ASTM G188-05(2017)

Standard Specification for Leak Detector Solutions Intended for Use on Brasses and Other Copper Alloys

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
6.1 Leak detector solutions may cause stress corrosion cracking of different alloys. If a leak detector solution is found to cause stress corrosion cracking in accordance with Test Method G186, it should not be used on brasses or other copper alloys. If a leak detector solution is found not to cause stress corrosion cracking in accordance with Test Method G186, it may cause stress corrosion cracking of copper or other alloys under unspecified conditions.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for leak detector solutions suitable for use in checking the leakage of valves, pipes, fittings, joints, and so forth of a pressurized gas system fabricated from brasses and other copper alloys.  
1.2 This specification deals with the stress corrosion cracking aspect of leak detector solutions. The effectiveness, chemical, physical and mechanical properties of leak detector solutions are not within the scope of this specification.  
1.3 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, health, and environmental practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2017
• ICS: 77.120.30 - Copper and copper alloys
• Technical Committee: G01 - Corrosion of Metals
• Drafting Committee: G01.06 - Environmentally Assisted Cracking

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:G188 −05 (Reapproved 2017)
Standard Specification for
Leak Detector Solutions Intended for Use on Brasses and
Other Copper Alloys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation G188; 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.
INTRODUCTION
This specification is intended for purchasing agents to use in purchase orders for leak detection
fluids (LDF). The primary purpose of the specification is to assign the responsibility for passing
Specification G186 to the manufacturers of these products. Previously the only corrosion related
specification for LDFs was an obsolete Military Specification that required that the LDF not exceed
acorrosionrateof100mpyinatotalimmersiontest.Theproblemofstresscorrosioncrackingofbrass
has shown up as a major cause of failures in compressed gas service of brass components resulting
from ammonia used to adjust the pH of LDFs. This specification will give the industrial gas industry
a means to prevent these failures in the future.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for leak
detector solutions suitable for use in checking the leakage of E300 Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals
G15 Terminology Relating to Corrosion and Corrosion Test-
valves, pipes, fittings, joints, and so forth of a pressurized gas
system fabricated from brasses and other copper alloys. ing (Withdrawn 2010)
G186 Test Method for Determining Whether Gas-Leak-
1.2 This specification deals with the stress corrosion crack-
Detector Fluid Solutions Can Cause Stress Corrosion
ing aspect of leak detector solutions. The effectiveness,
Cracking of Brass Alloys
chemical, physical and mechanical properties of leak detector
solutions are not within the scope of this specification.
3. Terminology
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.1 Gas Leak Detector Solutions—Also known as leak
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
detection fluids, leak detector solutions, bubble solutions, and
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and to
soap solutions, designated in this standard as LDFs, are fluids
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to
used to detect leaks in pressurized gas systems by the forma-
use.
tion of bubbles at the leak site.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1.2 Other Definitions—For other definitions used in this
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
specification, refer to Terminology G15.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 4. Performance Requirements
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
4.1 The leak detector solution shall not show stress corro-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
sion cracking of copper alloy specimens as shown in Test
Method G186.
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee G01 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Corrosion of Metals and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee G01.06 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Environmentally Assisted Cracking. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2017. Published December 2017. Originally the ASTM website.
approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as G188 – 05 (2011). The last appro
...

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: G188 − 05 (Reapproved 2011) G188 − 05 (Reapproved 2017)
Standard Specification for
Leak Detector Solutions Intended for Use on Brasses and
Other Copper Alloys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation G188; 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.
INTRODUCTION
This specification is intended for purchasing agents to use in purchase orders for leak detection
fluids (LDF). The primary purpose of the specification is to assign the responsibility for passing
Specification G186 to the manufacturers of these products. Previously the only corrosion related
specification for LDFs was an obsolete Military Specification that required that the LDF not exceed
a corrosion rate of 100 mpy in a total immersion test. The problem of stress corrosion cracking of brass
has shown up as a major cause of failures in compressed gas service of brass components resulting
from ammonia used to adjust the pH of LDFs. This specification will give the industrial gas industry
a means to prevent these failures in the future.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for leak detector solutions suitable for use in checking the leakage of valves,
pipes, fittings, joints, and so forth of a pressurized gas system fabricated from brasses and other copper alloys.
1.2 This specification deals with the stress corrosion cracking aspect of leak detector solutions. The effectiveness, chemical,
physical and mechanical properties of leak detector solutions are not within the scope of this specification.
1.3 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and to determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E300 Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals
G15 Terminology Relating to Corrosion and Corrosion Testing (Withdrawn 2010)
G186 Test Method for Determining Whether Gas-Leak-Detector Fluid Solutions Can Cause Stress Corrosion Cracking of Brass
Alloys
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 Gas Leak Detector Solutions—Also known as leak detection fluids, leak detector solutions, bubble solutions, and soap
solutions, designated in this standard as LDFs, are fluids used to detect leaks in pressurized gas systems by the formation of bubbles
at the leak site.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee G01 on Corrosion of Metals and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee G01.06 on Environmentally
Assisted Cracking.
Current edition approved March 1, 2011Nov. 1, 2017. Published April 2011December 2017. Originally approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 20052011
as G188–05.G188 – 05 (2011). DOI: 10.1520/G0188-05R11.10.1520/G0188-05R17.
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.
The last approved version of this historical standard is reference
...