ASTM D1003: Haze & Luminous Transmittance Testing for Plastics
Measuring Optical Clarity: Haze & Transmittance TestingHaze and luminous transmittance are critical optical properties for transparent and translucent materials used in packaging, automotive glazing, lighting, displays, medical devices, and optical applications. Haze measures the scattering of light as it passes through a material, while transmittance measures the total amount of light passing through. Together, these properties determine the optical clarity, visual quality, and functional performance of transparent plastics, glass, films, and coatings. For companies seeking haze and transmittance testing at a US-based ASTM testing lab, Infinita Lab provides comprehensive optical characterization through its accredited laboratory network.
What Haze and Transmittance Measure
Luminous Transmittance
Transmittance measures the percentage of incident light that passes through a specimen. Higher transmittance means greater clarity. Clear glass typically achieves 88–92% transmittance, while clear plastics like polycarbonate and PMMA achieve 85–93%.
Haze
Haze is the percentage of transmitted light that deviates from the incident beam by more than 2.5 degrees due to surface roughness or internal scattering. Low haze (<1%) indicates excellent optical clarity; high haze (>30%) creates a frosted or diffused appearance. Surface haze and internal haze can be evaluated separately.
Testing Standards
ASTM D1003 is the primary standard for measuring haze and luminous transmittance of transparent plastics using a hazemeter or spectrophotometer with an integrating sphere. ASTM D1746 covers the clarity of transparent plastic sheeting, while ASTM C1036 covers flat glass specifications. ISO 14782 and ISO 13468 are international equivalents.
Industry Applications
Haze and transmittance testing serve packaging film quality control for the food and consumer goods industries, automotive glazing and headlamp lens specification, display cover materials for the electronics sector, medical device window and container clarity, architectural glass and film evaluation for the construction industry, and optical component qualification.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is haze in transparent materials? Haze is the percentage of transmitted light scattered more than 2.5 degrees from the incident beam. It results from surface roughness, internal particles, crystallinity, or other scattering sources that reduce visual clarity.
What ASTM standard measures haze and transmittance? ASTM D1003 is the primary standard for haze and luminous transmittance of transparent plastics. ASTM D1746 covers the clarity of plastic films. ISO 14782 (haze) and ISO 13468 (transmittance) are international equivalents.
What causes haze in plastic films? Surface roughness from extrusion die marks, crystalline structures (spherulites), internal particulate additives, moisture absorption, and surface scratches all contribute to haze in transparent plastic films.
What is the difference between haze and clarity? Haze measures wide-angle light scattering (>2.5 degrees). Clarity (ASTM D1746) measures narrow-angle scattering that affects the sharpness of images viewed through the material. A material can have low haze but poor clarity.
What transmittance is required for clear packaging? Clear packaging films typically require transmittance above 90% and haze below 5%. High-clarity films for premium packaging may specify haze below 1–2% and clarity above 95% to maximize product visibility.
