Designation: D 542 – 00

Standard Test Method for

Index of Refraction of Transparent Organic Plastics1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 542; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope * 3.1.2 dispersion—variation of refractive index with wave

1.1 This test method covers a procedure for measuring the length of light. C 162, C14
index of refraction of transparent organic plastic materials. 3.1.3 index of refraction, n—the numerical expression of the
1.2 A refractometer method is presented. This procedure ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum to the velocity of light
will satisfactorily cover the range of refractive indices found in a substance at a specified wavelength. E 284, E12
for such materials. Refractive index measurements require 4. Significance and Use
optically homogeneous specimens of uniform refractive index.
4.1 This test method measures a fundamental property of
NOTE 1—This test method and ISO 489 are technically equivalent. matter which is useful for the control of purity and composition
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the for simple identification purposes, and for optical parts design.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the This test method is capable of readability to four figures to the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- right of the decimal point.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 5. Apparatus
5.1 The apparatus for this test method shall consist of an
2. Referenced Documents Abbe’ refractometer (Note 2), a suitable source of white light,
2.1 ASTM Standards: and a small quantity of a suitable contacting liquid (Note 2 and
C 162 Terminology of Glass and Glass Products2 Note 3).
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing3 NOTE 2—Other suitable refractometers can be used with appropriate
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics3 modification to this procedure as described in Section 7.
D 1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics3 NOTE 3—A satisfactory contacting liquid is one which will not soften or
E 284 Terminology of Appearance4 otherwise attack the surface of the plastic within a period of 2 h of contact.
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to The index of refraction of the liquid must be higher, but not less than one
Determine the Precision of a Test Method5 unit in the second decimal place, than the index of the plastic being
measured; for example, nd of the sample = 1.500, nd of the contacting
2.2 ISO Standard:
liquid $1.510.
ISO 489-1983 Determination of the Refractive Index of
Transparent Plastics—Part A6 6. Sampling
3. Terminology 6.1 Samples shall be in accordance with the pertinent
considerations outlined in Practice D 1898.
3.1 Definitions:
6.2 Samples may be drawn from any materials presentation
3.1.1 For definions of terms used in this test method, see
(for example, pellets, film, sheet, fabricated articles, etc.)
Terminologies D 883 and E 284.
which permits preparation of a satisfactory specimen as de-
scribed herein.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.40 on Optical Properties.
7. Test Specimens
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 2000. Published January 2001. Originally 7.1 The test specimen shall be of a size that will conve-
published as D 542 – 39. Last previous edition D 542 – 95.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.02.
niently fit on the face of the fixed half of the refractometer
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01. prisms (Note 4). A specimen measuring 6.3 by 12.7 mm on one
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01. face is usually satisfactory.
5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
6
Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th NOTE 4—For maximum accuracy in the refractometer method, the
Floor, New York, NY 10036. surface contacting the prism must be flat. This surface can be judged for

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 542
flatness, provided the specimen has been satisfactorily polished, by 10. Report
observing the sharpness of the dividing line between the light and dark
field as viewed in the ocular. A sharply defined straight dividing line
10.1 Report the following information:
indicates satisfactory contact between the specimen and prism surfaces. 10.1.1 The index of refraction to the nearest significant
figure warranted by the accuracy and duplicability of the
7.2 The surface to be used in contact with the prism shall be measurement. If the index is specified to more than three
flat and shall have a good polish. A second edge surface significant figures, the wavelength of light for which the
perpendicular to the first and on one end of the specimen shall measurement was made shall be specified.
be prepared with a fair polish (Note 5). The polished surfaces
shall intersect without a beveled or rounded edge. NOTE 7—In the case of nonisotropic materials, for example, injection-
and compression-molded materials, the index observed will be the average
NOTE 5—It has been found possible to prepare a satisfactorily polished value for a thin layer of small area at a point of contact near the center of
surface by hand polishing small specimens on an abrasive material backed the refractometer prism. For a complete and accurate determination of the
by a piece of plate glass. Fine emery paper (for example, No. 000 variation of the index throughout the test specimen, it is necessary to make
Behr-Manning polishing paper) followed by a polishing rouge compound the measurement at more than one point on the surface and within the
suspended in water on a piece of parchment paper has successfully been body of the material. This can be done by preparing a contacting surface
used as the abrasive to produce a polished surface. both perpendicular and parallel to the molding pressure or flow. After the
test specimen is contacted to the prism it may be translated carefully for
7.3 A minimum of three specimens should be prepared and short distances along the prism surface in the direction of the light source
measured. while the variation of index is followed with the refractometer. This
procedure should be repeated a sufficient number of times and for a
8. Conditioning sufficient number of specimens to determine the range of indices involved.
The average value and the range of the index readings obtained from these
8.1 Conditioning—Condition the test specimens at 23 6 specimens shall be reported if the range exceeds the accuracy of the
2°C and 50 6 5 % relative humidity for not less than 40 h prior measurement. If the variations in index are systematic with the orientation
to the test in accordance with Procedure A of Practice D 618. of the test specimen, and if these variations exceed those found between
specimens of the same material, the nature of these variations shall be
In cases of disagreement, the tolerances should be 61°C and
reported with the average value.
62 % relative humidity. NOTE 8—Care should be taken to work rapidly to avoid changes in the
8.2 Test Conditions—Conduct tests at 23 6 2°C and 50 6 refractive index of the plastic due to its absorption of the contacting liquid.
5 % relative humidity, unless otherwise directed in a pertinent 10.1.2 The temperature in degrees Celsius at which the
specification. In cases of disagreement, the tolerances shall index was measured.
be6 1°C and 62 % relative humidity. If the index of refraction 10.1.3 If available, the dispersion shall be reported along
of the material is found to be highly temperature dependent, with the index of refraction.
then the temperature shall be accurately controlled to 23 6
0.2°C. 11. Precision and Bias 7
11.1 Precision—A limited round robin was conducted in
9. Procedure
1978, involving seven materials (four polymers and three glass
9.1 Remove the hinged illuminating prism from the refrac- standards) tested by four laboratories. An individual determi-
tometer, if necessary. Place a source of diffuse polychromatic nation is a test result. Each laboratory obtained six test results
light so that even illumination is obtained along the plane of the for each material (three determinations on two different days).
surface of contact between the specimen and the refractometer Statistical tests indicated there is no significant difference in the
prism. Place a small drop of the suitable contacting liquid on averages or variances from Day 1 to Day 2 so that both days’
the polished surface of the specimen and then place the data were combined. The data in Table 1 and Table 2 are based
specimen in firm contact with the surface of the prism with the on this round robin.
polished side of the specimen toward the specified light source.
Determine the index of refraction in the same manner as
specified for liquids. This shall be done by moving the index
arm of the refractometer until the field seen through the 7
Supporting data are available from ASTM Headquarters. Request Research
eyepiece is one-half dark. Adjust the compensator (Amici Report RR: D20 – 1154.
prisms) drum to remove all color from the field of the ocular.
Adjust the index arm using the vernier until the dividing line TABLE 1 Precision
between the light and dark portions of the field exactly Material Average SrA SRB IrC IRD
coincides with the intersection of the cross hairs as seen in the
Glass Standard No. 1 1.356 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.006
eyepiece. Read the value of the index of refraction for the PTFE 1.366 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.006
Sodium D Line (see Note 6). Determine the dispersion by PVCA 1.477 0.002 0.002 0.006 0.006
reading the compensator drum and applying this figure, along Glass Standard No. 2 1.490 0.002 0.003 0.006 0.008
PA66 0.537 0.002 0.003 0.006 0.008
with the index of refraction, to a chart or table supplied with Glass Standard No. 3 1.567 0.001 0.002 0.002 0.006
the instrument. PF 1.614 0.004 0.004 0.011 0.011
A
S r = within-laboratory standard deviation.
NOTE 6—Sodium light from a sodium burner or discharge lamp is of B
S R = between-laboratories standard deviation.
use in increasing the precision of this test method as well as making the C
I r = 2.83 S r.
D
reading of the refractometer easier. IR = 2.83 SR.

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 D 542
TABLE 2 Bias 11.3 Concept of Ir and I R—If S r and SR have been
Material
Certified Test
Bias
Statistically calculated from a large enough body of data, and for test results
Value Average SignificantA that were from testing one specimen:
Glass Standard No. 1 1.3554 1.3556 +0.0002 No 11.3.1 Ir: Repeatability—Comparing two test results for the
Glass Standard No. 2 1.4903 1.4897 −0.0006 No
Glass Standard No. 3 1.5684 1.5673 −0.0011 Yes
same material, obtained by the same operator using the same
equipment on the same day, the two test results should be
A
“t”-test (a = 0.05) = bias/Sr/ =n ).
judged not equivalent if they differ by more than the Ir value
11.1.1 Because of the limited number of laboratories par- for that material.
ticipating in this round robin, interpretation of SR and IR is not 11.3.2 IR: Reproducibility—Comparing two test results for
recommended. the same material, obtained by different operators using differ-
11.1.2 Anyone wishing to participate in the development of ent equipment on different days, the two test results should be
precision and bias data for this test method should contact the judged not equivalent if they differ by more than the IR value
Chairman, Subcommittee D20.40, through ASTM Headquar- for that material.
ters. 11.3.3 Any judgment in accordance with 11.3.1 and 11.3.2
would have an approximate 95 % (0.95) probability of being
NOTE 9—The following explanations of Ir and IR(11.3-11.3.3) are only correct.
intended to present a meaningful way of considering the approximate
11.4 Bias—Bias is the systematic error which contributes to
precision of this test method. The data in Table 1 and Table 2 should not
be rigorously applied to acceptance or rejection of material, as those data the difference between a test result and a true (or reference)
are specific to the round robin and may not be representative of other lots, value.
conditions, materials, or laboratories. 11.4.1 The data for bias was determined from the three
11.2 Users of this test method should apply the principles certified glass standards and is reported in Table 2.
outlined in Practice E 691 to generate data specific to their
laboratory and materials, or between specific laboratories. The 12. Keywords
principles of 11.3-11.3.3 would then be valid for such data. 12.1 dispersion; index of refraction

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. REFRACTIVE INDEX ROUND ROBIN

TABLE X1.1 Test of Variance Between Days

Material Sr(1)A Sr(2)A FB SR(1)A SR(2)A FB
Standard Glass No. 1 0.011 0.007 2.47 0.0016 0.0017 1.13
PTFE 0.0015 0.0016 1.14 0.0017 0.0016 1.13
PVAC 0.0023 0.0016 2.07 0.0024 0.0016 2.25
Standard Glass No. 2 0.0023 0.0021 1.20 0.0029 0.0026 1.24
PA66 0.0021 0.0025 1.42 0.0032 0.0025 1.64
Standard Glass No. 3 0.0008 0.0007 1.31 0.0019 0.0021 1.22
PF 0.0050 0.0051 1.04 0.0050 0.0051 1.04
A
(1)/(2) − (1) = day 1 data, (2) = day 2 data.
B
F 0.95 (2,2) = 19.00.

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 D 542
TABLE X1.2 “t” Test Between Days
Material X (1)A X (2)A tB
Standard Glass No. 1 1.3557 1.3554 0.230
PTFE 1.3658 1.3656 0.091
PVCA 1.4760 1.4777 0.607
Standard Glass No. 2 1.4893 1.4902 0.289
PA66 1.5369 1.5377 0.245
Standard Glass No. 3 1.5669 1.5677 0.752
PF 1.6145 1.6137 0.112
A
There is no significant difference in averages or variances within or between
laboratories from Day 1 to Day 2.
B
t 0.95 (4) = 2.776

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

This section identifies the location of selected changes to this test method. For the convenience of the user,
Committee D20 has highlighted those changes that may impact the use of this test method. This section may also
contain descriptions of the changes or reasons for the changes, or both.

D 542–00: (1) Revised Section 3, Terminology.

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