Moisture Testing with ASTM D6980-17

The ASTM D6980 test technique applies to most polymers and covers the quantitative detection of moisture using loss in weight technology down to 50 ppm. The moisture content has a direct impact on the physical qualities and processability of various plastics.

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Overview
Scope, Applications, and Benefits
Test Process
Specifications
Instrumentation
Results and Deliverables

Overview

ASTM D6980-17 moisture testing is the standardized test method for the determination of moisture in plastics by loss on drying — quantifying the moisture content of plastic materials by measuring the mass loss of specimens subjected to controlled drying conditions and calculating moisture concentration as a percentage of the original specimen mass. ASTM D6980-17 defines the specimen preparation, drying temperature and time conditions, weighing procedures, and moisture content calculation methods required to accurately characterize plastic material moisture levels — providing plastics processors, compounders, injection molders, and quality engineers with reliable moisture data for drying verification, process control, and material qualification programs.

Scope, Applications, and Benefits

Scope

ASTM D6980-17 measures moisture content in plastic materials by weighing specimens before and after exposure to defined drying conditions in a controlled-temperature oven, calculating moisture content from the mass difference between the original and dried specimen, and expressing the result as a percentage of the initial specimen weight.

ASTM D6980-17 moisture testing evaluates:

Moisture content in hygroscopic thermoplastic resins, including nylon, PET, PBT, polycarbonate, and ABS
Drying effectiveness verification for plastics processing operations before injection molding and extrusion
Incoming raw material moisture levels for plastic pellets, regrind, and compounded resin acceptance programs
Process moisture control compliance against the maximum permitted moisture limits per resin processing specifications
Comparative moisture content across resin lots, drying conditions, and storage and handling environments

Applications

Hygroscopic engineering thermoplastics requiring moisture verification before injection molding and extrusion processing
Plastic resin compounders and processors requiring incoming material moisture characterization for process control
Injection-molded and extruded plastic components requiring moisture content documentation for qualification programs
Resin suppliers and distributors requiring ASTM D6980-17 moisture data for product certification and release
Quality assurance programs requiring traceable moisture test records for plastic raw material acceptance decisions

Benefits

Provides reliable moisture content data for drying verification and plastics processing quality control
Supports resin specification compliance and supplier qualification for moisture-sensitive plastic materials
Identifies inadequately dried or improperly stored plastic materials before processing and component production
Delivers traceable moisture measurement records for engineering submissions and quality management systems
Reduces molding defects, degradation, and part rejection risk by confirming resin moisture before processing

Test Process

Specimen Preparation

Plastic specimens weighed to defined mass and recorded as initial weight per ASTM D6980-17 preparation requirements.

Controlled Drying

Specimens dried in a temperature-controlled oven at the specified drying temperature and time per standard conditions.

Post-Drying Weighing

Dried specimens removed, cooled in desiccator, and re-weighed to determine moisture-related mass loss.

Data Analysis & Reporting

Moisture content calculated from mass loss and assessed against specification limits for test compliance result.

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Details
Applicable Materials	Hygroscopic and non-hygroscopic thermoplastic resins, pellets, regrind, powders, and compounded plastic materials
Measurement Technique	Gravimetric loss on drying — mass difference between initial and oven-dried specimen expressed as moisture percentage
Drying Temperature Range	Material-specific drying temperatures per resin processing requirements and ASTM D6980-17 standard conditions
Specimen Form	Plastic pellets, granules, powders, or ground specimens per ASTM D6980-17 specimen preparation requirements
Measured Outputs	Initial mass, dried mass, mass loss, and calculated moisture content expressed as percentage of initial specimen weight

Instrumentation Used for Testing

Analytical balance with resolution of 0.1 mg or better for precise initial and dried specimen mass measurement
Calibrated forced-air or vacuum drying oven with temperature uniformity control per ASTM D6980-17 requirements
Desiccator with active desiccant for specimen cooling before post-drying weighing to prevent moisture reabsorption
Thermometer or calibrated temperature sensor for drying oven temperature monitoring and verification
Specimen containers suitable for oven drying without contamination or mass change from container degradation
Data recording and calculation system for moisture content determination and compliance assessment

Results and Deliverables

Initial and dried specimen mass measurements and calculated moisture content percentage for all tested specimens
Drying temperature, time, and oven conditions documented per ASTM D6980-17 test record requirements
Statistical summary of mean moisture content and variability across replicate specimen measurements
Specification compliance assessment against the maximum permitted moisture content per applicable resin processing standard
ASTM D6980-17 moisture test report for raw material acceptance, drying verification, and quality submission requirements

Why Choose Infinita Lab for ASTM D6980-17?

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Frequently Asked Questions

ASTM D6980-17 is the standardized loss-on-drying method for determining moisture content in plastic materials — measuring specimen mass before and after controlled oven drying and calculating moisture as a percentage of initial weight.

ASTM D6980-17 evaluates hygroscopic thermoplastics including nylon, PET, PBT, polycarbonate, ABS, acetal, and other moisture-sensitive resin pellets, powders, and compounded plastic materials requiring moisture characterization.

Excess moisture in hygroscopic resins causes hydrolytic degradation, splay, voids, and reduced mechanical properties during processing — making moisture verification essential before injection molding, extrusion, and other melt processing operations.

Moisture content is calculated by dividing the mass loss after drying by the initial specimen mass and multiplying by 100 — expressing moisture concentration as a weight percentage of the original specimen.

Drying temperature and time are specified per the material's processing requirements and ASTM D6980-17 standard conditions — varying by resin type to ensure complete moisture removal without inducing thermal degradation.