ASTM E542-01(2012)

Standard Practice for Calibration of Laboratory Volumetric Apparatus

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The primary purpose of this practice is to provide uniform procedures that may be used to accurately calibrate a wide variety of volumetric ware. The techniques are simple in concept and can provide reliable results, provided the procedures are followed faithfully. Accordingly, the practice should provide a means for checking the original calibration of glassware and similar apparatus and for periodic rechecks as the need should arise.  
4.2 Borosilicate volumetric glassware will hold its calibration indefinitely provided that it is not exposed to hydrofluoric acid, hot phosphoric acid, or strong, hot alkalis, and that it is not heated above 150°C when dry. A frosting of the glass surface (viewed when dry) indicates that chemical attack has occured, and recalibration may be in order. As a precaution, however, it is recommended that the glassware be recalibrated after ten years of service regardless of its appearance.  
4.3 Soda-lime volumetric glassware will become frosted with time because of attack from moisture in the atmosphere as well as from the chemicals mentioned above. In addition, it should not be heated above 90°C when dry. It is recommended, therefore, that it be recalibrated after five years of service unless frosting (viewed when dry) is observed sooner.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers procedures for use in the calibration of volumetric ware, in accordance with Specification E694 such as is in common use in chemical and clinical laboratories. It is based on the gravimetric determination of the quantity of water either contained or delivered, and the conversion of this value to true volume at the standard temperature of 20°C by means of suitable equations and standard tables. Calibration using mercury is excluded. Calibration may be performed using alternative gravimetric methodology, provided that it is demonstrated and documented that the results obtained are equivalent to those obtained using the methodology described herein.  
1.2 This practice is intended to encompass capacity ware between the limits of 0.1 cm3 and 2000 cm3. Typical products falling within the purview of this practice are burets graduated“ to deliver”, graduated cylinders, volumetric flasks, specific gravity flasks, measuring and dilution pipets, and transfer and capacity pipets.  
1.3 The procedures are not recommended for calibration of apparatus with capacities below 0.1 cm3, such as microglassware.  
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: 31-Oct-2012
• ICS: 17.060 - Measurement of volume, mass, density, viscosity
• Technical Committee: E41 - Laboratory Apparatus
• Drafting Committee: E41.01 - Laboratory Ware and Supplies

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: E542 − 01 (Reapproved 2012)
Standard Practice for
1
Calibration of Laboratory Volumetric Apparatus
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E542; 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.
1. Scope 3. Summary of Practice
3.1 This practice is based upon a determination of the
1.1 Thispracticecoversproceduresforuseinthecalibration
volume of water either contained in or delivered by the vessel.
of volumetric ware, in accordance with Specification E694
Procedures are given for cleaning, setting the meniscus,
suchasisincommonuseinchemicalandclinicallaboratories.
manipulating the apparatus, weighing, and converting the
It is based on the gravimetric determination of the quantity of
weight to the appropriate standard volume.
water either contained or delivered, and the conversion of this
value to true volume at the standard temperature of 20°C by
4. Significance and Use
means of suitable equations and standard tables. Calibration
using mercury is excluded. Calibration may be performed
4.1 The primary purpose of this practice is to provide
using alternative gravimetric methodology, provided that it is
uniform procedures that may be used to accurately calibrate a
demonstrated and documented that the results obtained are
wide variety of volumetric ware. The techniques are simple in
equivalent to those obtained using the methodology described
concept and can provide reliable results, provided the proce-
herein.
dures are followed faithfully.Accordingly, the practice should
provide a means for checking the original calibration of
1.2 This practice is intended to encompass capacity ware
3 3 glassware and similar apparatus and for periodic rechecks as
between the limits of 0.1 cm and 2000 cm . Typical products
the need should arise.
fallingwithinthepurviewofthispracticeareburetsgraduated“
to deliver”, graduated cylinders, volumetric flasks, specific 4.2 Borosilicate volumetric glassware will hold its calibra-
gravity flasks, measuring and dilution pipets, and transfer and tion indefinitely provided that it is not exposed to hydrofluoric
capacity pipets. acid, hot phosphoric acid, or strong, hot alkalis, and that it is
not heated above 150°C when dry. A frosting of the glass
1.3 The procedures are not recommended for calibration of
surface (viewed when dry) indicates that chemical attack has
3
apparatus with capacities below 0.1 cm , such as microglass-
occured, and recalibration may be in order. As a precaution,
ware.
however, it is recommended that the glassware be recalibrated
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the after ten years of service regardless of its appearance.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.3 Soda-lime volumetric glassware will become frosted
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
withtimebecauseofattackfrommoistureintheatmosphereas
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
well as from the chemicals mentioned above. In addition, it
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
shouldnotbeheatedabove90°Cwhendry.Itisrecommended,
therefore, that it be recalibrated after five years of service
2. Referenced Documents
unless frosting (viewed when dry) is observed sooner.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5. Units of Measurement
E694Specification for Laboratory Glass Volumetric Appa-
ratus
5.1 Capacity—The basic SI unit for volume is the cubic
3
metre, m . Due to its large size, it is rarely used in volumetric
3
calibration. Rather, the cubic centimetre, cm , is used and will
1
be employed in this practice. The unit, millilitre, mL, may be
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E41 on Laboratory
Apparatus and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E41.01 on Apparatus.
considered as equivalent to the cubic centimetre.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2012. Published November 2012. Originally
5.2 Standard Temperature—Volumetric ware is almost uni-
approvedin1979.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2007asE542–01(2007).DOI:
10.1520/E0542-01R12.
versally calibrated at 20°C. The procedures described provide
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
for such a calibration. When it is necessary to work at higher
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
ambient temperatures, such as is the case in tropical countries,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. calibration may be required at the International Standards
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