Overview
EN ISO 7823-3:2021 - Plastics - Poly(methyl methacrylate) sheets - Part 3: Continuous cast sheets - specifies requirements for non‑modified flat poly(methyl methacrylate (PMMA) continuous cast sheets for general‑purpose use. The standard applies to sheets that are colourless or coloured and that may be transparent, translucent or opaque, with a thickness range of 1 mm to 10 mm. Issued by CEN in June 2021, this edition supersedes EN ISO 7823-3:2007 and aligns with ISO 7823-3:2021.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard defines the essential characteristics, test methods and dimensional requirements for continuous cast PMMA sheets. Major technical topics include:
- Composition: scope limited to non‑modified PMMA continuous cast sheets.
- Appearance requirements: surface and inclusion defects, classification and distribution criteria for acceptability.
- Colour: provisions for colourless and coloured products and colour assessment.
- Dimensions and tolerances: length, width and especially thickness tolerances across the 1–10 mm range and measurement conditions.
- Basic and other properties: mechanical (tensile, flexural, impact), thermal (heat deflection, Vicat), optical (refractive index, luminous transmittance) and flammability considerations.
- Test methods and sampling: conditioning, specimen preparation and a list of referenced test standards (e.g., ISO 62 for water absorption, ISO 178 for flexural properties, ISO 527‑2 for tensile testing).
- Retention and rejection: rules for retest and rejection of non‑conforming batches.
- Annex A: normative method for determining dimensional change on heating (shrinkage).
Applications and users
EN ISO 7823-3:2021 is intended for:
- Manufacturers of PMMA continuous cast sheets for quality control and product specification.
- Product designers and specifiers requiring consistent optical, mechanical and dimensional performance for glazing, lighting covers, signage, display panels, point‑of‑sale and architectural uses.
- Procurement and QA teams who need standardized acceptance criteria for incoming sheet material.
- Test laboratories and conformity assessors performing the referenced physical and optical tests.
Using this standard helps ensure consistent material performance, clearer procurement specifications and reliable interchangeability across suppliers of continuous cast PMMA sheets.
Related standards
EN ISO 7823-3:2021 references several ISO test standards for plastics, including:
