ASTM D4052-96(2002)e1
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Density and Relative Density of Liquids by Digital Density Meter
Standard Test Method for Density and Relative Density of Liquids by Digital Density Meter
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Density is a fundamental physical property that can be used in conjunction with other properties to characterize both the light and heavy fractions of petroleum and petroleum products.
Determination of the density or relative density of petroleum and its products is necessary for the conversion of measured volumes to volumes at the standard temperature of 15°C.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the density or relative density of petroleum distillates and viscous oils that can be handled in a normal fashion as liquids at test temperatures between 15 and 35°C. Its application is restricted to liquids with vapor pressures below 600 mm Hg (80 kPa) and viscosities below about 15000 cSt (mm 2/s) at the temperature of test.
1.2 This test method should not be applied to samples so dark in color that the absence of air bubbles in the sample cell cannot be established with certainty. For the determination of density in crude oil samples use Test Method D 5002.
1.3 The accepted units of measure for density are grams per millilitre or kilograms per cubic metre.
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. For specific hazard statements, see 7.4, 7.5, and 9.1.
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Designation:D4052–96 (Reapproved 2002)
Designation: 365/84(86)
Standard Test Method for
Density and Relative Density of Liquids by Digital Density
Meter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4052; 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 method was adopted as a joint ASTM-IP standard in 1984.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
´ NOTE—Warning notes were placed in the text editorially in May 2002.
1. Scope D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
Petroleum Products
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the density
D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and
or relative density of petroleum distillates and viscous oils that
Petroleum Products
can be handled in a normal fashion as liquids at test tempera-
D4377 Test Method for Water in Crude Oils by Potentio-
tures between 15 and 35°C. Its application is restricted to
metric Karl Fischer Titration
liquids with vapor pressures below 600 mm Hg (80 kPa) and
D5002 Test Method for Density and Relative Density of
viscosities below about 15 000 cSt (mm /s) at the temperature
Crude Oils by Digital Density Analyzer
of test.
1.2 This test method should not be applied to samples so
3. Terminology
dark in color that the absence of air bubbles in the sample cell
3.1 Definitions:
cannot be established with certainty. For the determination of
3.1.1 density—mass per unit volume at a specified tempera-
density in crude oil samples use Test Method D5002.
ture.
1.3 The accepted units of measure for density are grams per
3.1.2 relative density—the ratio of the density of a material
millilitre or kilograms per cubic metre.
at a stated temperature to the density of water at a stated
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
temperature.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4. Summary of Test Method
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.1 A small volume (approximately 0.7 mL) of liquid
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
sample is introduced into an oscillating sample tube and the
statements, see 7.4, 7.5, and 9.1.
change in oscillating frequency caused by the change in the
2. Referenced Documents mass of the tube is used in conjunction with calibration data to
2 determine the density of the sample.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
5. Significance and Use
D1250 Guide for Use of the Petroleum MeasurementTables
4 5.1 Density is a fundamental physical property that can be
used in conjunction with other properties to characterize both
the light and heavy fractions of petroleum and petroleum
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
products.
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
5.2 Determination of the density or relative density of
D02.04.0D on Physical and Chemical Methods.
petroleum and its products is necessary for the conversion of
Current edition approved Apr. 10, 1996. Published June 1996. Originally
published as D4052 – 81. Last previous edition D4052 – 95. DOI: 10.1520/D4052- measured volumes to volumes at the standard temperature of
96R02E01.
15°C.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.01.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.02.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D4052–96 (2002)
6. Apparatus laboratory test container and sample volume shall be of
sufficient capacity to mix the sample and obtain a homoge-
6.1 Digital Density Analyzer—Adigital analyzer consisting
neous sample for analysis.
of a U-shaped, oscillating sample tube and a system for
8.2 Laboratory Sample—Use only representative samples
electronic excitation, frequency counting, and display. The
obtained as specified in Practices D4057 or D4177 for this test
analyzer must accommodate the accurate measurement of the
method.
sample temperature during measurement or must control the
8.3 Test Specimen—Aportionorvolumeofsampleobtained
sampletemperatureasdescribedin6.2.Theinstrumentshallbe
from the laboratory sample and delivered to the density
capable of meeting the precision requirements described in this
analyzersampletube.Thetestspecimenisobtainedasfollows:
test method.
8.3.1 Mixthesampleifrequiredtohomogenize.Themixing
6.2 Circulating Constant-Temperature Bath, (optional) ca-
may be accomplished as described in Practice D4177 (Section
pable of maintaining the temperature of the circulating liquid
11) or Test Method D4377 (A.1). Mixing at room temperature
constant to 60.05°C in the desired range. Temperature control
in an open container can result in the loss of volatile material,
can be maintained as part of the density analyzer instrument
so mixing in closed, pressurized containers or at sub-ambient
package.
temperatures is recommended.
6.3 Syringes, at least 2 mL in volume with a tip or an
8.3.2 Draw the test specimen from a properly mixed labo-
adapter tip that will fit the opening of the oscillating tube.
ratory sample using an appropriate syringe.Alternatively, if the
6.4 Flow-Through or Pressure Adapter, for use as an
proper density analyzer attachments and connecting tubes are
alternative means of introducing the sample into the density
used then the test specimen can be delivered directly to the
analyzer either by a pump or by vacuum.
analyzer’s sample tube from the mixing container.
6.5 Thermometer, calibrated and graduated to 0.1°C, and a
thermometer holder that can be attached to the instrument for
9. Preparation of Apparatus
setting and observing the test temperature. In calibrating the
9.1 Set up the density analyzer and constant temperature
thermometer, the ice point and bore connections should be
bath following the manufacturer’s instructions.Adjust the bath
estimated to the nearest 0.05°C.
or internal temperature control so that the desired test tempera-
ture is established and maintained in the sample compartment
7. Reagents and Materials
of the analyzer. Calibrate the instrument at the same tempera-
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
ture at which the density of the sample is to be measured.
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
(Warning—Precise setting and control of the test temperature
all reagents shall conform to the specifications of the Commit-
in the sample tube is extremely important. An error of 0.1°C
tee onAnalytical Reagents of theAmerican Chemical Society,
can result in a change in density of one in the fourth decimal.)
where such specifications are available. Other grades may be
used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of
10. Calibration of Apparatus
sufficiently high purity to permit its use without lessening the
10.1 Calibrate the instrument when first set up and when-
accuracy of the determination.
ever the test temperature is changed. Thereafter, conduct
7.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, references
calibration checks at weekly intervals during routine operation.
to water shall be understood to mean reagent water as defined
10.2 Initial calibration, or calibration after a change in test
by Type II of Specification D1193.
temperature, necessitates calculation of the values of the
7.3 Water, redistilled, freshly boiled and cooled reagent
constants A and B from the periods of oscillation (T) observed
water for use as a primary calibration standard.
when the sample cell contains air and redistilled, freshly boiled
7.4 Petroleum Naphtha for flushing viscous petroleum
and cooled reagent water. Other calibrating materials such as
samples from the sample tube. (Warning—Extremely flam-
n-nonane, n-tridecane, cyclohexane, and n-hexadecane (for
mable.)
high temperature applications) can also be used as appropriate.
7.5 Acetone, for flushing and drying the sample tube.
10.2.1 While monitoring the oscillator period, T, flush the
(Warning—Extremely flammable.)
sample tube with petroleum naphtha, followed with an acetone
7.6 Dry Air—for blowing the oscillator tube.
flushanddrywithdryair.Contaminatedorhumidaircanaffect
the calibration. When these conditions exist in the laboratory,
8. Sampling, Test Specimens, and Test Units
pass the air used for calibration through a suitable purification
8.1 Sampling is defined as all the steps required to obtain an
and drying train. In addition, the inlet and outlet ports for the
aliquot of the contents of any pipe, tank, or other system, and
U-tube must be plugged during measurement of the calibration
to place the sample into the laboratory test container. The
air to prevent ingress of moist air.
10.2.2 Allow the dry air in the U-tube to come to thermal
equilibrium with the test temperature and record the T-value
Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American
for air.
Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not
10.2.3 Introduce a small volume (about 0.7 mL) of redis-
listed by the American Chemical Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory
Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset, U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia
tilled, freshly boiled and cooled reagent water into the sample
and National Formulary, U.S. Pharmaceutical Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville,
tube from the bottom opening using a suitable syringe.The test
MD.
portion must be homogeneous and free of even the smallest air
Suitable solvent naphthas are marketed under various designations such as
“Petroleum Ether,” “Ligroine,” or “Precipitation Naphtha.” orgasbubbles.Thesampletubedoesnothavetobecompletely
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D4052–96 (2002)
full as long as the liquid meniscus is beyond the suspension be compensated for by adjusting A and B, it is good practice to
point. Allow the display to reach a steady reading and record clean the tube with warm chromic acid solution (Warning—
the T-value for water.
Causes severe burns. A recognized carcinogen.) whenever a
10.2.4 Calculate the density of air at the temperature of test
majoradjustmentisrequired.Chromicacidsolutionisthemost
using the following equation:
effective cleaning agent; however, surfactant cleaning fluids
have also been used successfully.
d , g/mL 5 0.001293[273.15/T#@P/760] (1)
a
10.3.1 Flush and dry the sample tube as described in 10.2.1
where:
and allow the display to reach a steady reading. If the display
T = temperature, K, and
does not exhibi
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