ASTM D4052-15

Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Density is a fundamental physical property that can be used in conjunction with other properties to characterize both the light and heavy fractions of petroleum and petroleum products.  
5.2 Determination of the density or relative density of petroleum and its products is necessary for the conversion of measured volumes to volumes at the standard temperature of 15 °C.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the density, relative density, and API Gravity of petroleum distillates and viscous oils that can be handled in a normal fashion as liquids at the temperature of test, utilizing either manual or automated sample injection equipment. Its application is restricted to liquids with total vapor pressures (see Test Method D5191) typically below 100 kPa and viscosities (see Test Method D445 or D7042) typically below about 15 000 mm2/s at the temperature of test. The total vapor pressure limitation however can be extended to >100 kPa provided that it is first ascertained that no bubbles form in the U-shaped, oscillating tube, which can affect the density determination. Some examples of products that may be tested by this procedure include: gasoline and gasoline-oxygenate blends, diesel, jet, basestocks, waxes, and lubricating oils.  
1.1.1 Waxes and highly viscous samples were not included in the 1999 interlaboratory study (ILS) sample set that was used to determine the current precision statements of the method, since all samples evaluated at the time were analyzed at a test temperature of 15 °C. Wax and highly viscous samples require a temperature cell operated at elevated temperatures necessary to ensure a liquid test specimen is introduced for analysis. Consult instrument manufacturer instructions for appropriate guidance and precautions when attempting to analyze wax or highly viscous samples. Refer to the Precision and Bias section of the method and Note 8 for more detailed information about the 1999 ILS that was conducted.  
1.2 In cases of dispute, the referee method is the one where samples are introduced manually as in 6.3 or 6.4, as appropriate for sample type.  
1.3 This test method should not be applied to samples so dark in color that the absence of air bubbles in the sample cell cannot be established with certainty. For the determination of density in crude oil samples use Test Method D5002.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as the standard, unless stated otherwise. The accepted units of measure for density are grams per millilitre (g/mL) or kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m3).  
1.5 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. For specific warning statements, see 7.4, 7.5, and 10.3.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Dec-2015
• ICS: 17.060 - Measurement of volume, mass, density, viscosity
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.04.0D - Physical and Chemical Methods

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: D4052 − 15
Standard Test Method for
Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by
1
Digital Density Meter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4052; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber 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 U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* cannot be established with certainty. For the determination of
density in crude oil samples use Test Method D5002.
1.1 Thistestmethodcoversthedeterminationofthedensity,
1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as the
relative density, and API Gravity of petroleum distillates and
standard, unless stated otherwise. The accepted units of mea-
viscous oils that can be handled in a normal fashion as liquids
sure for density are grams per millilitre (g/mL) or kilograms
at the temperature of test, utilizing either manual or automated
3
per cubic metre (kg/m ).
sample injection equipment. Its application is restricted to
liquids with total vapor pressures (see Test Method D5191)
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
typicallybelow100kPaandviscosities(seeTestMethodD445
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2
orD7042)typicallybelowabout15000mm /satthetempera-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
tureoftest.Thetotalvaporpressurelimitationhowevercanbe
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
extended to >100kPa provided that it is first ascertained that
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
no bubbles form in the U-shaped, oscillating tube, which can
warning statements, see 7.4, 7.5, and 10.3.
affect the density determination. Some examples of products
that may be tested by this procedure include: gasoline and
2. Referenced Documents
gasoline-oxygenate blends, diesel, jet, basestocks, waxes, and
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
lubricating oils.
D287Test Method forAPI Gravity of Crude Petroleum and
1.1.1 Waxes and highly viscous samples were not included
Petroleum Products (Hydrometer Method)
in the 1999 interlaboratory study (ILS) sample set that was
D445Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent
used to determine the current precision statements of the
and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of DynamicViscos-
method, since all samples evaluated at the time were analyzed
ity)
atatesttemperatureof15°C.Waxandhighlyviscoussamples
D1193Specification for Reagent Water
require a temperature cell operated at elevated temperatures
D1250Guide for Use of the Petroleum MeasurementTables
necessary to ensure a liquid test specimen is introduced for
D1298Test Method for Density, Relative Density, or API
analysis. Consult instrument manufacturer instructions for
Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Prod-
appropriate guidance and precautions when attempting to
ucts by Hydrometer Method
analyze wax or highly viscous samples. Refer to the Precision
D4057Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
and Bias section of the method and Note 8 for more detailed
Petroleum Products
information about the 1999 ILS that was conducted.
D4177Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and
1.2 In cases of dispute, the referee method is the one where Petroleum Products
samples are introduced manually as in 6.3 or 6.4, as appropri-
D4377TestMethodforWaterinCrudeOilsbyPotentiomet-
ate for sample type. ric Karl Fischer Titration
D5002Test Method for Density and Relative Density of
1.3 This test method should not be applied to samples so
Crude Oils by Digital Density Analyzer
dark in color that the absence of air bubbles in the sample cell
D5191Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Prod-
ucts (Mini Method)
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
2
Subcommittee D02.04.0D on Physical and Chemical Methods. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2015. Published February 2016. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as D4052–11. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D4052-15. 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

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D4052 − 15
D7042Test Method for Dynami
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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: D4052 − 11 D4052 − 15
Standard Test Method for
Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by
1
Digital Density Meter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4052; 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 U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the density, relative density, and API Gravity of petroleum distillates and
viscous oils that can be handled in a normal fashion as liquids at the temperature of test, utilizing either manual or automated
sample injection equipment. Its application is restricted to liquids with total vapor pressures (see Test Method D5191) typically
2
below 100 kPa 100 kPa and viscosities (see Test Method D445 or D7042) typically below about 15 000 mm15 000 mm /s at the
temperature of test. The total vapor pressure limitation however can be extended to >100 kPa >100 kPa provided that it is first
ascertained that no bubbles form in the U-shaped, oscillating tube, which can affect the density determination. Some examples of
products that may be tested by this procedure include: gasoline and gasoline-oxygenate blends, diesel, jet, basestocks, waxes, and
lubricating oils.
1.1.1 Waxes and highly viscous samples were not included in the 1999 interlaboratory study (ILS) sample set that was used to
determine the current precision statements of the method, since all samples evaluated at the time were analyzed at a test
temperature of 15°C.15 °C. Wax and highly viscous samples require a temperature cell operated at elevated temperatures necessary
to ensure a liquid test specimen is introduced for analysis. Consult instrument manufacturer instructions for appropriate guidance
and precautions when attempting to analyze wax or highly viscous samples. Refer to the Precision and Bias section of the method
and Note 8 for more detailed information about the 1999 ILS that was conducted.
1.2 In cases of dispute, the referee method is the one where samples are introduced manually as in 6.3 or 6.4, as appropriate
for sample type.
1.3 This test method should not be applied to samples so dark in color that the absence of air bubbles in the sample cell cannot
be established with certainty. For the determination of density in crude oil samples use Test Method D5002.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as the standard, unless stated otherwise, such as the “torr” units of pressure in
3
otherwise. Eq 1. The accepted units of measure for density are grams per millilitre (g/mL) or kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m ).
1.5 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. For specific warning statements, see 7.4, 7.5, and 10.3.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D287 Test Method for API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Petroleum Products (Hydrometer Method)
D445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D1250 Guide for Use of the Petroleum Measurement Tables
D1298 Test Method for Density, Relative Density, or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products by
Hydrometer Method
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D02.04.0D on Physical and Chemical Methods.
Current edition approved Oct. 15, 2011Dec. 15, 2015. Published December 2011February 2016. Originally approved in 1981. Last previous edition approved in 20092011
as D4052D4052 – 11.–09. DOI: 10.1520/D4052-11.10.1520/D4052-15.
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.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 B
...