ASTM D4218-15

Standard Test Method for Determination of Carbon Black Content in Polyethylene Compounds By the Muffle-Furnace Technique

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is capable of yielding duplicate test data, in 20 min or less, for a simple carbon black content determination.  
5.2 This test method is suitable for manufacturing quality control, technical service, and research work.  
5.3 For referee requirements, the number of replicate measurements is increased. Alternatively, a control sample of known carbon black content is tested with the unknown sample.  
5.4 Test Method D1603 is available for referee testing.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of black polyethylene compounds containing channel or furnace black. It is not applicable to thermal black.  
1.2 This test method is not suitable for plastics that char on pyrolysis.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard statements are given in Section 7.  
Note 1: There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2015
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.70 - Analytical Methods

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4218-96(2008) - Standard Test Method for Determination of Carbon Black Content in Polyethylene Compounds By the Muffle-Furnace Technique
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Replaced By: ASTM D4218-20 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Carbon Black Content in Polyethylene Compounds by the Muffle-Furnace Technique
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2020
• Referred By: ASTM D3350-21 - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and Fittings Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2764/F2764M-23 - Standard Specification for 6 in. to 60 in. [150 mm to 1500 mm] Polypropylene (PP) Corrugated Double and Triple Wall Pipe and Fittings for Non-Pressure Sanitary Sewer Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F3288/F3288M-20 - Standard Specification for MRS-Rated Metric- and Inch-sized Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Pressure Pipe
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F3123-22 - Standard Specification for Metric Outside Diameter Polyethylene (PE) Plastic Pipe (DR-PN)
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F3597-23 - Standard Specification for MRS-Rated Metric- and Inch-sized Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Pressure Pipe for Oil and Gas Producing Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2648/F2648M-23 - Standard Specification for 50 mm to 1500 mm [2 in. to 60 in.] Annular Corrugated Profile Wall Polyethylene (PE) Pipe and Fittings for Land Drainage Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F3534/F3534M-22 - Standard Specification for MRS-Rated Metric- and Inch-Sized Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Pressure Pipe for Gas Distribution Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2763/F2763M-16(2021)e1 - Standard Specification for 12 to 60 in. [300 to 1500 mm] Dual and Triple Profile-Wall Polyethylene (PE) Pipe and Fittings for Sanitary Sewer Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2905/F2905M-22 - Standard Specification for Crosslinked Polyethylene (PEX) Line Pipe For Oil and Gas Producing Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2619/F2619M-20 - Standard Specification for High-Density Polyethylene (PE) Line Pipe
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F2807-13(2018) - Standard Specification for Multilayer Polyethylene-Polyamide (PE-PA) Pipe for Pressure Piping Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F3390-20 - Standard Specification for 3 through 24 in. Lined Flexible Corrugated Polyethylene Pipe for Land Drainage Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015
• Referred By: ASTM F3524/F3524M-23 - Standard Specification for Polyamide-12 (PA12) Line Pipe
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2015

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D4218 − 15
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Carbon Black Content in Polyethylene
1
Compounds By the Muffle-Furnace Technique
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4218; 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.
1. Scope 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 channel black—those carbon blacks produced by a
1.1 This test method covers the determination of black
processthatoperatesinanopensysteminwhichamultitudeof
polyethylene compounds containing channel or furnace black.
small diffusion flames burn in air and carbon is deposited on
It is not applicable to thermal black.
cooled surfaces.
1.2 This test method is not suitable for plastics that char on
3.2.2 furnace black—those carbon blacks produced using
pyrolysis.
the principle of continuous oxidative combustion in closed
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
systems.
standard.
3.2.3 thermal black—those carbon blacks based on a pro-
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the cess that uses thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen
andoperatesinaclosedsystem.Particlesgrowveryslowlyand
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- can become very large and filamentous structures.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 3.3 Symbols—Units and symbols used in this test method
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard
are those recommended in Practice IEEE/ASTM SI-10.
statements are given in Section 7.
4. Summary of Test Method
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
4.1 Black polyethylene compound contained in a disposable
2. Referenced Documents
aluminum weighing dish is pyrolyzed in a muffle furnace for a
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
short period. During the pyrolysis of the polymer, the air in the
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
muffle furnace becomes oxygen-deficient to prevent the com-
D1603 Test Method for Carbon Black Content in Olefin
bustion of the residual carbon black. Any soot, as defined in
Plastics
Test Method D2741, produced by the initial combustion of the
D2741 Test Method for Susceptibility of Polyethylene
gases is consumed before the carbon black itself.
3
Bottles to Soot Accumulation (Withdrawn 2011)
4.2 After cooling and weighing for residual carbon black,
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
the dish and contents are reinserted into the muffle furnace to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
determine ash content and the results used to determine true
IEEE/ASTM SI-10 Standard for Use of the International
carbon black content. This is done only if the compound is
System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
suspected of containing mineral fillers as well as carbon black.
3. Terminology
5. Significance and Use
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of plastics terms used in
this test method, see Terminology D883.
5.1 This test method is capable of yielding duplicate test
data, in 20 min or less, for a simple carbon black content
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
determination.
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.70 on Analytical Methods
(Section D20.70.01).
5.2 This test method is suitable for manufacturing quality
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2015. Published December 2015. Originally
control, technical service, and research work.
approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D4218 – 96(2008).
DOI: 10.1520/D4218-15.
5.3 For referee requirements, the number of replicate mea-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
surements is increased. Alternatively, a control sample of
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
known carbon black content is tested with the unknown
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
sample.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. 5.4 Test Method D1603 is available for referee testing.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4218 − 15
6. Apparatus 10.3 Mark an aluminum weighing dish with an identifying
impression on the tab.
6.1 Fume Hood or Vent Hood.
10.4 Place the dish on the screen in the muffle furnace and
6.2 Muffle Furnace, approximately 100 mm in the three
burn off the surface oil for
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4218 − 96 (Reapproved 2008) D4218 − 15
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Carbon Black Content in Polyethylene
1
Compounds By the Muffle-Furnace Technique
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4218; 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.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of black polyethylene compounds containing channel or furnace black. It is not
applicable to thermal black.
1.2 This test method is not suitable for plastics that char on pyrolysis and should not be attempted for plastics that generate
corrosive fumes on pyrolysis.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. Specific hazard statements are given in Section 7.
NOTE 1—There is no similar or equivalent ISO known ISO equivalent to this standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D1603 Test Method for Carbon Black Content in Olefin Plastics
3
D2741 Test Method for Susceptibility of Polyethylene Bottles to Soot Accumulation (Withdrawn 2011)
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
IEEE/ASTM SI-10 Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of plastics terms used in this test method, see Terminology D883.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 channel black—those carbon blacks produced by a process that operates in an open system in which a multitude of small
diffusion flames burn in air and carbon is deposited on cooled surfaces.
3.2.2 furnace black—those carbon blacks produced using the principle of continuous oxidative combustion in closed systems.
3.2.3 thermal black—those carbon blacks based on a process that uses thermal decomposition in the absence of oxygen and
operates in a closed system. Particles grow very slowly and can become very large and filamentous structures.
3.3 Symbols—Units and symbols used in this test method are those recommended in Practice IEEE/ASTM SI-10.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 Black polyethylene compound contained in a disposable aluminum weighing dish is pyrolyzed in a muffle furnace for a short
period. During the pyrolysis of the polymer, the air in the muffle furnace becomes oxygen-deficient to prevent the combustion of
the residual carbon black. Any soot, as defined in Test Method D2741, produced by the initial combustion of the gases is consumed
before the carbon black itself.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.70 on Analytical Methods (Section
D20.70.01).
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2008Dec. 1, 2015. Published December 2008December 2015. Originally approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 20012008
as D4218 – 96(2001).(2008). DOI: 10.1520/D4218-96R08. 10.1520/D4218-15.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4218 − 15
4.2 After cooling and weighing for residual carbon black, the dish and contents may be are reinserted into the muffle furnace
to determine ash content and the results used to determine true carbon black content. This should be is done only if the compound
is suspected of containing mineral fillers as well as carbon black.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method is capable of yielding duplicate test data, in 20 min or less, for a simple carbon black content determination.
5.2 This test method is suitable for manufacturing quality control, technical service, and research
...