ASTM_D_4860_-_14.pdf

Designation:D486014Standard Test Method forFree Water and Particulate Contamination in MiddleDistillate Fuels(Clear and Bright Numerical Rating)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4860;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.Scope*1.1 This test method covers a rapid,portable means for fieldand laboratory use to inspect visually for particulate matter andnumerically rate free water in aviation turbine and distillatefuels.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 specificwarning statements,see 11.2.3 and Annex A1.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D1500 Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products(ASTM Color Scale)D1744 Test Method for Determination of Water in LiquidPetroleum Products by Karl Fischer ReagentD2276 Test Method for Particulate Contaminant in AviationFuel by Line SamplingD2709 Test Method for Water and Sediment in MiddleDistillate Fuels by CentrifugeD4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum andPetroleum ProductsD4176 Test Method for Free Water and Particulate Contami-nation in Distillate Fuels(Visual Inspection Procedures)3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 clear-and-bright(also termed clean-and-bright),nacondition in which the fuel contains no visible water drops orparticulates and is free of haze or cloudiness.3.1.2 free water,nwater in excess of that soluble in thefuel at the temperature of the test and appearing in the fuel asa haze,cloudiness,droplets,or water layer.3.1.3 solid particulate,nin liquid fuels,small solid orsemi-solid particles,sometimes referred to as silt or sediment,present in fuel.3.1.3.1 DiscussionSome examples of solid particulatesare air-blown dust,corrosion by-products,internal protective-coating deterioration,and products of fuel degradation andmicrobial growth.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 Micro-Separometer3clear-and-bright(MSEPC&B3),n a numerical rating indicating the presence and ease ofremoval of free water and particulate contamination by filtra-tion.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 Visual inspection of the fuel sample for free water andparticulate matter is performed immediately when the sampleis taken.A glass container is used to view for water haze,andthe fuel sample is swirled to create a vortex to detect thepresence of particulate matter.4.2 Anumerical rating for free water is obtained by filteringa portion of the fuel sample at a programmed rate(50 mL 45 s)through a standard fiberglass coalescer/filter.A portion of theeffluent is used to establish a reference(100)level by a lighttransmittance measurement.Another portion of the unpro-cessed(unfiltered)fuel sample is then compared to the 100reference level.The results are reported on a 50 to 100 scale tothe nearest whole number.A test can be performed in 5 min to10 min.NOTE1The standard fiberglass coalescer/filter consists of a precision-machined aluminum housing containing fiber-glass material that has beenselected to specific air flow characteristics.These criteria have a directbearing on the test results.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 onPetroleum Products,Liquid Fuels,and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee D02.14 on Stability and Cleanliness of Liquid FuelsStability andCleanliness of Liquid Fuels.Current edition approved Dec.1,2014.Published January 2015.Originallyapproved in 1988.Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D4860 13.DOI:10.1520/D4860-14.2For 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.3MSEP and Micro-Separometer are trademarks of EMCEE Electronics,Inc.,520 Cypress Ave.,Venice,FL 34285.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 5.Significance and Use5.1 The test provides a field test to evaluate visually a fuelsample for particulate matter and free water similar to TestMethod D4176 plus a numerical rating for free water.Highnumerical ratings indicate that the fuel is relatively free of freewater.The degree of water and particulate contamination canbe measured using other methods such as Test Methods D1744,D2276,and D2709.5.2 The color of the sample does not af