ASTM D5885/D5885M-20 - 1.9.2020
 
Significance and Use

5.1 The oxidative induction time is a characteristic of a compounded polyolefin product that is dependent not only on the type and amount of additives present, but also on the type of resin. In well-behaved systems, this test method can be used as a quality control measure to monitor the stabilization in geosynthetics as received from a supplier.

5.2 When this test method is used to compare different geomembrane formulations containing different antioxidant packages, then those results shall be considered valid only at the temperature of test.

5.3 This test method is intended as a geosynthetic test. Use of the OIT value to estimate the lifetime of the geomembrane from which the test specimen is taken is not addressed, nor shall it be used for this purpose.

5.3.1 Caution should be exercised in data interpretation since oxidation reaction kinetics are a function of temperature and the properties of the additives contained in the geosynthetic sample. For example, OIT values are often used to select optimum resin formulations. Certain antioxidants, however, may generate poor OIT results even though they may be adequate at their intended use temperature and vice versa.

5.4 This test method can be used for other purposes such as manufacturing control and research and development.

5.5 Oxidation induction time is strongly dependent upon test temperature and the partial pressure of oxygen. The higher the test temperature or the oxygen partial pressure, or both, the shorter the oxidation induction time.

5.5.1 The use of high test temperature, however, may have deleterious effects. The first of these is the potential volatilization of additive packages used to stabilize the test materials. The second is the potential for the influence of chemical mechanisms which are not significant at end-use operation conditions.

5.5.2 This test method uses high oxygen pressure to accelerate the test period while making use of lower test temperatures to protect additive packages.

5.6 The results from this test method may or may not correlate with those obtained by other OIT measurements such as Test Method D3895, D8117, or D4565.

 
1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers a procedure for the determination of the oxidative induction time (OIT) of polyolefin geosynthetics using high-pressure differential scanning calorimetry.

1.2 The focus of the test is on geomembranes, but geogrids, geonets, geotextiles, and other polyolefin-related geosynthetics are also suitable for such evaluation.

1.3 This test method measures the oxidative induction time associated with a given test specimen at a specified temperature and pressure.

1.4 This is an accelerated test for highly stabilized materials. It is applicable only to material whose OIT values under 3.4 MPa of oxygen are greater than 30 min at 150 °C.

1.5 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.

1.6 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 8.

1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D3895-19

Standard Test Method for Oxidative-Induction Time of Polyolefins by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

D4439-25a

Standard Terminology for Geosynthetics (Includes all amendments and changes 9/30/2025).

D4491-99a

Standard Test Methods for Water Permeability of Geotextiles by Permittivity

G88-21

Standard Guide for Designing Systems for Oxygen Service

E691-23

Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

D4703-24

Standard Practice for Compression Molding Thermoplastic Materials into Test Specimens, Plaques, or Sheets

E473-25a

Standard Terminology Relating to Thermal Analysis and Rheology (Includes all amendments and changes 9/11/2025).

E967-18

Standard Test Method for Temperature Calibration of Differential Scanning Calorimeters and Differential Thermal Analyzers

D4565-20

Standard Test Methods for Physical and Environmental Performance Properties of Insulations and Jackets for Telecommunications Wire and Cable