3.1 IRMs are vitally important in product and specification testing, in research and development work, in technical service work, and in quality control operations in the rubber and carbon black industries. They are especially valuable for referee purposes. Many ASTM rubber standards for the evaluation of natural or synthetic rubber require the use of specific IRMs in their test recipes for better laboratory repeatability and reproducibility.

3.2 New material lots that have been selected as candidates for IRM approval shall conform to the appropriate specifications given in this standard and meet requirements given in Practice D4678 before the lots may be accepted as IRMs.

3.3 The chemical and physical IRM specifications shown will ensure some consistency in IRM properties from one lot to the next. However, the specifications cannot ensure exact inter-lot consistency.

This specification covers the chemical and physical quality specifications or requirements, or both, for Industry Reference Materials (IRMs) as cited in a certain practice and other standards. IRMs as evaluated and referenced in the said certain practice are vitally important to conduct product, specification and development testing in the rubber and carbon black industries. IRMs are vitally important in product and specification testing, in research and development work, in technical service work, and in quality control operations in the rubber and carbon black industries. They are especially valuable for referee purposes. Many ASTM rubber standards for the evaluation of natural or synthetic rubber require the use of specific IRMs in their test recipes for better laboratory repeatability and reproducibility. Some of the chemicals or materials specified include tetramethyl thiuram disulfide, benzothiazyl disulfide, N-tert-butyl-benzothiazole sulfenamide, stearic acid, sulfur, naphthenic process oil, zinc oxide, butyl rubber, petroleum oil, ammoniated latex antigenic protein, and rabbit anti AL antisera.