ASTM_D_4404_-_10.pdf

Designation:D440410Standard Test Method forDetermination of Pore Volume and Pore Volume Distributionof Soil and Rock by Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4404;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 porevolume and the pore volume distributions of soil and rock bythe mercury intrusion porosimetry method.The range ofapparent diameters of pores for which this test method isapplicable is fixed by the operating pressure range of thetesting instrument.This range is typically between apparentpore entrance diameters of about 100 m and 2.5 nm(0.0025m).Larger pores must be measured by another method.1.2 Mercury intrusion porosimetry is useful only for mea-suring pores open to the outside of a soil or rock fragment;mercury intrusion porosimetry will not give the volume of anypores completely enclosed by surrounding solids.This testmethod will give only the volume of intrudable pores that havean apparent diameter corresponding to a pressure within thepressurizing range of the testing instrument.1.3 Mercury intrusion may involve the application of highpressures to the specimen.This may result in a temporary orpermanent alteration or both in the pore geometry.Generally,soils and rocks are composed of comparatively strong solidsand are less subject to these alterations than certain othermaterials.However,the possibility remains that the use of thistest method may alter the natural pore volume distribution thatis being measured.1.4 All observed and calculated values shall conform to theguidelines for significant digits and rounding established inPractice D6026.1.5 WarningMercury has been designated by EPA andmany state agencies as a hazardous material that can causecentral nervous system,kidney and liver damage.Mercury,orits vapor,may be hazardous to health and corrosive tomaterials.Caution should be taken when handling mercury andmercury-containing products.See the applicable product Ma-terial Safety Data Sheet(MSDS)for details and EPAs website(http:/www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm)for additional informa-tion.Users should be aware that selling mercury or mercury-containing products or both into your state may be prohibitedby state law.1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.7 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 consult andestablish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.For specific precaution statements,see Section 8.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D653 Terminology Relating to Soil,Rock,and ContainedFluidsD3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for AgenciesEngaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock asUsed in Engineering Design and ConstructionD6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in GeotechnicalData3.Terminology3.1 For definitions of terms used in the test method,refer toTerminology D653.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 apparent pore diameterthe diameter of a pore that isassumed to be cylindrical and that is intruded at a pressure,P,given by the equation in 13.1.3.2.2 inter-specimen poresthose pores between particleswhen they are packed together and that are intruded during thetest.3.2.3 intra-specimen poresthose pores lying within theexterior outlines of the individual soil and rock fragments.1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil andRock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.06 on Physical-ChemicalInteractions of Soil and Rock.Current edition approved May 1,2010.Published June 2010.Originallyapproved in 1984.Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D440484(2004).DOI:10.1520/D4404-10.2For 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.*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 3.2.4 intruded pore volumethe corrected volume of mer-cury intruded during the test.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 When a liquid does not wet a porous solid,it will notenter the pores in the solid by capillary action.The non-wettingliquid(mercury in this test method)can be forced into the poresby the application of external pressure.The size of the poresthat are intruded is inversely proportional to the appliedpressure.