Standard Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Determination of the color of petroleum products is used mainly for manufacturing control purposes and is an important quality characteristic, since color is readily observed by the user of the product. In some cases, the color may serve as an indication of the degree of refinement of the material. When the color range of a particular product is known, a variation outside the established range may indicate possible contamination with another product. However, color is not always a reliable guide to product quality and should not be used indiscriminately in product specifications.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the visual determination of the color of a wide variety of petroleum products, such as lubricating oils, heating oils, diesel fuel oils, and petroleum waxes.  
Note 1: Test Method D156 is applicable to refined products that have an ASTM color lighter than 0.5.
Note 2: The color of some dyed products may extend outside color range defined by the glass reference standards employed in the testing procedure. Furthermore, samples used to determine the precision and bias did not include dyed products.
Note 3: It is up to the user to determine the suitability of this test method for their dyed products.  
1.2 This test method reports results specific to the test method and recorded as “ASTM Color.”  
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.

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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: D1500 − 24
Designation: 196/97 (2014)
Standard Test Method for
1,2
ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1500; 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* 2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method covers the visual determination of the
D156 Test Method for Saybolt Color of Petroleum Products
color of a wide variety of petroleum products, such as
(Saybolt Chromometer Method)
lubricating oils, heating oils, diesel fuel oils, and petroleum
D938 Test Method for Congealing Point of Petroleum
waxes.
Waxes, Including Petrolatum
NOTE 1—Test Method D156 is applicable to refined products that have D2500 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
an ASTM color lighter than 0.5.
and Liquid Fuels
NOTE 2—The color of some dyed products may extend outside color
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
range defined by the glass reference standards employed in the testing
Petroleum Products
procedure. Furthermore, samples used to determine the precision and bias
did not include dyed products. 3. Summary of Test Method
NOTE 3—It is up to the user to determine the suitability of this test
3.1 Using a standard light source, a liquid sample is placed
method for their dyed products.
in the test container and compared with colored glass disks
1.2 This test method reports results specific to the test ranging in value from 0.5 to 8.0. When an exact match is not
found and the sample color falls between two standard colors,
method and recorded as “ASTM Color.”
the higher of the two colors is reported.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4. Significance and Use
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.1 Determination of the color of petroleum products is used
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mainly for manufacturing control purposes and is an important
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
quality characteristic, since color is readily observed by the
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor- user of the product. In some cases, the color may serve as an
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- indication of the degree of refinement of the material. When the
color range of a particular product is known, a variation outside
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
the established range may indicate possible contamination with
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
another product. However, color is not always a reliable guide
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
to product quality and should not be used indiscriminately in
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
product specifications.
5. Apparatus
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM International Committee
5.1 Colorimeter, consisting of light source, glass color
D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct
standards, sample container housing with cover, and viewing
responsibility of ASTM Subcommittee D02.05 on Properties of Fuels, Petroleum
Coke and Carbon Material. The technically equivalent standard as referenced is
piece as listed in Annex A1.
under the jurisdiction of the Energy Institute Subcommittee SC-B-10.
5.2 Sample Container—For referee work, use the glass
Current edition approved March 1, 2024. Published March 2024. Originally
approved in 1957. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as D1500 – 12 (2017).
sample jar as shown in Fig. 1. For routine tests, it is permissible
DOI: 10.1520/D1500-24.
2
his test method has been developed through the cooperative effort between
3
ASTM and the Energy Institute, London. ASTM and IP standards were approved by For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
ASTM and EI technical committees as being technically equivalent but that does not contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
imply both standards are identical. This test method was adopted as a joint ASTM-IP Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
standard in 1966. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at
...

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: D1500 − 12 (Reapproved 2017) D1500 − 24
Designation: 196/97 (2014)
Standard Test Method for
1,2
ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1500; 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 Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the visual determination of the color of a wide variety of petroleum products, such as lubricating oils,
heating oils, diesel fuel oils, and petroleum waxes.
NOTE 1—Test Method D156 is applicable to refined products that have an ASTM color lighter than 0.5.
NOTE 2—The color of some dyed products may extend outside color range defined by the glass reference standards employed in the testing procedure.
Furthermore, samples used to determine the precision and bias did not include dyed products.
NOTE 3—It is up to the user to determine the suitability of this test method for their dyed products.
1.2 This test method reports results specific to the test method and recorded as “ASTM Color.”
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.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D156 Test Method for Saybolt Color of Petroleum Products (Saybolt Chromometer Method)
D938 Test Method for Congealing Point of Petroleum Waxes, Including Petrolatum
D2500 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM International Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility
of ASTM Subcommittee D02.05 on Properties of Fuels, Petroleum Coke and Carbon Material. The technically equivalent standard as referenced is under the jurisdiction of
the Energy Institute Subcommittee SC-B-10.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2017March 1, 2024. Published November 2017March 2024. Originally approved in 1957. Last previous edition approved in 20122017
as D1500 – 12.D1500 – 12 (2017). DOI: 10.1520/D1500-12R17.10.1520/D1500-24.
This is also a standard of Energy Institute issued under the fixed designation IP 196. The final number indicates the year of last revision. This test method was adopted
as a joint ASTM-IP standard in 1966. In the IP, this test method is under the jurisdiction of the Standardization Committee.
2
his test method has been developed through the cooperative effort between ASTM and the Energy Institute, London. ASTM and IP standards were approved by ASTM
and EI technical committees as being technically equivalent but that does not imply both standards are identical. This test method was adopted as a joint ASTM-IP standard
in 1966.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. 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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D1500 − 24
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
3. Summary of Test Method
3.1 Using a standard light source, a liquid sample is placed in the test container and compared with colored glass disks ranging
in value from 0.5 to 8.0. When an exact match is not found and the sample color falls between two standard colors, the higher of
the two colors is reported.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Determination of the color of petroleum products is used mainly for manufacturing control purposes and is an important
quality characteristic, since colo
...

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