ASTM D937-04

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An American National Standard
Designation: D 937 – 04 British Standard 4698
Designation: 179/79(95)
Standard Test Method for
1
Cone Penetration of Petrolatum
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 937; 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* 3.1.2.1 Discussion—In this test method, a standard pen-
etrometer cone (see Test Methods D 217) is used to determine
1.1 This test method covers measuring with a penetrometer
the consistency of petrolatum. The penetration force is deter-
the penetration of petrolatum as an empirical measure of
mined by the total mass of the cone and shaft.
consistency.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
4. Summary of Test Method
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
4.1 The sample is melted, heated to 82°C (180°F), and then
only.
cooled under controlled conditions to 25°C (77°F). The pen-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
etration is measured with the cone and the sample at this
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
temperature using a penetrometer by means of which a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
standard cone is applied to the sample for 5 s under a load of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
150 g.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents
2
5.1 Petrolatum is a purified mixture of semi-solid hydrocar-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
bons obtained from petroleum and is often described as an
D 217 Test Methods for Cone Penetration of Lubricating
unctuous mass. Cone penetration is a means of measuring the
Grease
firmness or consistency of petrolatum. Such measurements are
3. Terminology useful for selecting or specifying, or both, a petrolatum of a
particular consistency or firmness. Cone penetration values
3.1 Definitions:
may or may not correlate with end-use functional properties.
3.1.1 penetration of petrolatum—the depth, in tenths of a
millimetre,thatastandardconewillpenetratethesampleunder
6. Apparatus
fixed conditions of mass, time, and temperature.
6.1 Penetrometer and Cone, as specified in Test Methods
3.1.2 penetrometer, n—an instrument that measures the
D 217.
consistency or hardness of semiliquid to semisolid materials by
6.2 Oven,capableofmaintainingatemperatureof82 62°C
measuring the depth to which a specified cone or needle under
(180 6 5°F) for melting the petrolatum samples.
a given force falls into the material.
6.3 Water Bath, constant-temperature, regulated to 25 6
0.5°C (77 6 1°F).
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on 6.4 Sample Containers,cylindrical,havingaflatbottom100
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 1 1
66mm(4 6 ⁄4 in.) in diameter and 65 mm (2 ⁄2 in.) or more
D02.10 on Properties of Petroleum Wax.
in depth, constructed of at least 1.6-mm (16-gage) metal and
In the IP, this test method is under the jurisdiction of the Standardization
provided with a well fitting watertight cover.
Committee. This test method was adopted as a joint ASTM-IP Standard in 1965.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2004. Published November 2004. Originally
NOTE 1—Containers of the “ointment box” type having somewhat
approved in 1947. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 937–97(2002).
2
flexible sides should not be used, for these permit slight working of the
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
petrolatum, due to flexing of the sides in handling.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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D937–04
7. Preparation of Sample 8.3 With samples having penetrations less than 200, three
tests (and sometimes more) may be made in one container by
7.1 Test all samples of petrolatum for original consistency
proper spacing. To prevent one test from being affected by the
after melting and cooling to the temperature of the test as
disturbed area of a previous test the tip of the cone must not be
described in 7.3.
placed nearer the edge of a previous test than the penetration
7.2 If the penetration of the sample is
...