scope:

FOREWORD

The standards in this publication have been developed over a period of years in close coordination with user needs. New and improved grades have been developed to satisfy military and industrial requirements, particularly in the aerospace, electronic and computer industries. In most cases, these standards are the same as military specifications, and, in some cases, they are superior.

NEMA standards for polyester-glass laminates were developed initially as a joint activity with The Society of the Plastics Industry, and a number of standards for laminates for printed circuits and multilayer circuits were developed jointly with The Institute of Printed Circuits. Both of these groups represent user interests in their memberships.

The NEMA Industrial Laminate Section's testing and research facilities at the University of Delaware and, prior to that, at The Johns-Hopkins University have been instrumental over a period of many years in developing new test methods and perfecting old test methods, and also in conducting round robins among both user and producer laboratories in proving out the reproducibility of test methods. Special programs have also been undertaken in behalf of users at the Industrial Laminate Section's research facilities to verify certain aspects of the performance of materials before the publication of user specifications.

In addition to cooperative work with users on mechanical and electrical properties, much work has been carried on for Underwriters' Laboratories with regard to safety aspects of laminates, particularly heat, burning and arc resistance.