ASTM D1298

Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, or API

Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products by
Hydrometer Method

Significance and Use

Accurate determination of the density, relative density (specific gravity), or API gravity
of petroleum and its products is necessary for the conversion of measured volumes to
volumes or masses, or both, at the standard reference temperatures of 15C or 60F
during custody transfer.
This procedure is most suitable for determining the density, relative density (specific
gravity), or API gravity of low viscosity transparent liquids. This procedure can also be
used for viscous liquids by allowing sufficient time for the hydrometer to reach
temperature equilibrium, and for opaque liquids by employing a suitable meniscus
correction. Additionally for both transparent and opaque fluids the readings shall be
corrected for the thermal glass expansion effect and alternate calibration temperature
effects before correcting to the reference temperature.
When used in connection with bulk oil measurements, volume correction errors are
minimized by observing the hydrometer reading at a temperature close to that of the
bulk oil temperature.
Density, relative density, or API gravity is a factor governing the quality and pricing of
crude petroleum. However, this property of petroleum is an uncertain indication of its
quality unless correlated with other properties.
Density is an important quality indicator for automotive, aviation and marine fuels,
where it affects storage, handling and combustion.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the laboratory determination using a glass hydrometer in
conjunction with a series of calculations, of the density, relative density, or API gravity
of crude petroleum, petroleum products, or mixtures of petroleum and nonpetroleum
products normally handled as liquids, and having a Reid vapor pressure of 101.325 kPa
(14.696 psi) or less. Values are determined at existing temperatures and corrected to
15C or 60F by means of a series of calculations and international standard tables.
1.2 The initial hydrometer readings obtained are uncorrected hydrometer readings and
not density measurements. Readings are measured on a hydrometer at either the
reference temperature or at another convenient temperature, and readings are
corrected for the meniscus effect, the thermal glass expansion effect, alternate

calibration temperature effects and to the reference temperature by means of the

Petroleum Measurement Tables; values obtained at other than the reference
temperature being hydrometer readings and not density measurements.
1.3 Readings determined as density, relative density, or API gravity can be converted to
equivalent values in the other units or alternate reference temperatures by means of
Interconversion Procedures (API MPMS Chapter 11.5), or Adjunct to D1250Guide for
Petroleum Measurement Tables (API MPMS Chapter 11.1), or both, or tables, as
applicable.
1.4 The initial hydrometer readings determined in the laboratory shall be recorded
before performing any calculations. The calculations required in Section 10 shall be
applied to the initial hydrometer reading with observations and results reported as
required by Section 11 prior to use in a subsequent calculation procedure (ticket
calculation, meter factor calculation, or base prover volume determination).
1.5 Annex A1 contains a procedure for verifying or certifying the equipment for this test
method.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in
parentheses are provided for information only.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.

ASTM Standards
D1250 Guide for Use of the Petroleum Measurement Tables
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D5854 Practice for Mixing and Handling of Liquid Samples of Petroleum and Petroleum
Products
E1 Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers
E100 Specification for ASTM Hydrometers
API Standards
MPMSChapter11.5 Density/Weight/Volume Intraconversion
ASTM D445

Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent

and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)
Significance and Use
5.1 Many petroleum products, and some non-petroleum materials, are used as
lubricants, and the correct operation of the equipment depends upon the appropriate
viscosity of the liquid being used. In addition, the viscosity of many petroleum fuels is
important for the estimation of optimum storage, handling, and operational conditions.
Thus, the accurate determination of viscosity is essential to many product
specifications.

1. Scope
1.1 This test method specifies a procedure for the determination of the kinematic
viscosity, , of liquid petroleum products, both transparent and opaque, by measuring
the time for a volume of liquid to flow under gravity through a calibrated glass capillary
viscometer. The dynamic viscosity, , can be obtained by multiplying the kinematic
viscosity, , by the density, , of the liquid.
NOTE 1: For the measurement of the kinematic viscosity and viscosity of bitumens, see
also Test Methods D2170 and D2171.
NOTE 2: ISO 3104 corresponds to Test Method D44503.
1.2 The result obtained from this test method is dependent upon the behavior of the
sample and is intended for application to liquids for which primarily the shear stress
and shear rates are proportional (Newtonian flow behavior). If, however, the viscosity
varies significantly with the rate of shear, different results may be obtained from
viscometers of different capillary diameters. The procedure and precision values for
residual fuel oils, which under some conditions exhibit non-Newtonian behavior, have
been included.
1.3 The range of kinematic viscosities covered by this test method is from 0.2mm2/s to
300000mm2/s (see Table A1.1) at all temperatures (see 6.3 and 6.4). The precision has
only been determined for those materials, kinematic viscosity ranges and temperatures
as shown in the footnotes to the precision section.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The SI unit used in this
test method for kinematic viscosity is mm2/s, and the SI unit used in this test method
for dynamic viscosity is mPas. For user reference, 1 mm2/s = 10-6m2/s = 1 cSt and 1
mPas = 1 cP = 0.001 Pas.
1.5 WARNINGMercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a
hazardous material that can cause central nervous system, kidney and liver damage.
Mercury, or its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution
should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the
applicable product Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for details and EPAs website
http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htmfor additional information. Users should be
aware that selling mercury and/or mercury containing products into your state or
country may be prohibited by law.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
ASTM Standards
D446 Specifications and Operating Instructions for Glass Capillary Kinematic
Viscometers
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D1217 Test Method for Density and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) of Liquids by
Bingham Pycnometer
D1480 Test Method for Density and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) of Viscous
Materials by Bingham Pycnometer
D1481 Test Method for Density and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) of Viscous
Materials by Lipkin Bicapillary Pycnometer
D2162 Practice for Basic Calibration of Master Viscometers and Viscosity Oil Standards
D2170 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Asphalts (Bitumens)
D2171 Test Method for Viscosity of Asphalts by Vacuum Capillary Viscometer
D6071 Test Method for Low Level Sodium in High Purity Water by Graphite Furnace
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
D6074 Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils
D6299 Practice for Applying Statistical Quality Assurance and Control Charting
Techniques to Evaluate Analytical Measurement System Performance

D6617 Practice for Laboratory Bias Detection Using Single Test Result from Standard
Material
E1 Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers
E77 Test Method for Inspection and Verification of Thermometers
E1137/E1137M Specification for Industrial Platinum Resistance Thermometers
ISO Standards
ISO17025 General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration
Laboratories
NIST Standards
NISTSpecialPublicati Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)
http://www.nist.gov/pml/pubs/sp811/index.cfm

ASTM E502

Standard Test Method for Selection and Use of ASTM Standards

for the Determination of Flash Point of Chemicals by Closed Cup
Methods
Significance and Use
5.1 The flash point measures the response of the sample to heat and flame under
controlled laboratory conditions. It is only one of a number of properties that must be
considered in assessing the overall flammability hazard of a material.
5.2 As a result of physical factors inherent in the apparatus and procedure, the closed
cup flash point does not necessarily represent the minimum temperature at which a
material can evolve flammable vapors, and the absence of a flash point does not
guarantee nonflammability (see Appendix X1 and Appendix X2).
5.3 Flash point is used in shipping and safety regulations to define flammable and
combustible materials. Test Methods D56, D93, and D3278 are specified as test
methods for determining the flash point of these materials.
5.4 If the process or handling conditions dictate the usage of a flammable material at
temperatures ranging upward from 5 to 10C below the closed-cup flash point, then a
flammable vapor might be present above the liquid. In such cases, it may be more
appropriate to use the temperature limit of flammability (as determined by Test Method
E1232) instead of flash point.
5.5 Small scale methods involving equilibrium procedures and only one flame pass per
specimen are preferred.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the flash point of liquid and solid
chemical compounds flashing from below10 to 370C (16 to 700F). The procedures
and apparatus in Test Methods D56, D93, D3278, D3828, and D3941 are to be used.
Modification to these procedures are specified for tests on solids and viscous liquids.
The significance of the results obtained is discussed along with possible sources of
error and factors that might cause interference.
1.2 Suggestions for adapting this procedure to mixtures of chemicals are included
(see Appendix X2).
1.3 This test method should be used to measure and describe the properties of
materials, products, or assemblies in response to heat and flame under controlled
laboratory conditions and should not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or
fire risk of materials or assemblies under actual fire conditions. However, results of this
test method may be used as elements of a fire risk assessment that take into account
all of the factors that are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular
end use.

1.4 WarningMercury has been designated by EPA and many state agencies as a
hazardous material that can cause central nervous system, kidney and liver damage.
Mercury, or its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution
should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the
applicable product Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for details and EPAs website
http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm - for additional information. Users should be
aware that selling mercury and/or mercury containing products into your state may be
prohibited by state law.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. See also Section 8.
ASTM Standards
D56 Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Cup Tester
D92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester
D93 Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester
D270 Methods of Sampling Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D1310 Test Method for Flash Point and Fire Point of Liquids by Tag Open-Cup Apparatus
D3278 Test Methods for Flash Point of Liquids by Small Scale Closed-Cup Apparatus
D3827 Test Method for Estimation of Solubility of Gases in Petroleum and Other Organic
Liquids
D3828 Test Methods for Flash Point by Small Scale Closed Cup Tester
D3934 Test Method for Flash/No Flash Test--Equilibrium Method by a Closed-Cup
Apparatus
D3941 Test Method for Flash Point by the Equilibrium Method With a Closed-Cup
Apparatus
E681 Test Method for Concentration Limits of Flammability of Chemicals (Vapors and
Gases)
E1232 Test Method for Temperature Limit of Flammability of Chemicals

ASTM D130

Standard Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage of

Insulating Liquids Using Disk Electrodes
Significance and Use
3.1 The dielectric breakdown voltage is a measure of the ability of an insulating liquid
to withstand electrical stress. The power-frequency breakdown voltage of a liquid is
reduced by the presence of contaminants such as cellulosic fibers, conducting particles,
dirt, and water. A low result in this test method indicates the presence of significant
concentrations of one or more of these contaminants in the liquid tested. See Appendix
X1.
3.2 A high breakdown voltage measured in this test method does not necessarily
indicate that the amount of the contaminants present in a liquid from which the sample
was taken is sufficiently low for the sampled liquid to be acceptable in all electrical
equipment. Test Method D877 is not sensitive to low levels of these contaminants.
Breakdown in this test method is dominated by events occurring at the electrode
edges. The voltage stress distribution between the parallel disk electrodes used in this
test method are quasi-uniform and there is substantial stress concentration at the
sharp edges of the flat disk faces.

3.3 This test method may be used for evaluation of insulating liquids in equipment that
is designed to be filled with unprocessed liquids as delivered by a vendor.
3.4 This test method is not recommended for evaluation of the breakdown voltage of
liquids used in equipment that requires the application of vacuum and filtering of the oil
before being placed into service. Test Method D1816 should be used to determine the
breakdown voltage of filtered and degassed liquids.
3.5 This test method is used in laboratory or field tests. For field breakdown results to
be comparable to laboratory results, all criteria including room temperature (20 to
30C) must be met.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method describes two procedures, A and B, for determining the electrical
breakdown voltage of insulating liquid specimens. The breakdown test uses ac voltage
in the power-frequency range from 45 to 65 Hz.
1.2 This test method is used to judge if the disk electrode breakdown voltage
requirements are met for insulating liquids, as delivered from the manufacturer, that
have never been filtered or dried. See Specification D3487, Specification D4652,
Specification D6871 and Guide D5222 for the minimum specified electrical breakdown.
This test method should be used as recommended by professional organization
standards such as IEEE C57.106.
1.3 Limitations of the Procedures:
1.3.1 The sensitivity of this test method to the general population of contaminants
present in a liquid sample decreases as applied test voltages used in this test method
become greater than approximately 25 kV rms.
1.3.2 If the concentration of water in the sample at room temperature is less than 60%
of saturation, the sensitivity of this test method to the presence of water is decreased.
For further information refer to RR:D27-1006.2
1.3.3 The suitability for this test method has not been determined for a liquid's
viscosity higher than 900 cSt at 40C.
1.4 Procedure Applications
1.4.1 Procedure A:
1.4.1.1 Procedure A is used to determine the breakdown voltage of liquids in which any
insoluble breakdown products easily settle during the interval between the required
repeated breakdown tests. These liquids include petroleum oils, hydrocarbons, natural
and synthetic esters, and askarels (PCB) used as insulating and cooling liquids in
transformers, cables, and similar apparatus.
1.4.1.2 Procedure A may be used to obtain the dielectric breakdown of silicone fluid as
specified in Test Methods D2225, provided the discharge energy into the sample is less
than 20 mJ (milli joule) per breakdown for five consecutive breakdowns.
1.4.2 Procedure B:
1.4.2.1 This procedure is used to determine the breakdown voltage of liquids in which
any insoluble breakdown products do not completely settle from the space between the
disks during the 1min interval required in Procedure A. Procedure B, modified in
accordance with Section 17 of Test Methods D2225, is acceptable for testing silicone
dielectric liquids if the requirements of 1.4.1.2 can not be achieved.
1.4.2.2 Procedure B should also be applied for the determination of the breakdown
voltage of liquid samples containing insoluble materials that settle from the specimen
during testing. These may include samples taken from circuit breakers, load tap
changers, and other liquids heavily contaminated with insoluble particulate material.
These examples represent samples that may have large differences between replicate
tests. The use of Procedure B will result in a more accurate value of breakdown voltage
when testing such liquids.
1.4.2.3 Use Procedure B to establish the breakdown voltage of an insulating liquid
where an ASTM specification does not exist or when developing a value for an ASTM
guide or standard. Procedure A may be used once the single operator precision
of13.1 has been demonstrated.

1.5 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded
separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact
equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other.
Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the
standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
ASTM Standards
D923 Practices for Sampling Electrical Insulating Liquids
D1816 Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage of Insulating Liquids Using VDE
Electrodes
D2225 Test Methods for Silicone Fluids Used for Electrical Insulation
D2864 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulating Liquids and Gases
D3487 Specification for Mineral Insulating Oil Used in Electrical Apparatus
D4652 Specification for Silicone Fluid Used for Electrical Insulation
D5222 Specification for High Fire-Point Mineral Electrical Insulating Oils
D6871 Specification for Natural (Vegetable Oil) Ester Fluids Used in Electrical Apparatus
ASTM D130

Standard Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from

Petroleum Products by Copper Strip Test
Significance and Use
5.1 Crude petroleum contains sulfur compounds, most of which are removed during
refining. However, of the sulfur compounds remaining in the petroleum product, some
can have a corroding action on various metals and this corrosivity is not necessarily
related directly to the total sulfur content. The effect can vary according to the
chemical types of sulfur compounds present. The copper strip corrosion test is
designed to assess the relative degree of corrosivity of a petroleum product.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the corrosiveness to copper of
aviation gasoline, aviation turbine fuel, automotive gasoline, cleaners (Stoddard)
solvent, kerosine, diesel fuel, distillate fuel oil, lubricating oil, and natural gasoline or
other hydrocarbons having a vapor pressure no greater than 124 kPa (18 psi) at
37.8C. (WarningSome products, particularly natural gasoline, may have a much
higher vapor pressure than would normally be characteristic of automotive or aviation
gasolines. For this reason, exercise extreme caution to ensure that the pressure vessel
used in this test method and containing natural gasoline or other products of high
vapor pressure is not placed in the 100C (212F) bath. Samples having vapor
pressures in excess of 124 kPa (18 psi) may develop sufficient pressures at 100C to
rupture the pressure vessel. For any sample having a vapor pressure above 124 kPa (18
psi), use Test Method D1838.)
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in
parentheses are for information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
requirements prior to use. For specific warning statements, see 1.1, 7.1, and Annex A2.

ASTM Standards
D396 Specification for Fuel Oils
D975 Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils
D1655 Specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels
D1838 Test Method for Copper Strip Corrosion by Liquefied Petroleum (LP) Gases
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D6300 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias Data for Use in Test Methods for
Petroleum Products and Lubricants
E1 Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers