ASTM_D_3104_-_14a.pdf

Designation:D310414aStandard Test Method forSoftening Point of Pitches(Mettler Softening Point Method)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3104;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 the determination of the soft-ening point of pitches having softening points in the range from50 C to 180 C by this test method,and gives resultscomparable to those obtained by Test Method D2319 above80 C(176 F).1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.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.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2A314 Specification for Stainless Steel Billets and Bars forForgingD2319 Test Method for Softening Point of Pitch(Cube-in-Air Method)D4296 Practice for Sampling Pitch3.Summary of Test Method3.1 In this test method,the softening point is defined as thetemperature at which pitch,suspended in a cylindrical cup witha 6.35 mm hole in the bottom,flows downward a distance of19 mm to interrupt a light beam,as the sample is heated at alinear rate in air.4.Significance and Use4.1 Pitch does not go through a solid-liquid phase changewhen heated,and therefore does not have a true melting point.As the temperature is raised pitch gradually softens or becomesless viscous.For this reason,the determination of the softeningpoint must be made by an arbitrary,but closely defined,methodif the test values are to be reproducible.4.2 This test method is useful in determining the consis-tency of pitches as one element in establishing the uniformityof shipments or sources of supply.5.Apparatus5.1 A METTLER TOLEDO dropping point cell3shall beused to determine pitch softening points by this test method.These commercially available instruments consist of a controlunit with a digital temperature indicator,with furnace built inor attached,sample cartridges,and accessories.The controlunit automatically regulates the heating rate of the furnace.Thesoftening point is indicated on the readout,and the heatingprogram stopped,when the sample flow triggers the softeningpoint detection.Ageneral view of the contents of a METTLERTOLEDO dropping point instrument is shown in Fig.1(oldinstrument)and Fig.2(new instrument).5.1.1 Integrated or Separate Control UnitThe control unitshall provide a continuous,linear temperature increase from 25C to 250 C at a rate of 2 C/min.A digital readout shallindicate the temperature to 0.1 C throughout.5.1.2 Integrated or Separate Furnace UnitThe furnaceunit shall be capable of heating one or two sample cupassemblies,as described in 5.1.3,at a linear rate of 2 C 60.3 C min.It shall include a sensing system capable ofdetecting the softening point with a precision of 0.1 C.5.1.3 Sample Cup AssemblyA cup of chromium-platedbrass,or of aluminum,or of stainless steel conforming to therequirements for Type 303(UNS S30300)stainless steel asprescribed in Specification A314,with the dimensions shownin Fig.3.It shall be placed in the assembly so that the pitchsample softening point will be detected when it has floweddown a distance of 19 mm.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 onPetroleum Products,Liquid Fuels,and Lubricantsand is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee D02.05 on Properties of Fuels,Petroleum Coke and Carbon Material.Current edition approved Oct.1,2014.Published November 2014.Originallyapproved in 1972.Last previous edition approved in 2014 as D3104 14.DOI:10.1520/D3104-14A.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 sole source of supply of the apparatus known to the committee at this timeis available from Mettler-Toledo,LLC.,1900 Polaris Pkwy,Columbus,OH 43240,.If you are aware of alternative suppliers,please provide thisinformation to ASTM International Headquarters.Your comments will receivecareful consideration at a meeting of the responsible technical committee,1whichyou may attend.*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 6.Reagents6.1 Xylene,industrial grade.6.2 Benzoic Acid.7.Calibration of the METTLER TOLEDO Apparatus7.1 This step,required only occasionally,is designed toestablish that the temperature indicated by the instrument is inagreement with a known standard.A special cup