ASTM_E_1617_-_09_2014e1.pdf

Designation:E161709(Reapproved 2014)1Standard Practice forReporting Particle Size Characterization Data1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1617;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.1NOTEEditorial corrections were made throughout in April 2014.INTRODUCTIONCorrelation and comparison of particle size measurement data are of general importance toresearchers,processors,suppliers,vendors,and users of particulate materials.Since there arenumerous methods and devices in use,comparisons of size measurement data are subject to perceivedinconsistencies that may be much reduced by the use of standardized reporting.Data generated by any one size measurement method may be consistent in many respects,yet betroublesome to correlate due to variances in data processing and reporting formats among equipmentmanufacturers.Data generated from methods employing different physical principles present seriouscorrelation problems due to their sensing of different parameters related to particle size and someunrelated,such as density,shape and optical properties.Standardized reporting may reduce confusionresulting from different particle size measurement practices.1.Scope1.1 This practice covers reporting particle size measurementdata.1.2 This practice applies to particle size measurementmethods,devices,detail levels,and data formats for drypowders,and wet suspensions of solids,gels,or emulsiondroplets.This practice does not pertain to liquid particles.NOTE1For information on reporting liquid particle measurementdata,refer to Practice E799.1.3 This practice does not concern particle concentrationinformation.1.4 This practice uses SI(Systme International)units asstandard.State all numerical values in terms of SI units unlessspecific instrumentation software reports particle sizeinformation,including percentiles,indices,and distributions astabulations and graphs using alternate units.In this case,present both reported and equivalent SI units in the finalwritten report.Refer to Practice E380 for proper usage of SIunits.1.5 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.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias inASTM Test MethodsE380 Practice for Use of the International System of Units(SI)(the Modernized Metric System)(Withdrawn 1997)3E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and StatisticsE691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test MethodE799 Practice for Determining Data Criteria and Processingfor Liquid Drop Size Analysis3.Significance and Use3.1 When evaluating the particle size information,if theprocedures of the data processing are not available,the user ofthe data must make assumptions concerning the reported datain the event of analytical inconsistencies.In order for differentdata sets to be compared it is crucial that the parties report the1This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E29 on Particle andSpray Characterization and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E29.02 onNon-Sieving Methods.Current edition approved April 1,2014.Published April 2014.Originallyapproved in 1994.Last previous edition approved in 2009 as E1617 09.DOI:10.1520/E1617-09R14E01.2For 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.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 analytical techniques and methods or procedures forevaluating,calculating,compiling or otherwise processing thedata to be reported.3.2 Particle size characterization information can be re-ported in three levels of detail in order to satisfy users needs.3.2.1 Level 1 applies when only basic information about thematerial is required,and shall be provided with each shipment.This level represents the minimum information that shall bereported.Level 1 information may be sufficient in such cases asidentifying a certain grade of a material or when detailedknowledge of analytical methodology is not needed.3.2.2 Level 2 presumes the need for knowledge of method-ology on the users part and allows the user to make a moreinformed judgment about the information provided in Level 1.3.2.3 Level 3 provides detailed written procedures to allowduplication of the measur