ASTM D938-04

Standard Test Method for Congealing Point of Petroleum Waxes, Including Petrolatum

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers determination of the congealing point of petroleum waxes, including petrolatum.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Note 1—This test method is an alternative to Test Method D 127. Results obtained are usually lower than the results obtained by Test Method D 127 - IP 133, the amount of the deviation varying with the nature of the petroleum wax.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2004
• ICS: 75.140 - Waxes, bituminous materials and other petroleum products
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.10.0A - Physical/Chemical Properties

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D938-92(1998)e1 - Standard Test Method for Congealing Point of Petroleum Waxes, Including Petrolatum
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Replaced By: ASTM D938-05 - Standard Test Method for Congealing Point of Petroleum Waxes, Including Petrolatum
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D87-09(2018) - Standard Test Method for Melting Point of Petroleum Wax (Cooling Curve)
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D1465-10(2021) - Standard Test Method for Blocking and Picking Points of Petroleum Wax
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D4732-13(2020) - Standard Specification for Cool-Application Filling Compounds for Telecommunications Wire and Cable
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D3944-12(2017) - Standard Test Method for Solidification Point of Petroleum Wax
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D721-17 - Standard Test Method for Oil Content of Petroleum Waxes
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D127-19 - Standard Test Method for Drop Melting Point of Petroleum Wax, Including Petrolatum
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D4731-13(2020) - Standard Specification for Hot-Application Filling Compounds for Telecommunications Wire and Cable
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D1321-16a - Standard Test Method for Needle Penetration of Petroleum Waxes
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D156-15 - Standard Test Method for Saybolt Color of Petroleum Products (Saybolt Chromometer Method)
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D1500-12(2017) - Standard Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004
• Referred By: ASTM F3401-19 - Standard Test Method for Wax Binder Removal from Equestrian Synthetic Track Surfaces
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004

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
An American National Standard
Designation: D 938 – 04 British Standard 5088
Designation: 76/70(95)
Standard Test Method for
Congealing Point of Petroleum Waxes, Including
1
Petrolatum
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 938; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* as an air jacket, the droplet on the bulb is allowed to cool at a
fixed rate until it congeals.The congealing point is observed as
1.1 This test method covers determination of the congealing
the temperature at which the droplet ceases to flow as the
point of petroleum waxes, including petrolatum.
thermometer is turned.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
5. Significance and Use
information only.
5.1 Congealing point is a wax property that is of interest to
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
many petroleum wax consumers.The procedure described here
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
measures the temperature at which a sample being cooled
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
develops a “set” or resistance to flow. At that temperature, the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
wax may be at or close to the solid state, or it may be semisolid
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
and quite unctuous, depending on the composition of the wax
NOTE 1—This test method is an alternative to Test Method D 127.
or petrolatum being tested. In the case of petrolatums, congeal-
Results obtained are usually lower than the results obtained by Test
ing property is associated with the formation of a gel structure
Method D 127 – IP 133, the amount of the deviation varying with the
as the sample cools.
nature of the petroleum wax.
6. Apparatus
2. Referenced Documents
2 6.1 Thermometer, having the following range and conform-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ingtotherequirementsprescribedinSpecificationE 1orinthe
D 127 Test Method for Drop Melting Point of Petroleum
specifications for IP Standard Thermometers:
Wax Including Petrolatum
Thermometer Number
E 1 Specification forASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers
Temperature Range ASTM IP
20 to 100°C 54C 18C
3. Terminology
68 to 213°F 54F 18F
3.1 Definition:
6.2 Erlenmeyer Flask, 125-mL, glass, to serve as a ther-
3.1.1 congealing point, n— of petroleum wax, that tempera-
mometer jacket.
ture at which molten petroleum wax, when allowed to cool
6.3 Cork or Rubber Stopper, for attaching the thermometer
under prescribed conditions, ceases to flow.
to the Erlenmeyer flask.
4. Summary of Test Method
7. Procedure
4.1 A sample of wax is melted and a droplet is made to
7.1 Adjust the thermometer through the stopper so that the
adhere to the bulb of a thermometer. Using a prewarmed flask
bottomofthebulbwillbe10to15mmabovethebottomofthe
Erlenmeyer flask when the stopper is fitted snugly in the flask.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on After making this adjustment, remove the thermometer and
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
stopper from the flask, being careful not to change the position
D02.10 on Properties of Petroleum Wax.
of the stopper relative to the thermometer stem.
Current edition approved May 1, 2004. Published June 2004. Originally
e1
7.2 Place approximately 50 g of sample, which is represen-
approved in 1947. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D 938–92 (1998) .
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
tative of the material under inspection, in a porcelain evapo-
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
rating dish or other suitable container.
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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D938–04
ance with this turning rate. The brief pause time is not to be included in
7.3 Place the empty Erlenmeyer flask (without the ther-
the 2 to 3-s rotation time.
mometer assembly) and the container holding the specimen in
a temperature-controlled oven set at 99 6 3°C (210 6 5°F)
8. Report
until the specimen and the flask reach oven temperature.
8.1 Report the average of the multiple determinations as the
NOTE 2
...