Overview
ISO 15015:2011 - Plastics: extruded sheets of impact‑modified acrylonitrile‑styrene copolymers (ABS, AEPDS/AES and ASA) - specifies requirements and test methods for solid, flat extruded sheets (including rolled form) made from impact‑modified ABS, AEPDS (commonly AES) and ASA extrusion materials without fillers or reinforcing materials. It applies to sheet thicknesses from 0.25 mm to 20.0 mm and covers appearance, dimensional tolerances, mechanical and thermal properties, behaviour on heating and test specimen preparation.
Keywords: ISO 15015:2011, ABS sheets, AES, AEPDS, ASA, extruded sheets, test methods, dimensional tolerances, mechanical properties, Vicat, Charpy.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Scope and materials: Sheets must be made from ABS (ISO 2580-1), AEPDS/AES or ASA (ISO 6402-1) extrusion grades; additives (stabilizers, colorants) are allowed but fillers/reinforcements are not.
- Appearance: Sheets shall be substantially free from bubbles, voids, cracks and visible defects; colour uniformity and surface finish are specified and may be agreed between parties.
- Dimensional tolerances:
- Thickness range covered: 0.25–20.0 mm; maximum variation limits are defined per delivery and per sheet.
- Length/width tolerances and rectangularity (diagonal difference) are given; rolled sheets have additional bow limits.
- Mechanical and thermal properties:
- Standardized target properties for ABS, AEPDS (AES) and ASA are listed (tensile yield, tensile modulus, Charpy unnotched/notched impact, 50% impact energy, ball indentation hardness, Vicat softening temperature).
- Charpy impact testing, tensile tests and modulus determined per referenced ISO test methods.
- Behaviour on heating (thermoforming): Maximum shrinkage limits in the extrusion direction are specified (e.g., up to 35% for 0.25 mm, decreasing to ~6% for 8 mm), relevant for forming operations.
- Test methods and specimen preparation:
- Conditioning to ISO 291, specimen cutting (longitudinal/transverse), machining rules (e.g., specimens >4.2 mm may be machined to 4.0 mm ±0.2 mm).
- Detailed test procedures for density, tensile, hardness, Charpy and Vicat tests.
Applications and Who Uses It
ISO 15015:2011 is used by:
- Sheet extruders and material manufacturers for specification and quality control
- Testing and quality laboratories performing mechanical/thermal tests
- Product designers and thermoformers selecting sheet grades and thickness for parts
- Purchasing/specification engineers and procurement teams to define acceptance criteria
- Regulatory and compliance teams verifying material fitness for intended use (where physiological/legislative requirements apply)
Typical applications include thermoformed parts, signage, housings, consumer goods and where predictable impact resistance and thermal behaviour are required.
Related Standards
Relevant referenced standards include: ISO 179‑1/2 (Charpy), ISO 291 (conditioning), ISO 306 (Vicat), ISO 527‑2 (tensile), ISO 1183 (density), ISO 2039‑1 (hardness), ISO 2580‑1, ISO 6402‑1, ISO 2818 and ISO 11501 (dimensional change on heating).
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