ASTM_D_3997_-_D_3997M_-_97_2009.pdf

Designation:D3997/D3997M97(Reapproved 2009)Standard Practice forPreparing Coke Samples for Microscopical Analysis byReflected Light1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3997/D3997M;the number immediately following the designation indicates theyear of original adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of lastreapproval.A superscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This practice covers laboratory procedures for thepreparation of granular samples of coke for examination witha reflected light microscope.The samples prepared are used foridentifying and quantifying the textural components in coke.This practice does not apply to the preparation of oriented lumpspecimens of coke for structural analysis.1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound unitsare to be regarded separately as standard.The values stated ineach system may not be exact equivalents;therefore,eachsystem shall be used independently of the other.Combiningvalues from the two systems may result in non-conformancewith the standard.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:2D121 Terminology of Coal and CokeD346 Practice for Collection and Preparation of CokeSamples for Laboratory AnalysisD5061 Test Method for Microscopical Determination of theTextural Components of Metallurgical CokeE11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and TestSieves3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 For additional definitions of terms used in thispractice,refer to Terminology D121.3.1.2 briquette,na cylindrical block composed of granu-lated coal or coke particles compressed and embedded with anepoxy binder.4.Summary of Practice4.1 Arepresentative sample is crushed to a specified particlesize,oven-dried,mixed with a binder,and formed into a blockspecimen referred to as a briquette.The briquette is thenpolished to a flat,scratch-free surface for microscopical ex-amination under reflected light.5.Significance and Use5.1 Briquettes of granular coke prepared in accordance withthe laboratory procedures of this practice will have flat,scratch-free surfaces suitable for examination with a micro-scope using reflected light illumination.The polished surfaceof briquettes prepared using this practice will contain particlesrepresentative of the original gross sample.5.2 Samples prepared by this practice are used for micro-scopical determination of the textural components in coke(seeTest Method D5061).6.Apparatus6.1 Grinder,Pulverizer,Mill,or Jaw Crusher,or othersuitable equipment for final crushing of the sample to pass a2.36-mm(No.8)sieve.6.2 Coarse Riffle Sampler,with at least twelve divisions ofnot less than 12.7 mm 12in.and not greater than 19.1 mm 34in.6.3 Medium Riffle Sampler,with at least twelve divisions ofnot less than 6.4 mm 14in.and not greater than 12.7 mm 12in.6.4 SievesA 6.4-mm 14-in.and 2.36-mm(No.8)U.S.A.Standard Sieve(see Specification E11).6.5 MoldsContainers to hold the coke/binder mixturewhile the binder hardens.Generally,steel cylindrical molds areused(see Fig.1).However,it is acceptable to use other moldmaterials that successfully yield the same type of briquette.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D05 on Coal andCoke and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D05.28 on PetrographicAnalysis of Coal and Coke.Current edition approved Sept.1,2009.Published March 2010.Originallyapproved in 1992.Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D3997 97(2004).DOI:10.1520/D3997_D3997M-97R09.2For 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 6.5.1 The mold shall be made of separable parts or someother design so that the briquette can be ejected after thebriquette has hardened.6.5.2 The mold shall be large enough to provide a plane areaof 4 cm2or more on one side of the briquette.(Designs ofsuitable 25-and 32-mm 1-and 114-in.inside-diameter moldsare shown in Fig.1).6.6 Hydraulic Press,capable of producing a pressure up to28 MPa 4000 psi on the briquette with an attachment to ejectthe briquette after hardening of the binder.6.7 Grinding and Polishing Equipment,having one orseveral laps on which the coke briquette can be ground andpolished to a flat,scratch-free surface.Laps may be made ofiron,brass,or bronze.NOTE1Equipment that has 203-or 305-mm 8-or 12-in.diameterdisk laps,gear-driven at 160 to 170 r/min,and has an automatic sampleholder attac