ASTM E2044-99

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Designation: E 2044 – 99
Test Method for
Spreading of Liquid Agricultural Spray Mixtures
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2044; 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.
1. Scope 5. Significance and Use
1.1 This test method covers the visual evaluation of the 5.1 This test method is intended to provide a rapid means of
relative spread radius of liquid spray mixture droplets. determining the relative ability of a liquid agricultural spray
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the mixture to spread on a test substrate.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 5.2 This test method was validated using Parafilm M as a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- test substrate. It is the user’s responsibility for determining the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- validity of this test method for alternative test surfaces. While
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. it may be generally agreed upon that there is no perfect model
for the variety of surfaces for which spreading information
2. Referenced Documents
would be useful, this test method does not limit users to any
2.1 ASTM Standards:
one surface. Further consideration must also be given to the
E 1519 Terminology Relating to Agricultural Tank Mix potential effect that the liquid droplet may have on the
Adjuvants
chemical composition and morphology of the test surface.
While this does not restrict the test method, an understanding
3. Terminology
of this potential can help in the interpretation of test data.
3.1 Definitions:
5.3 This test method will determine the relative spread of
3.1.1 adjuvant, n—a material added to a tank mix to aid or
radii of water, fertilizers, oils, and mixtures of these carriers
modify the action of an agrochemical, or the physical charac-
with surfactants. It is the user’s responsibility to determine the
teristics of the mixture.
validity of the test method with alternative liquids.
3.1.2 spreader, n—a material that increases the area that a
5.4 This test method will determine the relative spread radii
droplet of a given volume of spray mixture will cover on a
of droplets over 30 s, 60 s, and 5 min. It is the user’s
target.
responsibility to determine the validity of the test method at
3.1.3 spread radius, n—the radius in millimetres or some
alternative spreading times.
other standardized unit, of a substrate covered by a droplet.
5.5 This test method is appropriate for relative humidities
within the range of 40 to 70 %. It is the user’s responsibility to
4. Summary of Test Method
determine the validity of the test method at alternative relative
4.1 The material(s) to be tested is mixed using the desired
humidities.
concentration of each component.
5.6 This test method is appropriate for temperatures within
4.2 A20-µL droplet of the spray mixture is placed carefully
the range of 18 to 22°C. It is the user’s responsibility to
onto a substrate. Under this substrate is a graph with concentric
determine the validity of the test method at alternative tem-
rings spaced at 1-mm intervals.
peratures.
4.3 After 60 s, the number of rings that the droplet covers,
5.7 This test method will determine the relative spread radii
and thus the radius of the droplet, is observed and recorded.
for droplets of 10 and 20 µL. It is the user’s responsibility to
determine the validity of the test method at alternative droplet
sizes.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E35 on
6. Apparatus
Pesticides and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E35.22 on Pesticide
6.1 Petri Dishes, to be used inverted to make a flat surface
Formulations and Application Systems.
Current edition approved October 10, 1999. Published December 1999.
on which to apply the intended test substrate. Other flat and
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
uniform surfaces may be used.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
6.2 Test substrate (Parafilm M).
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. 6.3 Stopwatch.
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E2044–99
6.4 Micropipetter, capable of reproducibly delivering the 7.6 Agitate the test mixture with a magnet
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