scope:

This part of ISO 16396 establishes a system of designation for polyamide (PA) thermoplastic materials which is based on ISO 1043 and is intended to coordinate with the marking document ISO 11469. The designation system may be used as the basis for specifications. It covers Polyamide homopolymers, copolymers and blends of various compositions for moulding and extrusion. The types of polyamide plastics are differentiated from each other by a classification system based on appropriate levels of the designatory properties a) viscosity number, b) tensile modulus of elasticity and on information about chemical structure, method of processing, important properties, additives, colour, fillers and reinforcing materials The designation system is applicable to all polyamide homopolymers, copolymers and blends. It applies to materials ready for normal use, unmodified and modified by colorants, additives, fillers, reinforcing materials, polymer modifiers, etc. This part of ISO 16396 does not apply to monomer casting-type polyamides of PA6 and PA12. It is not intended to imply that materials having the same designation necessarily give the same performance. This part of ISO 16396 does not provide engineering data, performance data or data on processing conditions which may be required to specify a material for a particular application and/or method of processing. If such additional properties are required, they shall be determined in accordance with the test methods specified in part 2 of ISO 1874, if suitable. In order to specify a thermoplastic material for a particular application or reproducible processing, additional requirements shall be given in Data Block 5 (3.1, 3.6).