ASTM D1401-21

Standard Test Method for Water Separability of Petroleum Oils and Synthetic Fluids

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method provides a guide for determining the water separation characteristics of oils subject to water contamination and turbulence. It is used for specification of new oils and monitoring of in-service oils.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the ability of petroleum oils or synthetic fluids to separate from water. Although developed specifically for steam-turbine oils having viscosities of 28.8 mm2/s to 90 mm2/s at 40 °C, this test method may be used to test oils of other types having various viscosities and synthetic fluids at other test temperatures. It is recommended, however, that the test temperature be raised to 82 °C ± 1 °C when testing products more viscous than 90 mm2/s at 40 °C. For higher viscosity oils where there is insufficient mixing of oil and water, Test Method D2711 is recommended. Other test temperatures such as 25 °C may also be used. A 1 % sodium choloride (NaCl) solution or synthetic seawater may be used in place of distilled water when testing certain oils or fuels used in marine applications.  
1.2 When testing synthetic fluids whose relative densities are greater than that of water, the procedure is unchanged, but it should be noted that the water will probably float on the emulsion or liquid.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
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. For specific warning statements, see Section 7.  
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: 30-Sep-2021
• ICS: 75.040 - Crude petroleum
• ICS: 75.120 - Hydraulic fluids
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.C0 - Turbine Oils

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: D1401 − 21
Standard Test Method for
1
Water Separability of Petroleum Oils and Synthetic Fluids
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1401; 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
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method covers measurement of the ability of
D665 Test Method for Rust-Preventing Characteristics of
petroleum oils or synthetic fluids to separate from water.
Inhibited Mineral Oil in the Presence of Water
Although developed specifically for steam-turbine oils having
2 2
D1141 Practice for Preparation of Substitute Ocean Water
viscosities of 28.8 mm /s to 90 mm /s at 40 °C, this test
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
method may be used to test oils of other types having various
D2711 Test Method for Demulsibility Characteristics of
viscosities and synthetic fluids at other test temperatures. It is
Lubricating Oils
recommended, however, that the test temperature be raised to
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
82 °C 6 1 °C when testing products more viscous than
2
Petroleum Products
90 mm /s at 40 °C. For higher viscosity oils where there is
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid
insufficient mixing of oil and water, Test Method D2711 is
Fuels, and Lubricants
recommended. Other test temperatures such as 25 °C may also
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
be used. A 1 % sodium choloride (NaCl) solution or synthetic
BS EN ISO 3696:1995 Water for analytical laboratory use—
seawater may be used in place of distilled water when testing
Specification and test methods
certain oils or fuels used in marine applications.
1.2 When testing synthetic fluids whose relative densities
3. Terminology
are greater than that of water, the procedure is unchanged, but
3.1 Definitions:
it should be noted that the water will probably float on the
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, see
emulsion or liquid.
Terminology D4175.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.1.2 emulsion, n—a suspension of fine globules of one or
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
more liquids in another liquid.
standard.
3.1.3 interface, n—a common boundary between different
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the phases of a substance.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.4 phase separation, n—the formation of two layers, an
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
aqueous constituent and a hydrophobic constituent, separated
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
by either a common boundary or a layer of emulsion; typically,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
the aqueous portion will be the lower phase, but for certain
For specific warning statements, see Section 7.
fluidswhoserelativedensitiesaregreaterthanthatofwater,the
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
aqueous portion will be the upper phase.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4. Summary of Test Method
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
4.1 A test specimen consisting of a 40 mL sample and a
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
40 mL quantity of distilled water, or 1 % sodium chloride
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
(NaCl) solution or synthetic seawater are stirred for 5 min in a
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.C0 on Turbine Oils. the ASTM website.
3
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2021. Published December 2021. Originally Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de
approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as D1401 – 19. DOI: la Voie-Creuse, Case postale 56, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://
10.1520/D1401-21. www.iso.ch.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International
...

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: D1401 − 19 D1401 − 21
Standard Test Method for
1
Water Separability of Petroleum Oils and Synthetic Fluids
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1401; 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 measurement of the ability of petroleum oils or synthetic fluids to separate from water. Although
2 2
developed specifically for steam-turbine oils having viscosities of 28.8 mm /s to 90 mm /s at 40 °C, this test method may be used
to test oils of other types having various viscosities and synthetic fluids at other test temperatures. It is recommended, however,
2
that the test temperature be raised to 82 °C 6 1 °C when testing products more viscous than 90 mm /s at 40 °C. For higher
viscosity oils where there is insufficient mixing of oil and water, Test Method D2711 is recommended. Other test temperatures such
as 25 °C may also be used. A 1 % sodium choloride (NaCl) solution or synthetic seawater may be used in place of distilled water
when testing certain oils or fuels used in marine applications.
1.2 When testing synthetic fluids whose relative densities are greater than that of water, the procedure is unchanged, but it should
be noted that the water will probably float on the emulsion or liquid.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
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. For specific warning statements, see Section 7.
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:
D665 Test Method for Rust-Preventing Characteristics of Inhibited Mineral Oil in the Presence of Water
D1141 Practice for Preparation of Substitute Ocean Water
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
D2711 Test Method for Demulsibility Characteristics of Lubricating Oils
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
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.C0 on Turbine Oils.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2019Oct. 1, 2021. Published November 2019December 2021. Originally approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 20182019
as D1401 – 18b.D1401 – 19. DOI: 10.1520/D1401-19.10.1520/D1401-21.
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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D1401 − 21
3
2.2 ISO Standards:
BS EN ISO 3696:1995 Water for analytical laboratory use—Specification and test methods
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, see Terminology D4175.
3.1.2 emulsion, n—a suspension of fine globules of one or more liquids in another liquid.
3.1.3 interface, n—a common boundary between different phases of a substance.
3.1.4 phase separation, n—the formation of two layers, an aqueous constituent and a hydrophobic constituent, separated by either
a common boundary or a layer of emulsion; typically, the aqueous portion will be the lower phase, but for certain fluids whose
relative densities are greater than that of water, the aqueous portion will be the upper phase.
4. Summary of Test Metho
...