ASTM D4762-11 - 15.1.2011
 
Significance and Use

This guide is intended to aid in the selection of standards for polymer matrix composite materials. It specifically summarizes the application of standards from ASTM Committee D30 on Composite Materials that apply to continuous-fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite materials. For reference and comparison, many commonly used or applicable ASTM standards from other ASTM Committees are also included.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This guide summarizes the application of ASTM standard test methods (and other supporting standards) to continuous-fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite materials. The most commonly used or most applicable ASTM standards are included, emphasizing use of standards of Committee D30 on Composite Materials.

1.2 This guide does not cover all possible standards that could apply to polymer matrix composites and restricts discussion to the documented scope. Commonly used but non-standard industry extensions of test method scopes, such as application of static test methods to fatigue testing, are not discussed. A more complete summary of general composite testing standards, including non-ASTM test methods, is included in the Composite Materials Handbook (MIL-HDBK-17). Additional specific recommendations for testing textile (fabric, braided) composites are contained in Guide D6856.

1.3 This guide does not specify a system of measurement; the systems specified within each of the referenced standards shall apply as appropriate. Note that the referenced standards of ASTM Committee D30 are either SI-only or combined-unit standards with SI units listed first.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

 
2. Referenced Documents

C394/C394M-16(2024)

Standard Test Method for Shear Fatigue of Sandwich Core Materials

D6484/D6484M-23

Standard Test Method for Open-Hole Compressive Strength of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates

E1922-04

Standard Test Method for Translaminar Fracture Toughness of Laminated and Pultruded Polymer Matrix Composite Materials

D4018-23

Standard Test Methods for Properties of Continuous Filament Carbon and Graphite Fiber Tows

D4102-82(1999)

Standard Test Method for Thermal Oxidative Resistance of Carbon Fibers

D4255/D4255M-20:2020/ADJD4255-E-PDF

Adjunct to D4255/D4255M Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials by the Rail Shear Method

D5448/D5448M-22

Standard Test Method for Inplane Shear Properties of Hoop Wound Polymer Matrix Composite Cylinders

D5449/D5449M-22

Standard Test Method for Transverse Compressive Properties of Hoop Wound Polymer Matrix Composite Cylinders

D5450/D5450M-22

Standard Test Method for Transverse Tensile Properties of Hoop Wound Polymer Matrix Composite Cylinders

D5467/D5467M-97(2025)

Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Unidirectional Polymer Matrix Composite Materials Using a Sandwich Beam

D5528-13

Standard Test Method for Mode I Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of Unidirectional Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

C272/C272M-18(2024)

Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Core Materials for Sandwich Constructions

C273/C273M-20

Standard Test Method for Shear Properties of Sandwich Core Materials

C297/C297M-16(2024)

Standard Test Method for Flatwise Tensile Strength of Sandwich Constructions

C363/C363M-24

Standard Test Method for Node Tensile Strength of Honeycomb Core Materials

C364/C364M-16(2024)

Standard Test Method for Edgewise Compressive Strength of Sandwich Constructions

C365/C365M-22

Standard Test Method for Flatwise Compressive Properties of Sandwich Cores

C366/C366M-16(2022)e1

Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Thickness of Sandwich Cores (Includes all amendments and changes 5/11/2022).

D3039/D3039M-17(2025)

Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials

D3479/D3479M-19(2023)

Standard Test Method for Tension-Tension Fatigue of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials

D5229/D5229M-20

Standard Test Method for Moisture Absorption Properties and Equilibrium Conditioning of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials

D5379/D5379M-19(2026)

Standard Test Method for Shear Properties of Composite Materials by the V-Notched Beam Method

D3530-20(2025)

Standard Test Method for Volatiles Content of Composite Material Prepreg

D5766/D5766M-23

Standard Test Method for Open-Hole Tensile Strength of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates

D6264/D6264M-23

Standard Test Method for Measuring the Damage Resistance of a Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Matrix Composite to a Concentrated Quasi-Static Indentation Force

D6873/D6873M-23

Standard Practice for Bearing Fatigue Response of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates

D7028-07(2024)

Standard Test Method for Glass Transition Temperature (DMA Tg) of Polymer Matrix Composites by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)

D648-18

Standard Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics Under Flexural Load in the Edgewise Position

D695-26

Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Rigid Plastics

D790-25

Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials

D2583-25

Standard Test Method for Indentation Hardness of Rigid Plastics by Means of a Barcol Impressor

D2584-25

Standard Test Method for Ignition Loss of Cured Reinforced Resins

D2734-23

Standard Test Methods for Void Content of Reinforced Plastics

D2990-17(2025)

Standard Test Methods for Tensile, Compressive, and Flexural Creep and Creep-Rupture of Plastics

D3418-21

Standard Test Method for Transition Temperatures and Enthalpies of Fusion and Crystallization of Polymers by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

D4065-20

Standard Practice for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: Determination and Report of Procedures

D7914/D7914M-21

Standard Test Method for Strength of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Bent Bars in Bend Locations

D638-22

Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics

D7250/D7250M-20

Standard Practice for Determining Sandwich Beam Flexural and Shear Stiffness

D7264/D7264M-26

Standard Test Method for Flexural Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials

D7336/D7336M-22

Standard Test Method for Static Energy Absorption Properties of Honeycomb Sandwich Core Materials

D7522/D7522M-26

Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Strength for FRP Laminate Systems Bonded to Concrete or Masonry Substrates

D7565/D7565M-10(2025)

Standard Test Method for Determining Tensile Properties of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites Used for Strengthening of Civil Structures

D7615/D7615M-23

Standard Practice for Open-Hole Fatigue Response of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates

D7705/D7705M-26

Standard Test Method for Alkali Resistance of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Matrix Composite Bars used in Concrete Construction

D7750-23

Standard Test Method for Cure Behavior of Thermosetting Resins by Dynamic Mechanical Procedures using an Encapsulated Specimen Rheometer

D7249/D7249M-20

Standard Test Method for Facesheet Properties of Sandwich Constructions by Long Beam Flexure

D4473-08(2021)

Standard Test Method for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties: Cure Behavior

E289-25

Standard Test Method for Linear Thermal Expansion of Rigid Solids with Interferometry

D3532/D3532M-19

Standard Test Method for Gel Time of Carbon Fiber-Epoxy Prepreg

D3800-22

Standard Test Method for Density of High-Modulus Fibers

C271/C271M-16(2022)e1

Standard Test Method for Density of Sandwich Core Materials (Includes all amendments and changes 5/11/2022).

C393/C393M-20

Standard Test Method for Core Shear Properties of Sandwich Constructions by Beam Flexure

C480/C480M-16(2024)

Standard Test Method for Flexure Creep of Sandwich Constructions

C613-23

Standard Test Method for Constituent Content of Composite Prepreg by Soxhlet Extraction

E1461-13(2022)

Standard Test Method for Thermal Diffusivity by the Flash Method

D256-26

Standard Test Methods for Determining the Izod Pendulum Impact Resistance of Plastics

D543-21

Standard Practices for Evaluating the Resistance of Plastics to Chemical Reagents

D570-22

Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Plastics

D618-21

Standard Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing

D671-93

Standard Test Method for Flexural Fatigue of Plastics by Constant-Amplitude-of-Force (Withdrawn 2002)

D696-24

Standard Test Method for Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion of Plastics Between ?30?C and +30?C with a Vitreous Silica Dilatometer

D792-20

Standard Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement

D953-19

Standard Test Method for Pin-Bearing Strength of Plastics

D1505-25

Standard Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-Gradient Technique

D1822-21

Standard Test Method for Determining the Tensile-Impact Resistance of Plastics

D2471-99

Standard Test Method for Gel Time and Peak Exothermic Temperature of Reacting Thermosetting Resins (Withdrawn 2008)

D3846-08

Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Strength of Reinforced Plastics

D5083-26

Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Reinforced Thermosetting Plastics Using Straight-Sided Specimens

D6272-25

Standard Test Method for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials by Four-Point Bending

E228-22

Standard Test Method for Linear Thermal Expansion of Solid Materials With a Push-Rod Dilatometer

E1269-24

Standard Test Method for Determining Specific Heat Capacity by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

D7291/D7291M-22

Standard Test Method for Through-Thickness “Flatwise” Tensile Strength and Elastic Modulus of a Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite Material

D7332/D7332M-23

Standard Test Method for Measuring the Fastener Pull-Through Resistance of a Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite

D7337/D7337M-26

Standard Test Method for Tensile Creep Rupture of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composite Bars

D7616/D7616M-11(2023)

Standard Test Method for Determining Apparent Overlap Splice Shear Strength Properties of Wet Lay-Up Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites Used for Strengthening Civil Structures

D7617/D7617M-25

Standard Test Method for Transverse Shear Strength of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite Bars

D7766/D7766M-23

Standard Practice for Damage Resistance Testing of Sandwich Constructions

D7905/D7905M-19e1

Standard Test Method for Determination of the Mode II Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of Unidirectional Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites (Includes all amendments and changes 11/6/2019).

D7913/D7913M-26

Standard Test Method for Bond Strength of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite Bars to Concrete by Pullout Testing

D7956/D7956M-16(2024)

Standard Practice for Compressive Testing of Thin Damaged Laminates Using a Sandwich Long Beam Flexure Specimen

F1645/F1645M-22

Standard Test Method for Water Migration in Honeycomb Core Materials

C581-26

Standard Practice for Determining Chemical Resistance of Thermosetting Resins Used in Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Structures Intended for Liquid Service

D6641/D6641M-23

Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials Using a Combined Loading Compression (CLC) Test Fixture

D6671/D6671M-22

Standard Test Method for Mixed Mode I-Mode II Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of Unidirectional Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

D6742/D6742M-23

Standard Practice for Filled-Hole Tension and Compression Testing of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates

D6772/D6772M-22

Standard Test Method for Dimensional Stability of Sandwich Core Materials

D6790/D6790M-22

Standard Test Method for Determining Poisson's Ratio of Honeycomb Cores

D6856-03

Standard Guide for Testing Fabric-Reinforced ""Textile"" Composite Materials

D7078/D7078M-20(2025)

Standard Test Method for Shear Properties of Composite Materials by V-Notched Rail Shear Method

D7136/D7136M-25

Standard Test Method for Measuring the Damage Resistance of a Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite to a Drop-Weight Impact Event

D7137/D7137M-23

Standard Test Method for Compressive Residual Strength Properties of Damaged Polymer Matrix Composite Plates

D7205/D7205M-26

Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite Bars

D7248/D7248M-23

Standard Test Method for High Bearing - Low Bypass Interaction Response of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates Using 2-Fastener Specimens

D6507-19(2025)

Standard Practice for Fiber Reinforcement Orientation Codes for Composite Materials

D5687/D5687M-20

Standard Guide for Preparation of Flat Composite Panels with Processing Guidelines for Specimen Preparation

D5961/D5961M-23

Standard Test Method for Bearing Response of Polymer Matrix Composite Laminates

D6115-97(2019)

Standard Test Method for Mode I Fatigue Delamination Growth Onset of Unidirectional Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

D6415/D6415M-22

Standard Test Method for Measuring the Curved Beam Strength of a Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Matrix Composite

D6416/D6416M-16(2024)

Standard Test Method for Two-Dimensional Flexural Properties of Simply Supported Sandwich Composite Plates Subjected to a Distributed Load

C481-26

Standard Test Method for Laboratory Aging of Sandwich Constructions

D2344/D2344M-22

Standard Test Method for Short-Beam Strength of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials and Their Laminates

D3171-22

Standard Test Methods for Constituent Content of Composite Materials

D3410/D3410M-16(2024)

Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials with Unsupported Gage Section by Shear Loading

D3518/D3518M-18(2025)

Standard Test Method for In-Plane Shear Response of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials by Tensile Test of a ±45° Laminate

D3529-D3529M-97

Standard Test Method for Matrix Solids Content and Matrix Content of Composite Prepreg

D3531/D3531M-24

Standard Test Method for Resin Flow of Carbon Fiber-Epoxy Prepreg

D3878-26

Standard Terminology for Composite Materials