ASTM D2265-22

Standard Test Method for Dropping Point of Lubricating Grease Over Wide Temperature Range

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The dropping point is useful to assist in identifying the grease as to type and for establishing and maintaining bench marks for quality control. The results are to be considered to have only limited significance with respect to service performance of conventional soap thickeners because dropping point is a static test. Above 200 °C, the dropping point has no correlation with the maximum upper operating temperature of the grease.  
5.2 Historical cooperative testing4 on conventional soap-thickened greases indicated ( RR:D02-1164) that, in general, dropping points by Test Method D2265 and Test Method D566 were in agreement up to 200 °C. In cases where results differ, there is no known significance. However, agreement between the manufacturer and purchaser as to test method used is advisable.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the dropping point of lubricating grease.  
1.2 Warning—The dropping point as measured by this test is an artificially corrected number that does not have any bearing on the performance of the grease at elevated temperature. The dropping point as defined by this test method may not correlate with a value of the dropping point as determined by Test Method D566 (ISO 2176).  
1.3  This test method uses mercury thermometers. WARNING—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous substance that can cause serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Use caution when handling mercury and mercury-containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for additional information. The potential exists that selling mercury or mercury-containing products, or both, is prohibited by local or national law. Users must determine legality of sales in their location. The responsible subcommittee, D02.G0.03, continues to explore alternatives to eventually replace the mercury thermometers.  
1.4  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.  
1.5 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-Mar-2022
• ICS: 75.100 - Lubricants, industrial oils and related products
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.G0.03 - Physical Tests

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: D2265 − 22
Standard Test Method for
Dropping Point of Lubricating Grease Over Wide
1
Temperature Range
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2265; 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* 2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the drop-
D217Test Methods for Cone Penetration of Lubricating
ping point of lubricating grease.
Grease
1.2 Warning—The dropping point as measured by this test
D566TestMethodforDroppingPointofLubricatingGrease
is an artificially corrected number that does not have any
D3244Practice for Utilization of Test Data to Determine
bearing on the performance of the grease at elevated tempera-
Conformance with Specifications
ture.Thedroppingpointasdefinedbythistestmethodmaynot
E1Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers
correlate with a value of the dropping point as determined by
E2251Specification for Liquid-in-Glass ASTM Thermom-
Test Method D566 (ISO 2176).
eters with Low-Hazard Precision Liquids
3
1.3 This test method uses mercury thermometers.
2.2 ISO Standards:
WARNING—Mercury has been designated by many regula-
ISO 2176Petroleum products–Lubricating grease–Deter-
tory agencies as a hazardous substance that can cause serious
mination of dropping point
medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to
be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Use caution
3. Terminology
when handling mercury and mercury-containing products. See
3.1 Definitions:
the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for additional
3.1.1 lubricating grease, n—a semi-fluid to solid product of
information. The potential exists that selling mercury or
a thickener in a liquid lubricant.
mercury-containing products, or both, is prohibited by local or
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Thedispersionofthethickenerformsa
national law. Users must determine legality of sales in their
two-phase system and immobilizes the liquid lubricant by
location. The responsible subcommittee, D02.G0.03, continues
surfacetensionandotherphysicalforces.Otheringredientsare
to explore alternatives to eventually replace the mercury
commonly included to impart special properties. D217
thermometers.
3.1.2 thickener, n—in lubricating grease, a substance com-
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
posed of finely-divided particles dispersed in a liquid to form
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
the product’s structure.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.2.1 Discussion—Thickeners can be fibers (such as vari-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
ous metallic soaps) or plates or spheres (such as certain
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
non-soapthickeners),whichareinsolubleor,atmost,onlyvery
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
slightly soluble in the liquid lubricant. The general require-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
mentsarethatthesolidparticlesbeextremelysmall,uniformly
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
dispersed, and capable of forming a relatively stable, gel-like
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
structure with the liquid lubricant. D217
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Subcommittee D02.G0.03 on Physical Tests. the ASTM website.
3
Current edition approved April 1, 2022. Published April 2022. Originally Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO
approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 2020 as D2265–20. DOI: Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier,
10.1520/D2265-22. Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Bar
...

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: D2265 − 20 D2265 − 22
Standard Test Method for
Dropping Point of Lubricating Grease Over Wide
1
Temperature Range
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2265; 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 dropping point of lubricating grease.
1.2 Warning—The dropping point as measured by this test is an artificially corrected number that does not have any bearing on
the performance of the grease at elevated temperature. The dropping point as defined by this test method may not correlate with
a value of the dropping point as determined by Test Method D566 (ISO 2176).
1.3 This test method uses mercury thermometers. WARNING—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as
a hazardous materialsubstance that can cause central nervous system, kidney and liver damage. serious medical issues. Mercury,
or its vapor, may has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution should be taken Use caution
when handling mercury and mercury containing mercury-containing products. See the applicable product Material Safety Data
Sheet (MSDS) for details and EPA’s website—http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm—for additional information. Users should be
aware (SDS) for additional information. The potential exists that selling mercury and/or mercury containing products into your
state or country may be prohibited by law. or mercury-containing products, or both, is prohibited by local or national law. Users
must determine legality of sales in their location. The responsible subcommittee, D02.G0.03, continues to explore alternatives to
eventually replace the mercury thermometers. 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 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.
1.5 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:
D217 Test Methods for Cone Penetration of Lubricating Grease
D566 Test Method for Dropping Point of Lubricating Grease
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 Subcommittee
D02.G0.03 on Physical Tests.
Current edition approved May 1, 2020April 1, 2022. Published June 2020April 2022. Originally approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 20192020 as
D2265 – 19.D2265 – 20. DOI: 10.1520/D2265-20.10.1520/D2265-22.
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 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D2265 − 22
D3244 Practice for Utilization of Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E1 Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers
E2251 Specification for Liquid-in-Glass ASTM Thermometers with Low-Hazard Precision Liquids
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 2176 Petroleum products – Lubricating grease – Determination of dropping point
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 lubricating grease, n—a semi-fluid to solid product of a thickener in a liquid lubricant.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—
The dispersion of t
...