ASTM B703-21

Standard Test Method for Apparent Density of Metal Powders and Related Compounds Using the Arnold Meter

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The apparent density is an important measure of a material characteristic of the powder that is useful to the powder producers and powder users in determining quality and lot to lot consistency.  
5.2 This test method is applicable to free-flowing and non-free-flowing metal powders, lubricated powder mixtures and metal compounds.  
5.3 The apparent density of a lubricated metal powder mixture may be different when a quantity settles after falling into the die cavity during automated compacting compared with the value obtained from a measurement taken in the laboratory under controlled test conditions.  
5.4 This test method simulates the action of the feed shoe on a powder compacting press and gives an apparent density value that closely approximates the apparent density of the powder in the die cavity after the production filling operation.  
5.5 Knowledge of this apparent density value for the final lubricated production powder mixture is very helpful to the powder metallurgy (PM) parts fabricator to set the compression ratios for fixed fill die cavity tooling.  
5.6 The values of apparent density obtained on metal powders with this test method are approximately 0.2 g/cm3 higher than those obtained using the Hall Funnel, Test Method B212, the Carney Funnel, Test Method B417; or the Scott Volumeter, Test Method B329.  
5.7 This test method may be part of a purchase agreement between the powder producer and PM parts producer, or it may be an internal quality control test for either party.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a quantitative laboratory procedure for determining the apparent density of both free-flowing and non-free-flowing metal powders, lubricated metal powder mixtures, and powder compounds.  
1.2 Units—With the exception of the values for mass, volume, and density, for which the use of the gram and the cubic centimetre units is the long-standing industry practice, the values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
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 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: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Aug-2021
• ICS: 77.160 - Powder metallurgy
• Technical Committee: B09 - Metal Powders and Metal Powder Products
• Drafting Committee: B09.02 - Base Metal Powders

Relations

• Refers: ASTM B329-20 - Standard Test Method for Apparent Density of Metal Powders and Compounds Using the Scott Volumeter
• Effective Date: 01-May-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation: B703 − 21
Standard Test Method for
Apparent Density of Metal Powders and Related
1
Compounds Using the Arnold Meter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B703; 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* B417 Test Method for Apparent Density of Non-Free-
Flowing Metal Powders Using the Carney Funnel
1.1 This test method covers a quantitative laboratory proce-
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
dure for determining the apparent density of both free-flowing
ASTM Test Methods
and non-free-flowing metal powders, lubricated metal powder
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
mixtures, and powder compounds.
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1.2 Units—With the exception of the values for mass,
3
2.2 MPIF Standard:
volume, and density, for which the use of the gram and the
MPIF 48 Determination of Apparent Density of Metal Pow-
cubic centimetre units is the long-standing industry practice,
ders Using the Arnold Meter
the values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as
standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
3. Terminology
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard.
3.1 Definitions—Useful definitions of terms for metal pow-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
ders and powder metallurgy (PM) are found in Terminology
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
B243. Additional descriptive PM information is available at
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
www.astm.org on the B09 web page, under the Committee
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
Documents section, following the link for “General Informa-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tion on PM.”
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.2.1 Arnold Apparent Density (AD ), n—the mass per unit
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
A
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- volume of a powder, expressed in gram per cubic centimetre
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical units, determined in accordance with the procedure in this test
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. method.
3.2.2 Arnold Meter, n—the laboratory instrumentation pic-
2. Referenced Documents
tured in Fig. 1, consisting of a steel die block with a precise
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
cavityandapowderdeliverycylinder,thatisusedtodetermine
B212 Test Method for Apparent Density of Free-Flowing
a quantitative value for Arnold Apparent Density, (AD ).
A
Metal Powders Using the Hall Flowmeter Funnel
B215 Practices for Sampling Metal Powders
4. Summary of Test Method
B243 Terminology of Powder Metallurgy
3
B329 Test Method for Apparent Density of Metal Powders 4.1 The test method consists of first collecting a 20 cm
and Compounds Using the Scott Volumeter volume of the test powder by slowly sliding a cylindrical
sleeve containing the test powder over a precise cavity in a die
block.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B09 on Metal
Powders and Metal Powder Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcom-
4.2 The mass of the volume of powder thus collected is
mittee B09.02 on Base Metal Powders.
determined and the Arnold Apparent Density (AD ), is calcu-
A
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2021. Published September 2021. Originally
3
lated as mass divided by volume and expressed in g/cm units.
approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as B703 – 17. DOI:
10.1520/B0703-21.
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
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on This standard is available from Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF),
the ASTM website. 105 College Rd. East, Princeton, NJ 08540, http://www.mpif.org.
*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

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B703 − 21
FIG. 1 Arnold Meter
5. Significance and Use 6. Apparatus
4
5
...

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: B703 − 17 B703 − 21
Standard Test Method for
Apparent Density of Metal Powders and Related
1
Compounds Using the Arnold Meter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B703; 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 a quantitative laboratory procedure for determining the apparent density of both free-flowing and
non-free-flowing metal powders, lubricated metal powder mixtures, and powder compounds.
1.2 Units—With the exception of the values for mass, volume, and density, for which the use of the gram and the cubic centimetre
units is the long-standing industry practice, the values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given
in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
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 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
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B212 Test Method for Apparent Density of Free-Flowing Metal Powders Using the Hall Flowmeter Funnel
B215 Practices for Sampling Metal Powders
B243 Terminology of Powder Metallurgy
B329 Test Method for Apparent Density of Metal Powders and Compounds Using the Scott Volumeter
B417 Test Method for Apparent Density of Non-Free-Flowing Metal Powders Using the Carney Funnel
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
3
2.2 MPIF Standard:
MPIF 48 Determination of Apparent Density of Metal Powders Using the Arnold Meter
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B09 on Metal Powders and Metal Powder Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B09.02
on Base Metal Powders.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2017Sept. 1, 2021. Published September 2017September 2021. Originally approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 20102017
as B703B703 – 17. –10. DOI: 10.1520/B0703-17.10.1520/B0703-21.
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
This reportstandard is available from Metal Powder Industries Federation, Federation (MPIF), 105 College RoadRd. East, Princeton, NJ 0854008540, http://
www.mpif.org.
*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

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B703 − 21
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Useful definitions of terms for metal powders and powder metallurgy (PM) are found in Terminology B243.
Additional descriptive PM information is available at www.astm.org on the B09 web page, under the Committee Documents
section, following the link for “General Information on PM.”
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 Arnold Apparent Density (AD )—), n—the mass per unit volume of a powder, expressed in gram per cubic centimetre units,
A
determined in accordance with the procedure in this test method.
3.2.2 Arnold Meter—Meter, n—the laboratory instrumentation pictured in Fig. 1, consisting of a steel die block with a precise
cavity and a powder delivery cylinder, that is used to determine a quantitative value for Arnold Apparent Density, (AD ).
A
4. Summary of Test Method
3
4.1 The test method consists of first collecting a 20 cm volume of the test powder by slowly sliding a cylindrical sleeve containing
the test powder
...