ASTM C20-00(2005)

Standard Test Methods for Apparent Porosity, Water Absorption, Apparent Specific Gravity, and Bulk Density of Burned Refractory Brick and Shapes by Boiling Water

SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the following properties of burned refractory brick:
1.1.1 Apparent porosity,
1.1.2 Water absorption,
1.1.3 Apparent specific gravity, and
1.1.4 Bulk density.
1.2 These test methods are not applicable to refractories attacked by water.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2005
• Technical Committee: C08 - Refractories
• Drafting Committee: C08.03 - Physical Properties

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C20-00 - Standard Test Methods for Apparent Porosity, Water Absorption, Apparent Specific Gravity, and Bulk Density of Burned Refractory Brick and Shapes by Boiling Water
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C830-00(2023) - Standard Test Methods for Apparent Porosity, Liquid Absorption, Apparent Specific Gravity, and Bulk Density of Refractory Shapes by Vacuum Pressure
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C980-23 - Standard Specification for Industrial Chimney Lining Brick
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM F561-19 - Standard Practice for Retrieval and Analysis of Medical Devices, and Associated Tissues and Fluids
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D116-86(2020) - Standard Test Methods for Vitrified Ceramic Materials for Electrical Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C545-97(2022) - Standard Classification of Zircon Refractories
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM E3069-19a - Standard Guide for Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Mass Masonry Walls for Changes to Thermal and Moisture Properties of the Wall
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C1407-23 - Standard Practice for Calculating Areas, Volume, and Linear Change of Refractory Shapes
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C863-00(2022) - Standard Test Method for Evaluating Oxidation Resistance of Silicon Carbide Refractories at Elevated Temperatures
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D2442-75(2020) - Standard Specification for Alumina Ceramics for Electrical and Electronic Applications
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C1223-19(2023) - Standard Test Method for Testing of Glass Exudation from AZS Fusion-Cast Refractories
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C279-23 - Standard Specification for Chemical-Resistant Masonry Units
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C134-95(2023) - Standard Test Methods for Size, Dimensional Measurements, and Bulk Density of Refractory Brick and Insulating Firebrick
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2005

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: C20 – 00 (Reapproved 2005)
Standard Test Methods for
Apparent Porosity, Water Absorption, Apparent Specific
Gravity, and Bulk Density of Burned Refractory Brick and
Shapes by Boiling Water
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C20; 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.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3. Significance and Use
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the 3.1 Apparent porosity, water absorption, apparent specific
following properties of burned refractory brick: gravity, and bulk density are primary properties of burned
1.1.1 Apparent porosity, refractory brick and shapes. These properties are widely used
1.1.2 Water absorption, in the evaluation and comparison of product quality and as part
1.1.3 Apparent specific gravity, and of the criteria for selection and use of refractory products in a
1.1.4 Bulk density. variety of industrial applications. These test methods are used
1.2 These test methods are not applicable to refractories for determining any or all of these properties.
attacked by water. 3.2 These test methods are primary standard methods which
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded are suitable for use in quality control, research and develop-
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for ment, establishing criteria for and evaluating compliance with
information only. specifications, and providing data for design purposes.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.3 Fundamental assumptions inherent in these test methods
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the are that the test specimens are not attacked by water, the test
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- specimens conform to the requirements for size, configuration,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- and original faces, the open pores of the test specimens are
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. fully impregnated with water during the boiling treatment, and
the blotting of the saturated test specimens is performed as
2. Referenced Documents
specified in a consistent and uniform manner to avoid with-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
drawing water from the pores. Deviation from any of these
C134 Test Methods for Size, Dimensional Measurements, assumptions adversely affects the test results.
and Bulk Density of Refractory Brick and Insulating
3.4 In laboratory studies involving castable specimen, a bias
Firebrick was noted between formed 2 by 2 by 2–in. (50 by 50 by
C830 Test Methods for Apparent Porosity, Liquid Absorp-
50–mm) and specimens that were quartered from larger 9 by
tion, Apparent Specific Gravity, and Bulk Density of 4.5 by 2.5 (228 by 114 by 64 mm) cast specimens. Addition-
Refractory Shapes by Vacuum Pressure
ally, an error in the apparent porosity determination on
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to castables was found whenever the specimens were heated to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1500°F (816°C) and then exposed to water as a saturation
media (Test Method C830). The error was attributed to
reactivity of cement with water and subsequent re-hydration of
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C08 on
cement phases.The higher the cement level of the castable, the
Refractories and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C08.03 on Physical
Properties. greater the error noted. It was concluded that an error in
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2005. Published December 2005. Originally
porosity values could occur for refractory materials having a
approved in 1918. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as C20 – 00. DOI:
potential to form hydrated species with water.
10.1520/C0020-00R05.
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 Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may
the ASTM website. be obtained by requesting Research Report RR: 1014.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
C20 – 00 (2005)
3.5 Certain precautions must be exercised in interpreting 5.3.1 Determine the weight, S, of each test specimen after
and using results from these test methods. All four property boiling and while suspended in water in grams to the nearest
values are interrelated by at least two of the three base data 0.1 g.
values generated during testing.Thus, an error in any base data 5.3.2 This weighing is usually accomplished by suspending
value will cause an error in at least three of the property values the specimen in a loop or halter ofAWG Gage 22 (0.643-mm)
for a given test specimen. Certain of the properties, that is, copper wire hung from one arm of the balance. The balance
apparent specific gravity and bulk density, are functions of shall be previously counter-balanced with the wire in place and
other factors such as product composition, compositional immersed in water to the same depth as is used when the
variability within the same product, impervious porosity, and refractory specimens are in place.
total porosity. Generalizations on or comparisons of property 5.4 Saturated Weight, W—After determining the sus-
values should only be judiciously made between like products pended weight, blot each specimen lightly with a moistened
tested by these test methods or with full recognition of smooth linen or cotton cloth to remove all drops of water from
potentially inherent differences between the products being the surface and determine the saturated weight, W, in grams by
compared or the test method used. weighing in air to the nearest 0.1 g. Perform the blotting
operation by rolling the specimen lightly on the wet cloth,
which has previously been saturated with water, and then press
4. Test Specimens
only enough to remove such water as will drip from the cloth.
4.1 When testing 9-in. (228-mm) straight brick, use a
Excessive blotting will induce error by withdrawing water
quarter-brick specimen by halving the brick along a plane
from the pores of the specimen.
parallel to the 9 by 2- ⁄2 or 3-in. (228 by 64 or 76-mm) face and
1 1
along a plane parallel to the 4- ⁄2 by 2- ⁄2 or 3-in. (114 by 64 or
6. Calculation
76-mm) face. Four of the surfaces of the resultant quarter-brick
6.1 Exterior Volume, V—Obtain the volume, V, of the test
specimen include part of the original molded faces.
specimens in cubic centimetres by subtracting the suspended
4.2 When testing other refractory shapes, cut, drill, or break
weight from the saturated weight, both in grams, as follows:
from each shape a specimen having volume of approximately
3 3
25 to 30 in. (410 to 490 cm ). The specimen sha
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