Cone Penetration of Petrolatum: Standard Test Method For

An American National Standard
Designation: D 937 – 07 British Standard 4698
Designation: 179/79(95)
Standard Test Method for

Cone Penetration of Petrolatum1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 937; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 3.1.2 penetrometer, n—an instrument that measures the

1.1 This test method covers measuring with a penetrometer consistency or hardness of semiliquid to semisolid materials by
the penetration of petrolatum as an empirical measure of measuring the depth to which a specified cone or needle under
consistency. a given force falls into the material.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 3.1.2.1 Discussion—In this test method, a standard pen-
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information etrometer cone (see Test Methods D 217) is used to determine
only. the consistency of petrolatum. The penetration force is deter-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the mined by the total mass of the cone and shaft.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4. Summary of Test Method
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 4.1 The sample is completely melted by heating to a
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. minimum temperature of 82°C (180°F), and then cooled under
controlled conditions to 25°C (77°F). The penetration is
2. Referenced Documents measured with the cone and the sample at this temperature
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 using a penetrometer by means of which a standard cone is
D 217 Test Methods for Cone Penetration of Lubricating applied to the sample for 5 s under a load of 150 g.
Grease
5. Significance and Use
3. Terminology 5.1 Petrolatum is a purified mixture of semi-solid hydrocar-
3.1 Definitions: bons obtained from petroleum and is often described as an
3.1.1 penetration of petrolatum—the depth, in tenths of a unctuous mass. Cone penetration is a means of measuring the
millimetre, that a standard cone will penetrate the sample under firmness or consistency of petrolatum. Such measurements are
fixed conditions of mass, time, and temperature. useful for selecting or specifying, or both, a petrolatum of a
particular consistency or firmness. Cone penetration values
may or may not correlate with end-use functional properties.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 6. Apparatus
D02.10.0A on Physical/Chemical Properties.
In the IP, this test method is under the jurisdiction of the Standardization
6.1 Penetrometer and Cone, as specified in Test Methods
Committee. This test method was adopted as a joint ASTM-IP Standard in 1965. D 217.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2007. Published December 2007. Originally 6.2 Oven, capable of maintaining a minimum temperature
approved in 1947. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D 937–04. of 82 6 2°C (180 6 5°F) such that it is sufficient for melting
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM the petrolatum samples. The oven shall be capable of control-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on ling the selected temperature to within 62°C (65°F).
the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
D 937 – 07
6.3 Water Bath, constant-temperature, regulated to 25 6 Observe that the cone is in its “zero” position and adjust either
0.5°C (77 6 1°F). the indicator assembly or the table, dependent on the type of
6.4 Sample Containers, cylindrical, having a flat bottom 100 instrument, until the tip of the cone just touches the surface of
6 6 mm (4 6 1⁄4 in.) in diameter and 65 mm (21⁄2 in.) or more the sample. Watching the shadow of the tip is an aid to accurate
in depth, constructed of at least 1.6-mm (16-gage) metal and setting. Finally, quickly release the plunger and hold for 5 6
provided with a well fitting watertight cover. 0.1 s. Read the total penetration from the scale. Make at least
three determinations.
NOTE 1—Containers of the “ointment box” type having somewhat
flexible sides should not be used, for these permit slight working of the 8.3 With samples having penetrations less than 200, three
petrolatum, due to flexing of the sides in handling. tests (and sometimes more) may be made in one container by
proper spacing. To prevent one test from being affected by the
7. Preparation of Sample disturbed area of a previous test the tip of the cone must not be
7.1 Test all samples of petrolatum for original consistency placed nearer the edge of a previous test than the penetration
after melting and cooling to the temperature of the test as distance of the sample. Some harder petrolatums tend to form
described in 7.3. a marked depression in the center on solidifying; such samples
7.2 If the penetration of the sample is over 200, three should not be tested in this depression, as the results obtained
separate test samples are required. may be different from those obtained in off-center positions on
7.3 Melt the sample in an oven maintained at a minimum the level surface.
temperature of 82 6 2°C (180 6 5°F) or at a higher 8.4 With samples having penetrations over 200, make only
temperature if needed to completely melt the petrolatum (see one test in a container and place the cone tip as exactly as
Note 2). Place the required number of sample containers in the possible at the center of the container.
oven along with the sample to bring them up to the same
temperature. When the sample has melted and comes to the 9. Report
selected temperature, remove the sample and the heated 9.1 Report the average of all results to the nearest 0.1 mm as
containers and fill the required number of containers to within the penetration, ASTM Test Method D 937.
6 mm (1⁄4 in.) of their rims. Allow the filled containers to cool
10. Precision and Bias
in a location free from drafts and at a temperature controlled to
25 6 2°C (77 6 5°F) for 16 to 18 h. Then cover and place the 10.1 Precision—The precision of the test method as deter-
samples in the water bath for 2 h to bring the temperature to 25 mined by statistical examination of interlaboratory results is as
6 0.5°C (77 6 1°F) before testing. follows:
10.1.1 Repeatability—The difference between two test re-
NOTE 2—Some petrolatums containing higher melting point waxes may sults, obtained by the same operator with the same apparatus
require higher melting and pouring temperatures. If no estimate of the
melting point is available, ensure that the sample is completely molten
under constant operating conditions on identical test material,
(appears visually clear) before proceeding. A hot plate may be used would in the long run, in the normal and correct operation of
instead of an oven, provided that the sample temperature is carefully the test method, exceed the following values only in one case
monitored. in twenty:
2 + 5 % penetration value
8. Procedure 10.1.2 Reproducibility—The difference between two single
8.1 The surface of the sample must not be cut level nor and independent results obtained by different operators work-
worked in any other way, as this may affect the result. If the ing in different laboratories on identical test material would, in
temperature of the penetrometer cone (that is, the room the long run, in the normal and correct operation of the test
temperature) varies from 25 by 2°C (77 by 3°F) or more, adjust method, exceed the following values only in one case in
the cone temperature to 25 6 0.5°C (77 6 1°F) immediately twenty:
before testing the sample. Frequent adjustment of the cone 9 + 12 % penetration value
temperature may be necessary if the room temperature varies 10.2 Bias—The procedure in this test method has no bias
appreciably from 25°C (77°F). because the value of cone penetration can be defined only in
8.2 Place the can of petrolatum on the penetrometer table, so terms of a test method.
located that the tip of the penetrometer cone is 25 to 40 mm (1
to 11⁄2 in.) in from the rim of the container (except for 11. Keywords
petrolatums having a penetration greater than 200 (see 8.4). 11.1 core penetration; penetrometer; petrolatum
2
D 937 – 07
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Subcommittee D02.10 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(D 937–04) that may impact the use of this standard.
(1) Revised 4.1. (3) Revised 7.3.

(2) Revised 6.2. (4) Revised Note 2.
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An American National Standard

Designation: D 937 – 07 British Standard 4698

Standard Test Method for

1. Scope* 3.1.2 penetrometer, n—an instrument that measures the

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

(1) Revised 4.1. (3) Revised 7.3.

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