ASTM D937-97

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 937 – 97 An American National Standard
British Standard 4698
Designation: 179/79(95)
Standard Test Method for
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 test method was adopted as a joint ASTM-IP Standard in 1965.
This test method has been adopted for use by government agencies to replace Method 312 of Federal Test Method Standard No. 791b,
and Method 4273 of Federal Test Method Standard No. 141A.
1. Scope 4. Summary of Test Method
1.1 This test method covers measuring with a penetrometer 4.1 The sample is melted, heated to 82°C (180°F), and then
the penetration of petrolatum as an empirical measure of cooled under controlled conditions to 25°C (77°F). The pen-
consistency. etration is measured with the cone and the sample at this
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the temperature using a penetrometer by means of which a
standard.The values in parentheses are for information only. standard cone is applied to the sample for 5 s under a load of
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 150 g.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5. Significance and Use
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.1 Petrolatum is a purified mixture of semi-solid hydrocar-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. bons obtained from petroleum and is often described as an
unctuous mass. Cone penetration is a means of measuring the
2. Referenced Documents
firmness or consistency of petrolatum. Such measurements are
2.1 ASTM Standards: useful for selecting or specifying, or both, a petrolatum of a
D 217 Test Methods for Cone Penetration of Lubricating particular consistency or firmness. Cone penetration values
Grease may or may not correlate with end-use functional properties.
3. Terminology 6. Apparatus
3.1 Definitions: 6.1 Penetrometer and Cone, as specified in Test Method
3.2 penetration of petrolatum—the depth, in tenths of a D 217.
millimetre, that a standard cone will penetrate the sample under 6.2 Oven, capable of maintaining a temperature of 82 6 2°C
fixed conditions of mass, time, and temperature. (180 6 5°F) for melting the petrolatum samples.
3.3 penetrometer, n—an instrument that measures the con- 6.3 Water Bath, constant-temperature, regulated to 25 6
sistency or hardness of semiliquid to semisolid materials by 0.5°C (77 6 1°F).
measuring the depth to which a specified cone or needle under 6.4 Sample Containers, cylindrical, having a flat bottom 100
1 1
a given force falls into the material. 6 6mm(4 6 ⁄4 in.) in diameter and 65 mm (2 ⁄2 in.) or more
3.3.1 Discussion—In this test method, a standard penetrom- in depth, constructed of at least 1.6-mm (16-gage) metal and
eter cone (see Test Methods D 217) is used to determine the provided with a well fitting water-tight cover.
consistency of petrolatum. The penetration force is determined
NOTE 1—Containers of the “ointment box” type having somewhat
by the total mass of the cone and shaft.
flexible sides should not be used, for these permit slight working of the
petrolatum, due to flexing of the sides in handling.
7. Preparation of Sample
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-2 on
Petroleum Products and Lubricantsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
7.1 Test all samples of petrolatum for original consistency
D 02.10on Properties of Petroleum Wax.
after melting and cooling to the temperature of the test as
In the IP, this test method is under the jurisdiction of the Standardization
Committee. described in 7.3.
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1997. Published June 1998. Originally
7.2 If the penetration of the sample is over 200, three
published as D 937 – 47 T. Last previous edition D 937 – 92.
separate test samples are required.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.01.
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D 937
7.3 Melt the sample in an oven maintained at 82 6 2°C (180 proper spacing. To prevent one test from being affected by the
6 5°F) (see Note 2). Place the required number of sample distu
...