ASTM D156-02
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Saybolt Color of Petroleum Products (Saybolt Chromometer Method)
Standard Test Method for Saybolt Color of Petroleum Products (Saybolt Chromometer Method)
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the color of refined oils such as undyed motor and aviation gasoline, jet propulsion fuels, naphthas and kerosine, and, in addition, petroleum waxes and pharmaceutical white oils.
Note 1—For determining the color of petroleum products darker than Saybolt Color 16, see Test Method D 1500.
1.2 This test method reports results specific to this test method and recorded as, "Saybolt Color units."
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units or in SI units and which are not in parentheses are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
Note 2—Oil tubes and apparatus used in this test method have traditionally been marked in inches, (the tube is required to be etched with 1/8 in. divisions.) The Saybolt Color Numbers are aligned with inch, 1/2 in., 1/4 in., and 1/8 in. changes in the depth of oil. These fractional inch changes do not readily correspond to SI equivalents and in view of the preponderance of apparatus already in use and marked in inches, the inch/pound unit is regarded as the standard. However the test method does use SI units of length when the length is not directly related to divisions on the oil tube and Saybolt Color Numbers. The test method uses SI units for temperature.
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.
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Standards Content (Sample)
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An American National Standard
Designation: D 156 – 02
Standard Test Method for
Saybolt Color of Petroleum Products (Saybolt Chromometer
1
Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D156; 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 (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.
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1. Scope Petroleum Products
1.1 Thistestmethodcoversthedeterminationofthecolorof
3. Terminology
refined oils such as undyed motor and aviation gasoline, jet
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
propulsion fuels, naphthas and kerosine, and, in addition,
3.1.1 Saybolt color—an empirical definition of the color of
petroleum waxes and pharmaceutical white oils.
a clear petroleum liquid based on a scale of−16 (darkest)
NOTE 1—For determining the color of petroleum products darker than
to+30 (lightest). The number is derived by finding the height
Saybolt Color−16, see Test Method D1500.
of a column of the sample that, when viewed through the
1.2 This test method reports results specific to this test
length of the column, visually matches the appropriate one of
method and recorded as, “Saybolt Color units.”
three glass standards and referring to Table 1 of Test Method
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units or in SI units and
D156.
whicharenotinparenthesesaretoberegardedasthestandard.
4. Summary of Test Method
The values given in parentheses are for information only.
4.1 The height of a column of sample is decreased by levels
NOTE 2—Oil tubes and apparatus used in this test method have
correspondingtocolornumbersuntilthecolorofthesampleis
traditionallybeenmarkedininches,(thetubeisrequiredtobeetchedwith
1 1
unmistakably lighter than that of the standard. The color
⁄8in.divisions.)TheSayboltColorNumbersarealignedwithinch, ⁄2in.,
1 1
⁄4in.,and ⁄8in.changesinthedepthofoil.Thesefractionalinchchanges number above this level is reported, regardless of whether the
do not readily correspond to SI equivalents and in view of the prepon-
samplewasdarker,questionable,oramatchatthehigherlevel.
derance of apparatus already in use and marked in inches, the inch/pound
unitisregardedasthestandard.HoweverthetestmethoddoesuseSIunits
5. Significance and Use
oflengthwhenthelengthisnotdirectlyrelatedtodivisionsontheoiltube
5.1 Determinationofthecolorofpetroleumproductsisused
and Saybolt Color Numbers. The test method uses SI units for tempera-
mainly for manufacturing control purposes and is an important
ture.
qualitycharacteristicsincecolorisreadilyobservedbytheuser
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
of the product. In some cases the color may serve as an
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
indicationofthedegreeofrefinementofthematerial.Whenthe
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
colorrangeofaparticularproductisknown,avariationoutside
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
theestablishedrangemayindicatepossiblecontaminationwith
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
another product. However, color is not always a reliable guide
to product quality and should not be used indiscriminantly in
2. Referenced Documents
product specifications.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D938 Test Method for Congealing Point of Petroleum
6. Apparatus
2
Waxes, Including Petrolatum
6.1 The Saybolt chromometer consisting of sample and
D1500 Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Prod-
standard tubes, optical system, light source, and color stan-
2
ucts (ASTM Color Scale)
dards, is described in detail inAnnexA1 and illustrated in Fig.
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
A1.1.
7. Standardization of Apparatus
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
7.1 Remove the glass disk from the bottom of the oil tube.
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
Clean the disk, oil tube, and plain tube. When deposits are not
D02.05.0C on Color and Reactivity.
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 2002. Published January 2003. Originally
approved in 1923. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D156–00.
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.02.
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D156–02
TABLE 1 Saybolt Colors Corresponding to Depths of Oil
Number of Color Number of Color Depth of Oil,
Depth of Oil, in. (mm) Color Number Color Number
Standards Standards in. (mm)
One-half 20.0
...
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