ASTM C837-99

Standard Test Method for Methylene Blue Index of Clay

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the adsorption of methylene blue dye by a clay, which is calculated as a methylene blue index for a clay.  
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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: 09-Oct-1999
• ICS: 91.100.15 - Mineral materials and products
• Technical Committee: C21 - Ceramic Whitewares and Related Products
• Drafting Committee: C21.04 - Raw Materials

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM C837-99(2003) - Standard Test Method for Methylene Blue Index of Clay
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D7765-18a - Standard Practice for Use of Foundry Sand in Structural Fill and Embankments
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-1999

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: C 837 – 99
Standard Test Method for
Methylene Blue Index of Clay
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 837; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope mination of the dye adsorption (in this case, methylene blue) of
a clay.
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the adsorp-
tion of methylene blue dye by a clay, which is calculated as a
4. Apparatus
methylene blue index for a clay.
4.1 Balance, accurate to 0.01 g.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.2 Mixer.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.3 pH Meter or pH Paper.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.4 Beaker, 600 mL.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.5 Buret,25mL.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.6 Medicine Dropper or Glass Stirring Rod.
2. Referenced Documents 4.7 Filter Paper, Baroid No. 987.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5. Reagents
C 324 Test Method for Free Moisture in Ceramic Whitew-
2 5.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
are Clays
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
3. Significance and Use all reagents shall conform to the specifications of the Commit-
tee on Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society,
3.1 Tests run on many clays generally indicate that a
where such specifications are available. Other grades may be
straight-line relationship exists between the methylene blue
used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of
index (MBI) and such fundamental clay properties as cation
sufficiently high purity to permit its use without lessening the
exchange capacity, dry bond strength, and casting rate. Where
accuracy of the determination.
the colloidal portion of the clay is kaolinite, there is also a
5.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, references
direct correlation with specific surface (as determined by
to water shall be understood to mean distilled water or water of
nitrogen adsorption). Where the colloidal portion contains
equal purity.
significant amounts of illite or montmorillonite, the same close
5.3 Methylene Blue Solution (1 mL 5 0.01 meq) —Store in
correlation does not exist. The MBI better correlates with the
darkness.
ceramic-forming properties than does the specific surface.
5.4 Sulfuric Acid (0.1N).
3.2 That portion of a clay lying within the colloidal range
(generally defined as the 0.5- to 0.001-μm range), determines
6. Procedure
the strictly colloidal properties of the clay and, together with
6.1 Weigh out 2.00 g of clay that has been dried in
the amount and type of organic material associated with the
accordance with the procedure in Test Method C 324 and place
clay and the 2- to 0.2-μm fraction, largely determines the
in the 600-mL beaker. If the clay cannot be tested immediately
properties of the clay when used in ceramic-forming processes.
after drying, it should be stored in a desiccator.
While the specific surface of a clay is a function of the particle
6.2 Add 300 mL of distilled water to the beaker and stir with
size and morphology and a relationship exists between dye
adsorption and specific surface, the MBI should not be con-
sidered to be a particle size analysis since the value obtained is
This test method is based on the use of the Model F Lightnin mixer, which is
dominated by the character of only the very fine end of the
available from Mixing Equipment Co., Inc., Rochester, NY. However, it has been
found that some clays are not completely dispersed in this apparatus, and so results
particle size distribution. This procedure describes the deter-
may be spurious. It has been found that the Waring Blender, available from Waring
Products Division, Dynamics Corporation of America, New Hartford, CT 06057, is
successful in dispersing all clays.
Available from Baroid Div., National Lead Co., No. 425-15.
1 5
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C-21 on Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American
Ceramic Whitewares and Related Products
...