ASTM D 578/D578M : 2023

1.1This specification covers the requirements for continuous fiber and staple fiber glass strands, including single, plied and multiple wound. It also covers textured glass fiber yarns. This specification is intended to assist ultimate users by designating the general nomenclature for the strand products that are generally manufactured in the glass fiber industry.

1.2Glass fibers are produced having various compositions. General applications are identified by means of a letter designation. The letter designation represents a family of glasses that have provided acceptable performance to the end-user in the intended application. For example, the composition limits stated for E-Glass in this specification representing the glass fiber family for general and most electrical applications is designated by the letter E. Military specifications, such as, MIL-R-60346, recognize the composition limits described in this specification as meeting the respective requirements for E-Glass strands used in reinforced plastic structure applications.

1.3Glass fiber strands have a variety of general uses under specific conditions, such as high physical or chemical stress, high moisture, high temperature, or electrical environments. Property requirements under specific conditions are agreed upon between the purchaser and the supplier. Electrical property requirements vary with specific end-use applications. For printed circuit board applications, other requirements may be needed such as the use of Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits (IPC) Specification EG 4412 A for finished fabric woven from E-Glass for printed circuit boards, or Specification MIL-P-13949 for printed wiring boards applicable to glass fabric base.

1.4The 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 be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems will result in non-conformance with the standard.

1.5This specification is one of a series to provide a substitute for Military Specifications: MIL-Y-1140 Yarn, Cord, Sleeving, Cloth and Tape-Glass; and MIL-C-9084 Cloth, Glass Finished for Resin Laminates.

1.6Additional ASTM specifications in this series have been drafted and appear in current editions of the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. These include finished glass fabrics, unfinished glass fabrics, glass tapes, glass sleevings, glass cords, glass sewing threads, and finished laminates made from finished glass fabrics.

1.7This 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.

1.8This 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.