ASTM D1003 Test of Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics, ASTM D1003-compliant haze meters

Information on the most widely used ASTM standards within the materials testing industry

Descriptions of the most prominent lSO standards within the materials testing industry

Standards including EN, DIN, JlS, and more

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Mechanical testing of industrial products and components is essential to ensure their load-bearing, fatigue resistance, and impact resistance, directly preventing production accidents and ensuring stable operation of equipment. UnitedTest can cover a full range of tests including tensile, hardness, and fatigue, complying with national and international standards, and provides customized industrial mechanical testing solutions.

Mechanical testing in the plastic pipe industry determines ring stiffness, impact resistance, and tensile performance, directly preventing pipe bursts and deformation risks. UnitedTest can cover full-dimensional mechanical testing of pipes, complies with ISO,ASTM,EN et.c, international standards, and provides customized testing solutions.

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Mechanical testing in the packaging industry determines the packaging's resistance to compression, impact, and tension, directly ensuring the safety of contents during storage and transportation. UnitedTest can cover comprehensive mechanical testing for packaging, complying with ISO, ASTM Standards, and provides customized testing solutions for compression, drop, tear, and more.

Mechanical testing in the transportation industry concerns the load-bearing and fatigue resistance performance of core components such as vehicles, tracks, and containers, directly ensuring transport safety and equipment durability. UnitedTest can cover mechanical testing for all types of transportation materials, complying with national and international standards, and provides customized testing solutions including tensile, fatigue, and impact tests.

Metallurgical testing examines the properties of metallic materials to determine if a particular metal is appropriate for its intended use.

Testing of polymer materials covers mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties, verifying strength, heat resistance, composition, and ensuring product quality and compliance.

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Testing of rubber and elastomers is used to assess the various properties and performance of materials under different conditions. This is crucial for ensuring the safety, functionality, and quality of rubber and elastomer products used in industries such as automotive, construction, consumer goods, and aerospace.

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Tensile test evaluates material resistance to stretching, measuring strength/elongation critical for quality control. UnitedTest offers universal tensile testers (10-600KN) compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, providing tailored solutions for metals, polymers, medical & industrial materials.

Compression test assesses material resistance to compressive loads, measuring strength/deformation critical for quality validation. UnitedTest offers compression testing machines compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, providing tailored solutions for concrete, plastics, metals and industrial components.

Flexural & Bend tests evaluate material resistance to bending forces, measuring strength, stiffness and ductility for quality assurance. UnitedTest provides flexural testing machines (3-point/4-point bend) compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, offering tailored solutions for composites, plastics, metals and construction materials.

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Fatigue Test assesses material durability under cyclic loading, critical for predicting service life of industrial components. UnitedTest offers fatigue testing systems (axial/bending/torsion) compliant with ASTM E466/ISO 12106, providing tailored solutions for automotive, aerospace and manufacturing sectors.

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Hardness test measures material's resistance to permanent indentation, critical for quality control. UnitedTest offers universal hardness testers (Rockwell/Brinell/Vickers) compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, plus tailored hardness testing solutions for diverse industrial needs.

Biaxial/triaxial tests evaluate material performance under multi-axis loads, critical for biomaterials, metals and composites. UnitedTest provides compliant testing machines (ASTM/ISO) for planar biaxial, static/fatigue triaxial tests, with tailored solutions for industrial & biomedical needs.

Friction and wear tests assess material resistance to friction, abrasion and wear, critical for industrial material performance validation. UnitedTest offers tribometers compliant with ASTM G99/ISO standards, covering pin-on-disk, four-ball tests, and tailored friction & wear testing solutions for diverse industries.

Pressure test evaluates material/component resistance to static/dynamic pressure, critical for sealing, strength and safety validation. UnitedTest offers pressure testing machines compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, covering burst, hold-pressure tests, and tailored solutions for industrial, automotive & medical sectors.

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Non-destructive Test (NDT) evaluates material/component integrity without damage, critical for safety & quality across industries. UnitedTest offers ultrasonic/X-ray/magnetic particle NDT equipment compliant with ASTM/ISO standards, plus tailored NDT solutions for aerospace, automotive & manufacturing sectors.

ASTM D1003 Standard | Haze and Luminous Transmittance Test Machine for Transparent Plastics | UnitedTest

UnitedTest is a professional manufacturer supplying fully ASTM D1003-compliant haze meters and luminous transmittance testing instruments for transparent plastic production labs, packaging factories and optical material inspection centers worldwide.

ASTM D1003 Standard Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics is the globally recognized benchmark for evaluating two core optical indicators of flat transparent plastic substrates. This standard lays out unified testing procedures to assess targeted light transmission performance and wide-angle light scattering characteristics of planar, essentially transparent plastic sheets and films.

It provides standardized measurement protocols to quantify two critical optical properties: total luminous transmittance (direct light passage rate) and haze (diffused wide-angle light scattering), which determine the clarity and visual appearance of transparent plastic materials. Our UnitedTest haze transmittance tester fully complies with all light source, specimen placement, calibration and calculation rules defined in ASTM D1003, delivering consistent, repeatable optical data for production quality control, new material R&D and export compliance certification.

Core Test Principle

Haze: Percentage of transmitted light scattered by the sample, whose propagation direction deviates more than 0.044 rad (2.5°) from the original incident beam axis. Haze causes blurry vision and veiling glare when viewing objects through plastic.

Luminous transmittance: Ratio of total luminous flux passing through the specimen to the incident luminous flux, weighted by CIE V(λ) human eye spectral sensitivity function.

Two Specific Test Methods

Procedure A (Hazemeter Method, Primary Routine Test)

The most widely adopted industrial method, using a dedicated hazemeter with integrating sphere optics.

Advantage: Higher test values, lower data variability, excellent repeatability for routine quality inspection.

Applicable scope: Plastics with haze ≤30% (non-diffusing transparent materials).

ASTM D1003 Test of Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics

Procedure B (Spectrophotometer Method, Diagnostic Test)

Uses a qualified spectrophotometer that meets strict geometric and spectral matching rules of Section 5.

Advantage: Provides full spectral light scattering data to trace the root cause of haze (surface scratches, internal particles, resin impurity).

Limitation: Measured haze and transmittance values are slightly lower than Procedure A results, with bigger fluctuation ranges.

Special rule: If material haze exceeds 30%, it is classified as highly diffusing; users shall follow ASTM E2387 goniometric scattering measurement instead of D1003 core procedures.

ASTM D1003 Test of Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics

Test Specimen Requirements

Sampling rule: Samples must come from statistically stable production batches; exclude non-characteristic defects unless studying those defects as variables.

Dimension & shape: Specimen must fully cover the sphere entrance port. Recommended size: 50 mm (2 in) diameter disk or 50 mm square sheet.

Surface quality: Parallel flat surfaces, free of dust, grease, scratches, blemishes, visible internal voids or particles (unless measuring haze contribution from such flaws).

Sample quantity: Minimum 3 replicate specimens per material batch, unless material specification specifies a different count.

Pre-cleaning mandatory before conditioning and testing to eliminate surface contaminants affecting scattering data.

Test Equipment Required for ASTM D1003 Test of Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics

1	For Procedure A (Hazemeter)
Transmission and Haze testing machine (Haze Meter)	UnitedTest Transmission and Haze testing machine(General type) can easily realize ASTM D1003 non compensating method, ISO 13468 compensating method, full transmittance and haze testing. The open sample chamber can be tested vertically or horizontally to adapt to more tested samples.
Light source & photodetector assembly	Filtered to match CIE 1931 Standard Colorimetric Observer spectral response, compatible with CIE Standard Illuminant C or A. Photometric linearity error ≤1% within working flux range; light source/detector stability must hold constant during full specimen testing.
Integrating sphere	Any diameter allowed, with total port area ≤4.0% of internal reflective surface. Key geometric rules: Entrance and exit ports centered on one great circle, arc distance ≥2.97 rad (170°). Exit port subtends 0.14 rad (8°) at sphere center. Photocell mounted 1.57±0.17 rad (90±10°) from entrance port, with baffle blocking direct beam exposure. Rotatable sphere variant: rotation angle tolerance 0.140±0.008 rad (8.0±0.5°).
Collimated incident beam	Maximum ray divergence angle ≤0.05 rad (3°); no vignetting at sphere ports.
2	For Procedure B (Spectrophotometer)
Spectrophotometer	Full-spectrum spectrophotometer that satisfies all geometric, angular, and spectral requirements of the hazemeter apparatus specified in D1003-21. Precision sample cutting tools, lint-free cleaning wipes

Mandatory Test Parameters

Haze threshold scattering angle: 0.044 rad (2.5°)

Incident beam maximum divergence: ≤0.05 rad (3°)

Exit port subtended angle at sphere center: 0.14 rad (8°)

Sphere port total area limit: ≤4.0% of internal reflective surface

Light weighting standard: CIE 1987 spectral luminous efficiency function V(λ)

Diffusing material cutoff: Haze >30% = diffusing material; switch to ASTM E2387 goniometric scatter measurement.

Standard Test Procedures ASTM D1003 Test of Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics:

Step 1 Specimen Preparation & Cleaning: Cut samples to standard 50 mm size, wipe off dust, oil and surface scratches; inspect for internal voids. Prepare 3 replicates.

Step 2 Specimen Conditioning: Place samples in temperature-humidity chamber for minimum 40 h under 23±2 °C / 50±10% RH.

Step 3 Instrument Calibration: Power on hazemeter/spectrophotometer and stabilize light source.

Perform zero calibration with light trap installed (no specimen).

Calibrate reflectance response using E259 standard white reference plaque.

Step 4 Specimen Mounting: Attach specimen flat against the integrating sphere entrance port to block all peripheral light leakage.

Step 5 Data Acquisition: Run automatic measurement for each replicate; record luminous transmittance (%) and haze (%) for every sample.

Step 6 Result Calculation & Reporting: Average data of 3 valid replicates; document test procedure type (A/B), conditioning parameters, instrument model, specimen thickness and surface condition.

Step 7 Post-Test Cleanup: Remove specimens, wipe sphere ports, power down equipment, archive test records.

Industry Application Fields

ASTM D1003 optical testing is foundational quality control for nearly all transparent plastic planar materials:

Automotive industry: Windshield films, automotive interior transparent panels, headlight lenses, window plastic glazing (haze directly affects anti-glare driving safety)

Packaging industry: Food transparent PET films, blister packaging, cosmetic transparent containers, flexible packaging films

Optical & electronics: Display protective cover sheets, touch screen substrates, optical filter plastic films, LED light diffusion panels

Construction & architecture: Transparent PVC, polycarbonate window sheets, anti-scratch architectural glazing

Medical plastics: Disposable transparent medical device housings, IV fluid containers, sterile transparent packaging

Consumer goods: Eyeglass lenses, plastic tableware, transparent appliance panels, toy transparent components

Coatings & surface treatment: Evaluation of clear hard coats on plastic substrates to quantify surface haze from abrasion or coating defects.

Related Standard:

ASTM D1003	Standard Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics
GB/T 2410	Determination of light transmittance and haze of transparent plastics
UNI 8028	Transparent plastics sheets and films. Determination of the total luminous transmittance and haze.
ASTM D1044	Abrasion resistance test for transparent plastics (narrow-angle scattering measurement for scratched samples)
ASTM E2387	Goniometric Optical Scatter Measurements (for high-haze >30% diffusing plastics)
ISO 13468-1	Plastics – Total luminous transmittance of transparent materials
ISO 14782	Plastics – Haze measurement of transparent materials
JIS K 7136	Plastics -- Determination of haze for transparent materials

Keywords: UnitedTest ASTM D1003 haze meter, ASTM D1003 luminous transmittance test machine, transparent plastic film haze and light transmittance tester, plastic sheet optical scattering testing equipment, wide-angle light scattering measurement for transparent plastic, planar plastic haze transmittance analyzer, ASTM D1003 optical property test bench, transparent packaging film clarity inspection instrument, plastic light transmission haze measuring machine

Transmission and Haze testing machine (General type) can easily realize ASTM D1003 non compensating method, ISO 13468 compensating method, full transmittance and haze testing. The open sample chamber can be tested vertically or horizontally to adapt to more tested samples.

Q1: What is ASTM D1003 used to measure?

A1: It measures two core optical properties of flat transparent plastic sheets/films:

Luminous transmittance: The percentage of visible human-eye-weighted light passing through the sample.

Haze: The percentage of transmitted light scattered at an angle greater than 2.5° (0.044 rad), which causes blurriness when viewing objects through plastic.

It only applies to low-haze transparent plastics (haze ≤30%). Materials over 30% haze are classified as diffusing and require ASTM E2387 instead.

Q2: What is the difference between Procedure A and Procedure B in D1003?

A2: Procedure A (Hazemeter): Dedicated haze meter with integrating sphere. Industry standard for routine QC. Results are slightly higher with better repeatability and less data fluctuation.

Procedure B (Spectrophotometer): Full-spectrum spectrophotometer meeting geometric/spectral requirements. Provides spectral data to trace haze sources (scratches, particles, resin defects). Readings are marginally lower and more variable than A.

Q3: Is ASTM D1003 equivalent to ISO 13468-1 and ISO 14782?

A3: No. The standard explicitly states they are not equivalent. Differences in optical geometry, scattering angle thresholds and calculation formulas mean test values cannot be directly interchanged for compliance or certification.

Q4: What size test specimen is required for ASTM D1003?

A4: Samples must fully cover the integrating sphere entrance port. The recommended size is a 50 mm (2 inch) diameter disk or 50 mm square piece. Three replicate specimens are required per material batch unless the material specification states otherwise.

Q5: Can I test scratched or contaminated plastic samples directly?

A5: Only if you intend to measure haze caused by those defects. For representative bulk material data, samples must be clean, free of dust, grease, scratches, voids and blemishes. Surface contaminants will falsely increase haze readings.

Q6: Why do Procedure A and Procedure B give slightly different haze numbers?

A6: Differences stem from instrument geometry, spectral detection ranges and light collection efficiency. Hazemeter (Procedure A) yields marginally higher haze values with lower variability, making it preferred for routine quality control. Spectrophotometer (Procedure B) delivers lower, more variable readings but provides full spectral diagnostic data.

Q7: Why must the specimen be placed against the integrating sphere entrance port?

A7: Mounting the sample directly at the sphere inlet captures total hemispherical transmittance—both straight un-scattered light and wide-angle scattered light used to calculate haze. If placed away from the port, only regular collimated transmittance is measured, and haze cannot be calculated accurately.

Q8: What is the critical scattering angle that defines haze in D1003?

A8: Light deviating more than 0.044 rad (2.5°) from the original incident beam is counted as scattered haze light. Light scattered within 2.5° is treated as clear direct transmittance.

Q9: What light source requirements does the hazemeter need to meet?

A9: The light and detector assembly must match the CIE 1931 Standard Colorimetric Observer response, using either CIE Standard Illuminant C or A. Photometric linearity error must be ≤1% across the working flux range, and light stability must hold constant during testing.

Q10: Why is ASTM D1003 testing important for transparent plastics?

A10: Visual quality control: Haze directly impacts clarity; high haze creates blurriness and veiling glare (critical for automotive glazing, screen films, eyewear).

Contract & specification compliance: Most plastic procurement standards name D1003 as the official optical test method; test reports serve as acceptance evidence between suppliers and buyers.

R&D defect analysis: Spectrophotometer Procedure B identifies haze root causes like micro-scratches, internal particles, uneven extrusion or poor coating curing.

Durability aging assessment: Tracks haze increase after UV exposure, abrasion, thermal cycling or chemical contact to predict product service life.

Safety validation: For safety-critical plastics (medical packaging, automotive windows, safety shields), consistent low haze ensures unobstructed vision and eliminates visual hazards.

Cross-factory consistent benchmarking: Standardized test rules allow comparable optical results across labs, production lines and global supply chains.

Q11: What do I do if my plastic sample has haze greater than 30%?

A11: D1003 procedures are not designed for highly diffusing materials. You must follow ASTM E2387 Practice for Goniometric Optical Scatter Measurements instead.

Q12: How do I test plastics with surface abrasion that scatter light at narrow forward angles?

A12: Use ASTM D1044 Test Method for Taber abrasion resistance, which is adjusted to better distinguish narrow-angle scattered light from abraded transparent plastics.

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