ASTM_D_3175_-_11.pdf

Designation:D317511Standard Test Method forVolatile Matter in the Analysis Sample of Coal and Coke1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3175;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.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S.Department of Defense.1.Scope1.1 This test method determines the percentage of gaseousproducts,exclusive of moisture vapor,in the analysis samplewhich are released under the specific conditions of the test.1.2 This test method for determination of volatile matter isempirical;because of its empirical nature,strict adherence tobasic principals and permissible procedures is required toobtain valid results.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.1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D346 Practice for Collection and Preparation of CokeSamples for Laboratory AnalysisD2013 Practice for Preparing Coal Samples for AnalysisD3173 Test Method for Moisture in the Analysis Sample ofCoal and Coke3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 sparking fuelswithin the context of this test method,fuels that do not yield a coherent cake as residue in the volatilematter determination but do evolve gaseous products at a ratesufficient to mechanically carry solid particles out of thecrucible when heated at the standard rate.Such coals normallyinclude all low-rank noncaking coals and lignites but can alsoinclude those anthracites,semianthracites,bituminous,andcokes that lose solid particles as described above.These aredefined as sparking fuels because particles escaping at thehigher temperatures can become incandescent and spark asthey are emitted.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 Volatile matter is determined by establishing the loss inweight resulting from heating a coal or coke under rigidlycontrolled conditions.The measured weight loss,corrected formoisture as determined in Test Method D3173 establishes thevolatile matter content.Two procedures are described to permitconformity with differences in sample behavior.4.2 In this empirical test method,the use of platinumcrucibles shall be considered the standard reference method forvolatile matter.Platinum crucibles shall be used in determiningthe volatile matter of coke and volatile matter determined forclassification of coals by rank.Volatile matter determinationsby some laboratories using alternate nickel-chromium alloycrucibles having the physical dimensions specified in 6.1 havebeen shown to differ from those obtained using platinumcrucibles.A laboratory utilizing nickel-chromium cruciblesshall first determine if a relative bias exists between the use ofnickel-chromium and platinum crucibles on the coals beingtested using the test method set forth in Annex A.Where arelative bias is shown to exist,the volatile matter determinedusing nickel-chromium crucibles shall be corrected by a factordetermined through comparison of volatile matter results fromboth crucible types on coals being tested or analysis of samplesof known proximate analysis.5.Significance and Use5.1 Volatile matter,when determined as herein described,can be used to establish the rank of coals,to indicate coke yieldon carbonization process,to provide the basis for purchasingand selling,or to establish burning characteristics.6.Apparatus6.1 Platinum Crucible,with closely fitting cover,for coal.The crucible shall be of not less than 10 or more than 20-mLcapacity,not less than 25 or more than 35 mm in diameter,andnot less than 30 or more than 35 mm in height.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coaland Coke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.21 on Methods ofAnalysis.Current edition approved April 1,2011.Published April 2011.Originallyapproved in 1973.Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D3175 07.DOI:10.1520/D3175-11.2For 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 6.2 Platinum Crucible,with closely fitting cover,for coke.The crucible shall be of 10-mL capacity,with capsule coverhaving thin flexible sides fitting down into crucible.Or thedouble-crucible method can be used,in which the sample isplaced in 10-mL platinum crucible,which is then covered withanother crucible of such a si