the stack divided by two.
13.2.3 For materials that have a normal distribution, calcu-
11. Conditioning late the mean particle size as
11.1 The plastic material must be in a free-flowing condi- Dm 5 (~Pi 3 Di!
tion.
11.2 If possible, the material should be conditioned to the where:
laboratory temperature and humidity. Dm = mean particle diameter, µm,
Pi = material retained on sieve (or pan), %, and
TEST METHOD A Di = average particle size of material on sieve, µm.

14. Report
12. Procedure
14.1 Report the following information:
12.1 Select sieves in sufficient number to cover the expected
14.1.1 Percentage of material retained on each sieve, with
range of particle sizes, and nest them together in order of
its corresponding sieve size,
diminishing opening with the coarsest sieve on top and the pan
14.1.2 Sample weight,
on the bottom.
14.1.3 Antistat (or slip agent) used, and
NOTE 2—Select sieves in sufficient number to have significant measur- 14.1.4 Mean particle size.
able quantities on four or more sieves. Weigh the sieves on a balance
reading to the nearest 0.1 g. Record these sieve masses as their tare TEST METHOD B
masses, respectively.
15. Procedure
15.1 Choose the sieve(s) to be used and weigh each of them
3
Type 8577 (W. S. Tyler) Brush, available from W. S. Tyler, Inc., 8750 Tyler to the nearest 0.1 g. Record these sieve masses as their tare
Blvd., Mentor, OH 44060, has been found satisfactory for this purpose. masses, respectively. If a single sieve is being used, stack it on

3
 D 1921
the pan and transfer a sample weighing 100 6 0.1 g to that TABLE 3 Calculated Mean Particle Diameter
sieve. If two sieves are to be used in the analysis of the sample, Average of Values, µm
stack the coarse sieve over the fine sieve and transfer the Calculated
Material
Mean Particle
weighed sample to the coarse sieve. For those finely divided Diameters SrA SRB IrC IRD
powders which tend to clog the sieves, add 1.0% of an antistat Acrylic powder 196 0.8 13 2.3 36.8
(see Note 2 and Note 3). Polyethylene powder 291 0.6 4.8 1.7 13.6
15.2 Cover the stack and place it in the mechanical sieve PolyVinyl chloride with 137 2.2 1.8 6.2 5.1
carbon black
shaker. Start the shaker and run for 10 min 6 15 s. PolyVinyl chloride with 137 2.2 1.6 6.2 4.5
15.3 After shaking, carefully separate the stack of sieves, hi-sil
beginning at the top, and weigh each sieve with powder to the A
Sr = within-laboratory standard deviation of the average,
B
nearest one tenth of a gram. C
SR = between-laboratories standard deviation of the average,
Ir = 2.83 Sr, and
D
IR = 2.83 SR.
16. Report
16.1 Report the following information:
16.1.1 Percentage of material retained on each sieve, with
its corresponding sieve size, of one individual determination. Each laboratory obtained two
16.1.2 Sample weight, and test results for each material.
16.1.3 Antistat (or slip agent) used. NOTE 4—Caution: The explanations of r and R (17.2-17.2.2) are only
intended to present a meaningful way of considering the approximate
17. Precision and Bias precision of this test method. The data in Table 2 and Table 3 should not
17.1 Precision—Table 2 and Table 3 are based on a round be applied to acceptance or rejection of materials, as these data apply only
robin conducted in 1985 in accordance with Practice E 691, to the materials tested in the round robin and are unlikely to be rigorously
representative of other lots, formulations, conditions, materials, or labo-
using D 1921 – 89, involving four materials tested by three ratories. Users of this test method should apply the principles outlined in
laboratories. For each material, all the samples were prepared Practice E 691 to generate data specific to their materials and laboratory
at one source, but the individual specimens were prepared at (or between specific laboratories). The principles of 17.2-17.2.2 would
the laboratories that tested them. Each test result was the result then be valid for such data.

TABLE 2 Percent Retained on Each Sieve of Screen Pack

Values in Units of Percent
USA Sieve
Material Mean Retained
Number SrA SRB IrC IRD
on Sieve
Acrylic powder 40 13.5 0.1 1.2 0.3 3.4
60 15.0 0.2 1.4 0.6 4.0
80 9.3 0 0.4 0 1.1
100 6.6 0.1 0.7 0.3 2.0
200 22.9 0.1 1.2 0.3 3.4
325 16.2 0.2 1.6 0.6 4.5
PAN 16.5 0.1 3.6 0.3 10.2

Polyethylene powder 40 11.4 0.6 2.6 1.7 7.4

60 47.8 0.6 2.9 1.7 7.6
80 18.0 0.1 0.8 0.3 2.3
100 7.5 0.1 0.7 0.3 2.0
PAN 15.3 0.1 1.3 0.3 3.7

Polyvinyl chloride powder with carbon black antistat 40 0 ... ... ... ...
60 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3
80 5.4 0.9 0.9 2.5 2.5
100 28.4 2.1 2.2 5.9 6.2
140 53.7 1.3 1.6 3.7 4.5
200 11.4 1.7 1.5 4.8 4.2
PAN 0.9 0.3 6.3 0.9 0.9

Polyvinyl chloride powder with hi-sil antistat 40 0 ... ... ... ...
60 0 ... ... ... ...
80 4.2 0.7 0.6 2.0 1.7
100 30.3 2.9 2.9 8.2 8.2
140 52.6 2.0 2.2 5.7 6.2
200 11.3 1.3 1.3 3.7 3.7
PAN 1.5 0.3 0.3 0.9 6.9

Polystyrene cubes 20 99.9 ... ... ... ...

PAN 0.06 ... 0.04 ... 0.1
A
Sr = within-laboratory standard deviation of the average (median/other function),
B
SR = between-laboratories standard deviation of the average median,
C
Ir = 2.83 Sr, and
D
IR = 2.83 SR.

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 D 1921
17.2 Concept of r and R in Table 3—If Sr and SR had been material obtained by the same operator using the same equip-
calculated from a large enough body of data, and for test results ment on the same day in the same laboratory.
that were averages from testing seven specimens for each test 17.2.2 Any judgment in accordance with 17.2.1 would have
result, then the following would apply: an approximate 95% (0.95) probability of being correct if an
17.2.1 Repeatability—Two test results obtained within one adequate number of laboratories had participated.
laboratory shall be judged not equivalent if they differ by more
17.3 There are no recognized standards by which to esti-
than the r value for that material; r is the interval representing
the critical difference between two test results for the same mate the bias of these test methods.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

This section identifies the location of selected changes to this test method. For the convenience of the user,
Committee D20 has highlighted those changes that may impact the use of this test method. This section may also
include descriptions of the changes or reasons for the changes, or both.

D 1921 – 01: and Note 2.

(1) Revised Sections 1.3, 6.1, 6.4.1 Footnote, 10.2, and 15.1;

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