ASTM Chemical Standards

For more than a century, ASTM International has partnered with the global chemical sector to support innovation, protect consumers, and drive quality manufacturing.

In today’s complex regulatory and market environment, companies must navigate growing demands for safety, compliance, sustainability, and product performance. ASTM standards are essential tools in meeting these challenges with confidence.

From raw material testing and environmental compliance to product certification and supply chain efficiency, ASTM’s broad portfolio of chemical-related standards helps organizations mitigate risk, reduce development costs, and accelerate time-to-market.

As chemical applications expand across automotive, medical devices, healthcare, packaging, energy, and infrastructure, access to reliable, consensus-based standards has never been more vital.

Petrochemicals are the foundation of countless consumer and industrial products—from medical devices and food packaging to sports gear and electronics.

ASTM standards focuses on the purity and performance of aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene, toluene, and xylenes, which are crucial to polymer and plastic production.

Standards like ASTM D7504 enable labs to assess purity and trace impurities in monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, improving process control and reducing testing variability.

ASTM standard D16 also develops methods for evaluating purified terephthalic acid (PTA), essential for polyester production.

These tools help chemical producers maintain quality, reduce waste, and meet evolving industry specifications.

Rubber products are everywhere—from tires and gaskets to surgical gloves and implantable devices.

Since 1912, ASTM has led the way in developing standards for rubber materials, helping manufacturers improve performance and meet safety requirements.

Key ASTM rubber standards include D412 for evaluating tensile strength of rubber, and D471 for assessing resistance to oils and fluids—vital in sectors like automotive and aerospace.

ASTM also delivers safety-critical standards for medical gloves (D3577, D6319) and food service gloves (D7329, D7246), ensuring regulatory compliance and user protection.

Plastics are integral to modern life—but sustainability and regulatory compliance are urgent concerns.

ASTM Committee D20 supports both innovation and environmental stewardship through over 470 standards covering every stage of the plastics lifecycle.

D20 standards assess everything from tensile strength (D638) and heat resistance (D1525) to biodegradability (D6400) and composting (D5338).

Subcommittees like D20.95 and D20.96 promote recycling and the responsible use of bio-based plastics, while standards like D7611 modernize resin coding to align with current materials and applications.

Paints and coatings face high expectations for durability, safety, and environmental impact.

ASTM Committee D01—active since 1902—provides over 650 standards that help manufacturers meet both consumer demands and regulatory mandates.

Standards such as D1475 (density), D3359 (adhesion), and D5178 (scratch resistance) ensure quality and consistency.

Meanwhile, VOC-related standards like D3960 and D6886 help manufacturers comply with indoor air quality regulations and reduce environmental emissions.