ASTM D7346-15(2021)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for No Flow Point and Pour Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels
Standard Test Method for No Flow Point and Pour Point of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The no flow point of a petroleum product is an index of the lowest temperature of its utility for some applications. Flow characteristics, such as no flow point, can be critical for the proper operation of lubricating systems, fuel systems, and pipeline operations.
5.2 Petroleum blending operations require precise measurement of the no flow point.
5.3 This test method can determine the temperature of the test specimen with a resolution of 0.1 °C at which either crystals have formed or viscosity has increased sufficiently, or both, to impede flow of the petroleum product.
5.4 The pour point of a petroleum product is an index of the lowest temperature of its utility for certain applications. Flow characteristics, like pour point, can be critical for the correct operation of lubricating oil systems, fuel systems, and pipeline operations.
5.5 Petroleum blending operations require precise measurement of the pour point.
5.6 Pour point results from this test method can be reported at either 1 °C or 3 °C intervals.
5.7 This test method yields a pour point in a format similar to Test Method D97/IP15 when the 3 °C interval results are reported.
5.8 This test method has better repeatability and reproducibility relative to Test Method D97/IP15 as measured in the 2011 interlaboratory test program (see 13.1.2).
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the no flow point and pour point of petroleum products, liquid fuels, biodiesel, and biodiesel blends using an automatic instrument.
1.2 The measuring range of the apparatus is from –95 °C to 45 °C, however the precision statements were derived only from samples with no flow point temperatures from –77 °C to +2 °C and samples with pour point in the temperature range of –58 °C to +12 °C.
1.3 Pour point results from this test method can be reported at 1 °C or 3 °C intervals.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 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.
1.6 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
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: D7346 − 15 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Test Method for
No Flow Point and Pour Point of Petroleum Products and
1
Liquid Fuels
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7346; 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.
1. Scope D4177 Practice for Automatic Sampling of Petroleum and
Petroleum Products
1.1 Thistestmethodcoversthedeterminationofthenoflow
D6300 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias
point and pour point of petroleum products, liquid fuels,
Data for Use in Test Methods for Petroleum Products,
biodiesel, and biodiesel blends using an automatic instrument.
Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
1.2 The measuring range of the apparatus is from –95 °C to
D6708 Practice for StatisticalAssessment and Improvement
45 °C, however the precision statements were derived only
of Expected Agreement Between Two Test Methods that
from samples with no flow point temperatures from –77 °C to
Purport to Measure the Same Property of a Material
+2 °C and samples with pour point in the temperature range of
–58 °C to +12 °C.
3. Terminology
1.3 Pour point results from this test method can be reported
3.1 Definitions:
at 1 °C or 3 °C intervals.
3.1.1 pour point, n—in petroleum products, the lowest
temperature at which movement of the test specimen is
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
observed under the prescribed conditions of the test.
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 no-flow point, n—in petroleum products, the tempera-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the ture of the test specimen at which a wax crystal structure
formation or viscosity increase, or both, is sufficient to impede
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- movement of the surface of the test specimen under the
conditions of the test.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor- 3.2.1.1 Discussion—The no-flow point occurs when, upon
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- cooling, the formation of wax crystal structures or viscosity
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the increase, or both, have progressed to the point where the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- applied observation device no longer detects movement under
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical the conditions of the test.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4. Summary of Test Method
2. Referenced Documents
4.1 After inserting the test specimen into the automatic no
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: flow point apparatus and initiating the program, the test
D97 Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products specimen is heated, if necessary, to a starting temperature and
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and then cooled by prescribed rates. The test specimen is continu-
Petroleum Products ously tested for flow characteristics by continuously monitor-
ing the air pressure variation inside the test specimen vial.
When the specimen is still fluid, its movement will partially
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
compensateforthereductioninairpressureinthetestchamber
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
above the test specimen surface. At some temperature the
Subcommittee D02.07 on Flow Properties.
pressure measuring system detects a pressure decrease due to
Current edition approved April 1, 2021. Published May 2021. Originally
incapability of the test specimen to flow caused by a crystal
approved in 2007. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D7346 – 15. DOI:
10.1520/D7346-15R21.
structure formation in the specimen or its viscosity increase, or
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
both. This temperature is recorded as no flow point with a
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
resolution of 0.1 °C. The pour point is recorded by rounding
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. the no flow point temperature to either the next warmer 1 °C
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