Designation:D3642−13StandardTestMethodforSofteningPointofCertainAlkali-SolubleResins1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationD3642;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thistestmethodcoversthedeterminationofthesoft-eningpointofcertainalkali-solubleresinshavinguniformplasticflowcharacteristicsasthemeltingpointisapproached.1.2Theresinmanufacturershouldspecifywhetherornotthistestmethodmaybeusedforhisproduct(s).1.3Thistestmethodisnotsuitableforstyrene-maleicanhydrideresins.NOTE1—Fortestingrosinandotherresins,seeTestMethodE28.Fortestingasphalts,tars,andpitches,seeTestMethodD2398.1.4Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyconcerns,ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisstandardtoestablishappro-priatesafetyandhealthpracticesanddeterminetheapplica-bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.2.ReferencedDocuments2.1ASTMStandards:2D2398TestMethodforSofteningPointofBitumeninEthyleneGlycol(Ring-and-Ball)(Withdrawn1984)3E28TestMethodsforSofteningPointofResinsDerivedfromPineChemicalsandHydrocarbons,byRing-and-BallApparatusE2251SpecificationforLiquid-in-GlassASTMThermom-eterswithLow-HazardPrecisionLiquids3.Terminology3.1Definitions:3.1.1softeningpoint—thetemperatureatwhichadiskofthesampleheldwithinahorizontalringisforceddownwardadistanceof1in.(25.4mm)undertheweightofasteelballasthesampleisheatedataprescribedrateinaglycerinbath.4.SignificanceandUse4.1Ingeneral,withmaterialsofthistype,softeningdoesnottakeplaceatadefinitetemperature.Asthetemperaturerises,thesematerialsgraduallyandimperceptiblychangefrombrittlesolidstosoft,viscousliquids.Forthisreason,thedeterminationofthesofteningpointmustbemadebyafixed,arbitrary,andcloselydefinedmethodsiftheresultsaretobecomparable.5.Apparatus5.1Ring—Abrass-shoulderedringconformingtoth...
