ASTM D6546-15

Standard Test Methods for and Suggested Limits for Determining Compatibility of Elastomer Seals for Industrial Hydraulic Fluid Applications

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 When more than one elastomer seal material is tested, the test methods yield comparative data on which to base judgements as to expected service quality. Suggested in-service property change limits are provided. Property changes beyond these limits will indicate limited service life of the elastomer seal.  
4.2 These test methods attempt to simulate service conditions through controlled aging and evaluation of property changes but may not give any direct correlations with actual part performance since actual service conditions vary widely. These test methods yield comparative data and indications of property changes of the elastomeric seal material under ideal service conditions. These test methods can be used for quality control purposes, for engineering assessments, for service evaluation, and for manufacturing control. The information from these test methods can be used to anticipate expected service quality.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the procedure for measuring physical properties of elastomer seals in the form of O-rings after exposure to industrial hydraulic fluids and thermal aging. The measured properties are then compared to the physical properties of elastomer seals that have not been exposed to the industrial hydraulic fluids and thermal aging. The changes in these properties form a basis for assessing compatibility when these changes are compared against the suggested limits in Table 1.  
1.2 While these test methods involve the use of O-rings, they can also be used to evaluate the compatibility of the elastomeric compounds of specialty seals with industrial hydraulic fluids and their resistance to thermal aging. The compounds can be molded into O-rings for evaluation purposes.  
1.3 These test methods provide procedures for exposing O-ring test specimens to industrial hydraulic fluids under definite conditions of temperature and time. The resulting deterioration of the O-ring material is determined by comparing the changes in work function, hardness, physical properties, compression set, and seal volume after immersion in the test fluid to the pre-immersion values.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.  
1.4.1 Exception—The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2015
• ICS: 83.140.50 - Seals
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.N0 - Hydraulic Fluids

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: D6546 − 15
Standard Test Methods for
and Suggested Limits for Determining Compatibility of
1
Elastomer Seals for Industrial Hydraulic Fluid Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6546; 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* 2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 These test methods cover the procedure for measuring
D395 Test Methods for Rubber Property—Compression Set
physical properties of elastomer seals in the form of O-rings
D412 Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplas-
after exposure to industrial hydraulic fluids and thermal aging.
tic Elastomers—Tension
The measured properties are then compared to the physical
D471 Test Method for Rubber Property—Effect of Liquids
properties of elastomer seals that have not been exposed to the
D1414 Test Methods for Rubber O-Rings
industrial hydraulic fluids and thermal aging. The changes in
D2000 Classification System for Rubber Products in Auto-
these properties form a basis for assessing compatibility when
motive Applications
these changes are compared against the suggested limits in
D2240 Test Method for Rubber Property—Durometer Hard-
Table 1.
ness
1.2 While these test methods involve the use of O-rings, D3677 Test Methods for Rubber—Identification by Infrared
Spectrophotometry
they can also be used to evaluate the compatibility of the
D3767 Practice for Rubber—Measurement of Dimensions
elastomeric compounds of specialty seals with industrial hy-
D5028 Test Method for Curing Properties of Pultrusion
draulic fluids and their resistance to thermal aging. The
Resins by Thermal Analysis
compounds can be molded into O-rings for evaluation pur-
E1131 Test Method for Compositional Analysis by Thermo-
poses.
gravimetry
1.3 These test methods provide procedures for exposing 3
2.2 SAE Standard:
O-ring test specimens to industrial hydraulic fluids under
AS568A O-ring Sizes
definite conditions of temperature and time. The resulting
deterioration of the O-ring material is determined by compar- 3. Terminology
ing the changes in work function, hardness, physical
3.1 Definitions:
properties, compression set, and seal volume after immersion
3.1.1 batch—all the O-rings molded from the same lot of
in the test fluid to the pre-immersion values.
material and presented for inspection at one time.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 3.1.2 compound—a fully formulated elastomer material
standard. containing all fillers and cross-linking agents.
1.4.1 Exception—The values given in parentheses are for
3.1.3 fluid saturation effect—the absorption of fluid by the
information only. elastomer until an equilibrium swell value is reached at a
particular temperature.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.4 O-ring—a rubber seal of homogeneous composition
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
molded in one piece to the configuration of a torus with circular
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
cross section.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.4.1 Discussion—O-rings are used as both dynamic and
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
static seals. The size of the O-ring is normally designated by a
1 2
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Subcommittee D02.N0 on Hydraulic Fluids. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2015. Published February 2016. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 2000. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D6546 – 00 (2010). Available from Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive,
DOI: 10.1520/D6546-15. Warrendale, PA 15096.
*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 ----------------------
D6546 − 15
TABLE 1 Property Change Limits
Time, h Maximum Maximum Hardness Maximum Maximum Maximum Maximum
Volume Volume Change, Tensile Elongation Work Compression
Swell, Shrinkage, Shore A Strength Change, Function Set, %
% % Points Change, % Change,
% %
24 15 −3 ±7 −20 −20 ±12 . . .
70 15 −3 ±7 −20 −20 ±12 20
100 15 −3 ±8 −20 −20 ±12 20
250 1
...

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: D6546 − 00 (Reapproved 2010) D6546 − 15
Standard Test Methods for
and Suggested Limits for Determining Compatibility of
1
Elastomer Seals for Industrial Hydraulic Fluid Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6546; 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 Scope*
1.1 These test methods cover the procedure for measuring physical properties of elastomer seals in the form of O-rings after
exposure to industrial hydraulic fluids and thermal aging. The measured properties are then compared to the physical properties
of elastomer seals that have not been exposed to the industrial hydraulic fluids and thermal aging. The changes in these properties
form a basis for assessing compatibility when these changes are compared against the suggested limits in Table 1.
1.2 While these test methods involve the use of O-rings, they can also be used to evaluate the compatibility of the elastomeric
compounds of specialty seals with industrial hydraulic fluids and their resistance to thermal aging. The compounds can be molded
into O-rings for evaluation purposes.
1.3 These test methods provide procedures for exposing O-ring test specimens to industrial hydraulic fluids under definite
conditions of temperature and time. The resulting deterioration of the O-ring material is determined by comparing the changes in
work function, hardness, physical properties, compression set, and seal volume after immersion in the test fluid to the
pre-immersion values.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4.1 Exception—The values given in parentheses are for information only.
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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D395 Test Methods for Rubber Property—Compression Set
D412 Test Methods for Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers—Tension
D471 Test Method for Rubber Property—Effect of Liquids
D1414 Test Methods for Rubber O-Rings
D2000 Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications
D2240 Test Method for Rubber Property—Durometer Hardness
D3677 Test Methods for Rubber—Identification by Infrared Spectrophotometry
D3767 Practice for Rubber—Measurement of Dimensions
D5028 Test Method for Curing Properties of Pultrusion Resins by Thermal Analysis
E1131 Test Method for Compositional Analysis by Thermogravimetry
3
2.2 SAE Standard:
AS568A O-ring Sizes
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 batch—all the O-rings molded from the same lot of material and presented for inspection at one time.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D02.N0.09D02.N0 on CompatibilityHydraulic Fluids.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2010Dec. 1, 2015. Published November 2010February 2016. Originally approved in 2000. Last previous edition approved in 20052010
as D6546–00(2005).D6546 – 00 (2010). DOI: 10.1520/D6546-00R10.10.1520/D6546-15.
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
Available from Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096.
*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 ----------------------
D6546 − 15
TABLE 1 Property Change Limits
Time, h Maximum Maximum Hardness Maximum Maximum Maximum Maximum
Volume Volume Change, Tensile Elongation Work Compression
Swell, Shrinkage, Shore A Strength Change, Function Set, %
% % Points Change, % Change,
% %
24 15 −3 ±7 −20 −20 ±12 . . .
70 15 −3 ±7 −20 −20 ±12 20
100 15 −3 ±8 −20 −20 ±12 20
250 15 −4 ±8 −20 −20 ±12 25
500 20 −4 ±10 −25 −25 ±17 30
1000 20 −5 ±10 −30 −
...