ASTM_E_1520_-_99_2015.pdf

Designation:E152099(Reapproved 2015)Standard Test Method forParticle Counts Per Pound of Granular Carriers and Dry-Applied Granular Formulations1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1520;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method is used to determine the number ofparticles per pound of granular carriers and granular pesticideformulations.1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.For specificprecautionary statements,see Section 6.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and TestSievesE725 Test Method for Sampling Granular Carriers andGranular PesticidesE726 Test Method for Particle Size Distribution of GranularCarriers and Granular PesticidesE727/E727M Test Methods for Determining Bulk Density ofGranular Carriers and Granular Pesticides3.Summary of Test Method3.1 A known weight of the granular carrier or granularpesticide formulation is placed on the top sieve of a stacked setof U.S.standard stainless steel screens.The sieves are shakenfor a specified period of time.The weight percent of thegranules retained on each sieve is determined.The number ofparticles per pound of granular material is then calculated.4.Significance and Use4.1 This test method was designed principally for claygranular carriers and clay-based granular formulations,butneed not be limited to these materials.4.2 This procedure is applicable to granules in the rangefrom 8 to 60 mesh(2.36 to 0.25 mm).4.3 The sieve sizes used to calculate total particle count willbe called the desired range and should be specified as part ofthe test results.5.Apparatus5.1 Mechanical Sieve Shaker,a Tyler RoTap sieve shaker orequivalent.5.2 Sieves,U.S.standard stainless steel 8-in.diameter sievesconforming to Specification E11.5.3 Bottom Receiver Pan and Top Sieve Cover.5.4 Interval Timer,adjustable,with an accuracy of+10 s.5.5 Balance,sensitivity of 0.01 g.6.Safety Precautions6.1 Before testing read the precautionary statements on theproduct label or the Material Safety Data Sheet(MSDS),orboth.Take proper precautions to prevent skin contact andinhalation of the fines or vapors,or both.Take care to preventcontamination of the surrounding area.Always wear theappropriate safety equipment and,where indicated,wear respi-ratory devices approved by(NIOSH)for the product beingtested.7.Procedure7.1 Record tare weights of each sieve and bottom pan to60.01 g.7.2 Order stack of screens by size with the finest sieve nextto the pan.7.3 Use a representative sample of 100 6 5 g obtained inaccordance with Test Method E725.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E35 onPesticides,Antimicrobials,and Alternative Control Agents and is the directresponsibility of Subcommittee E35.22 on Pesticide Formulations and DeliverySystems.Current edition approved Oct.1,2015.Published November 2015.Originallyapproved in 1993.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as E1520-99(2009).DOI:10.1520/E1520-99R15.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 7.4 Weigh the sample to 60.01 g.7.5 Transfer the whole weighed sample onto the top sieve,cover,and shake for 10 min 6 10 s using the mechanical sieveshaker in accordance with Test Method E726 with the hammerdown.7.6 Remove the sieve assembly from the sieve shaker.Weigh each sieve and bottom pan separately.Calculate andrecord the weight of the retained material to the nearest 0.01 gby subtracting the tare weight from the measured sieve weightfor each sieve and bottom pan.8.Calculation8.1 Calculate the percentage distributions in all sieve frac-tions including the bottom pan to give 100%.R 5F/S!3100(1)where:F=weight retained on sieve or pan,S=sum of retained weights,andR=percent retained on sieve or pan.8.2 Multiply the percentage of granules retained on eachsieve by the numbers specified in Table 1.Sum these products(P)for the particle count in the desired size range.8.3 Calculate the total particles per pound(kilogram)in thedesired range as follows(see Note 1):T 531.53PD(2)ST 531.53PD32.2046D(3)where:T=total particles per pound in the desire