ASTM

ASTM, the American Society for Testing Materials, was organized in 1898 by a chemist, Charles B. Dudley, in an attempt to decrease frequent breaks in railroad rails by improving the tolerances uniformity under which they were manufactured. ASTM is a non-profit voluntary group of producers, users, and representatives of government and academia that write standards for materials, products, systems, and services. ASTM publishes more than 10,000 standards annually that are voluntarily tested in the laboratories of 33,000 ASTM members located around the world. ASTM produces standards in the broad areas of:

Each of the above areas corresponds to a Section of the ASTM Standards. Each Section is comprized of several sub-sections, each of which will correspond to one (or occasionally several) ASTM Standard volumes. Within each volume the ASTM Standards are arranged in alphanumeric sequence by their ASTM Standard numbers, except for volumes 11.01, 11.02, and 05.04, which are arranged by subject matter. The table of contents of each volume lists the ASTM Standards by their alphanumeric ASTM Standard numbers and also by subject. Each volume has a subject index.

The ASTM Standards can be searched electronically on the internet. The electronic search results provide a brief description of the scope of that particular standard. If the ASTM Standard is needed immediately, it can be downloaded and paid for over the internet.

References:

ASTM, The American Society for Testing Materials, Philadelphia.