ASTM C329-88(2020)

Standard Test Method for Specific Gravity of Fired Ceramic Whiteware Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Measurement of specific gravity is a tool for determining the degree of maturation of a ceramic body.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of specific gravity of fired ceramic whiteware materials under prescribed conditions.  
Note 1: This test method is not applicable to materials attacked by water.  
1.2 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.  
1.3 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-Oct-2020
• ICS: 81.060.20 - Ceramic products
• ICS: 97.040.60 - Cookware, cutlery and flatware
• Technical Committee: C21 - Ceramic Whitewares and Related Products
• Drafting Committee: C21.03 - Methods for Whitewares and Environmental Concerns

Relations

• Refers: ASTM D153-84(2020) - Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Pigments
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2020
• Refers: ASTM D153-84(2014) - Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Pigments
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2014
• Refers: ASTM E11-13 - Standard Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2013
• Refers: ASTM E11-09e1 - Standard Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves
• Effective Date: 01-May-2009
• Refers: ASTM D153-84(2008) - Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Pigments
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2008
• Refers: ASTM E11-04 - Standard Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Refers: ASTM D153-84(2003) - Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Pigments
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Refers: ASTM E11-95 - Standard Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes
• Effective Date: 10-May-2001
• Refers: ASTM E11-01 - Standard Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes
• Effective Date: 10-May-2001
• Refers: ASTM D153-84(1996)e1 - Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Pigments
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1996

Overview

ASTM C329-88(2020), Standard Test Method for Specific Gravity of Fired Ceramic Whiteware Materials, establishes a reliable procedure for determining the specific gravity of fired ceramic whiteware. This internationally recognized test method supports manufacturers, quality control labs, and researchers in evaluating the maturation and material properties of ceramic bodies after firing. Developed by ASTM International, the standard follows guidelines aligned with the World Trade Organization’s principles for the creation of international standards.

Key Topics

• Specific Gravity Testing: The standard specifies the determination of specific gravity for fired ceramic whiteware materials under controlled laboratory conditions, providing critical data used for quality assessment.
• Degree of Maturation: The measurement is essential for assessing the degree of vitrification or maturation of ceramic products, ensuring that the ceramic body has been adequately processed.
• Applicable Materials: The procedure is intended for materials that are not susceptible to attack by water, maintaining test validity for traditional whitewares.
• Sample Preparation: Samples are to be representative, ground finely, and prepared in a way that minimizes contamination or alteration of the ceramic composition.
• Apparatus and Equipment: The test requires analytical balances, calibrated pycnometers, drying ovens, desiccators, and vacuum systems to achieve precise and repeatable results.
• Calibration and Temperature Control: The method emphasizes accurate calibration of all apparatus, control of weighing temperature, and use of distilled water for test consistency.
• Calculation and Reporting: The specific gravity is calculated relative to water, with detailed weighing and temperature records required. Duplicate determinations ensure reliability, and results are reported to the nearest 0.001.

Applications

ASTM C329 offers significant practical value in various industrial and research contexts:

• Quality Control: Production facilities use specific gravity testing to monitor product consistency and validate that ceramic products meet required material specifications.
• Research and Development: Material scientists and engineers apply this method to characterize new ceramic compositions, optimize firing cycles, and study material changes after firing.
• Product Performance Assessment: Determining specific gravity aids in predicting properties such as strength, porosity, and overall material performance in end-use applications.
• Regulatory Compliance: Adherence to this standard helps organizations comply with industry requirements and facilitates international trade through standardized reporting.

This test method is widely used in the production of tableware, sanitaryware, tiles, and other whiteware products where uniformity and reliability are critical.

Related Standards

Professionals working with ASTM C329 may also reference these related standards:

• ASTM D153 - Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Pigments, which outlines similar methodologies for pigment materials.
• ASTM E11 - Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves, used for sample sieving during preparation for specific gravity testing.
• Other ASTM Ceramic Standards - The C21 committee provides a comprehensive framework of methods relevant to whitewares and related ceramic products.

For additional details, refer to the ASTM Book of Standards or visit the ASTM International website.

Keywords: ASTM C329, specific gravity, fired ceramic whiteware, ceramic testing, material maturation, quality control, pycnometer method, standard test method, international standards, ceramic manufacturing.

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:C329 −88 (Reapproved 2020)
Standard Test Method for
Specific Gravity of Fired Ceramic Whiteware Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C329; 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 4.3 Thermometer, calibrated at 0.5 °C intervals in the room
temperature range.
1.1 This test method covers the determination of specific
gravity of fired ceramic whiteware materials under prescribed
4.4 Drying Oven.
conditions.
4.5 Weighing Bottle.
NOTE 1—This test method is not applicable to materials attacked by
4.6 Desiccator.
water.
4.7 Vacuum Source—A suitable apparatus to produce a
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
vacuum equivalent to an absolute pressure of less than 1.0-in.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
(25.4 mm) Hg.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
4.8 Distilled Water, that has been freshly evacuated, or
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
boiled and cooled, to remove dissolved air.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
5. Sample Preparation
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
5.1 When possible, the sample for test shall consist of at
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
least two pieces totaling 100 to 150 g taken from different
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
portions of the material in such a way as to exclude skin
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
surfaces in so far as possible. The sample shall be selected so
as to be representative of the material to be tested.
2. Referenced Documents
5.2 The pieces shall be crushed, if necessary, between
2.1 ASTM Standards:
hardened steel surfaces. The specimen shall then be reduced to
D153 Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Pigments
25 to 50 g by quartering, and any magnetic material introduced
E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test
by crushing shall be removed. This specimen shall be ground
Sieves
in a suitable mortar so that it will pass a 150 µm (No. 100)
sieve, conforming to Specification E11, or its equivalent. Care
3. Significance and Use
shall be taken at all stages of the crushing, grinding, and
3.1 Measurement of specific gravity is a tool for determin-
quarteringtominimizetheintroductionofimpuritiesandretain
ing the degree of maturation of a ceramic body.
all material even though difficult to grind.
4. Apparatus and Materials
6. Procedure
4.1 Analytical Balance and Weights.
6.1 Make all determinations in duplicate. Determine all
4.2 Pycnometers, of 50 mL capacity, consisting of suitable
weights in this procedure to the nearest 0.0001 g.
bottles with capillary tube stoppers.
6.2 Place the ground specimen in a glass weighing bottle
and dry to constant weight at 105 to 110 °C. Close the bottle
with a glass stopper immediately upon removal from the oven.
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C21 on Ceramic
Whitewares and Related Productsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
6.3 Dry the pycnometer and stopper at 105 to 110 °C, cool
C21.03 on Methods for Whitewares and Environmental Concerns.
to room temperature in a desiccator, weigh on an analytical
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2020. Published December 2020. Originally
balance, and record the weight as p. Fill the pycnometer bottle
approved in 1953. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as C329 – 88 (2016).
DOI: 10.1520/C0329-88R20.
with distilled water at room temperature, t , insert the stopper,
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and remove the excess water on the tip of the capillary by
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
means of filter paper. Weigh the pycnometer and contents and
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. record the weight as W . Empty and dry the pycnometer.
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C329−88 (2020)
TABLE 1 Absolute Density of Water
Absolute Density, g/cm
Temperature,
°C
0 0.999 841 0.999 900 0.999 941 0.999 965 0.999 973 0.999 965 0.999 941 0.999 902 0.999 849 0.999 781
10 0.999 700 0.999 605 0.999 498 0.999 377 0.999 244 0.99
...