ASTM_D_586_-_97_2002.pdf

Designation:D 586 97(Reapproved 2002)An American National StandardStandard Test Method forAsh in Pulp,Paper,and Paper Products1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 586;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(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method describes the determination of the ashcontent of pulp,paper,and paper products by ignition at twodifferent temperatures:1.1.1 Method AAsh content upon ignition at 525C.1.1.2 Method BAsh content upon ignition at 900C.1.2 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:D 585 Practice of Sampling and Accepting a Single Lot ofPaper,Paperboard,Fiberboard,or Related Product2D 644 Test Method for Moisture Content of Paper andPaperboard by Oven Drying2D 686 Test Methods of Qualitative Examination of MineralFiller and Mineral Coating of Paper2D 1968 Terminology Relating to Paper and Paper Products23.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 Definitions shall be in accordance with Terminology D1968 and the Dictionary of Paper.33.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 ash at 525Cthe ash content of the sample when theignition temperature is 525C.3.2.2 ash at 900Cthe ash content of the sample when theignition temperature is 900C.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 A test specimen of paper or paperboard is ignited in amuffle furnace at 525 or 900C.A separate test specimen isanalyzed for the percent moisture.The resulting weight of ashand moisture level in the sample are used to calculate thepercent ash present at either of the specified temperatures on amoisture-free sample basis.5.Significance and Use5.1 The ash content of the sample may consist of variousresidues from chemicals used in its manufacture;metallicmatter from piping and machinery;mineral matter in the pulpfrom which the paper was made;and filling,coating,pigment-ing or other added materials.The amount and composition ofthe ash is a function of the presence or absence of any of thesematerials or others singly or in combination.No specificqualitative meaning is attached to the term“ash”as used in thistest method.Where a further qualitative examination of the ashis desired,this method may be used in combination with TestMethods D 686,and major components of the ash identified.5.2 Volatile decomposition products form from cellulosethat is exposed to air at about 300C.For papers or pulpcontaining no added fillers or coatings,ignition at either 525 or900C will yield essentially identical results of a few tenthspercent ash or less.Examples of such papers include“ashless”filter papers manufactured for chemical analysis,or dissolvinggrade pulps.5.3 Residue from cellulose products that contain oxides ofsilicon or titanium in fillers,coatings,or pigments may undergonegligible changes in weight when ignited at either 525 or900C.Where other fillers,pigments or coatings are known tobe absent and where only silicon or titanium oxides are present,ignition at either temperature may be taken as a semi-quantitative measure of the percent of such material present inthe sample.5.4 In most cases,the ash content of paper and paperboardwill contain inorganic residues from the pulp,inorganic resi-dues from papermaking chemicals,and loading or fillingmaterials deliberately added.In such cases,the significance of1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D06 on Paperand Paper Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D06.92 on TestMethods.Current edition approved Dec.10,1997.Published November 1998.Originallyapproved in 1940.Last previous edition approved in 1996 as D 586 96.2Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 15.09.3Available from the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry,P.O.Box 105113,Atlanta,GA 30348.1Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.the ash level determined will vary,depending upon whichashing temperature is used and the identity of the materialsadded.5.5 For papers containing only cellulose and calcium car-bonate,ignition at 525C will remove cellulose and moisture,but will leave as ash the calcium carbonate essentially intact.Ignition at 900C will convert the calcium carbonate tocalcium oxide.In such cases,these methods may be used inconjunction to provide a good estimate of added calciumcarbonate levels.5.6 For papers containing cellulose and clays,or materialshaving variable chemical composition,variable thermal de-composition behavior,or both,ash level may require signifi-cant confirmation