ASTM D1500-04a

Standard Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Determination of the color of petroleum products is used mainly for manufacturing control purposes and is an important quality characteristic, since color is readily observed by the user of the product. In some cases, the color may serve as an indication of the degree of refinement of the material. When the color range of a particular product is known, a variation outside the established range may indicate possible contamination with another product. However, color is not always a reliable guide to product quality and should not be used indiscriminately in product specifications.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the visual determination of the color of a wide variety of petroleum products, such as lubricating oils, heating oils, diesel fuel oils, and petroleum waxes.
Note 1—Test Method D 156 is applicable to refined products that have an ASTM color lighter than 0.5. IP Method 17 includes a procedure for measuring the color of undyed, refined products such as gasoline, white spirit, and kerosine by comparison with a series of IP Standard glasses. It also includes a procedure by which petroleum products, except black oils and bitumens, may be measured for tint and depth of color in terms of Lovibond units by a series of red, yellow, and blue glasses.
1.2 This test method reports results specific to the test method and recorded as "ASTM Color."
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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2004
• ICS: 17.180.20 - Colours and measurement of light
• ICS: 75.080 - Petroleum products in general
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.05 - Properties of Fuels, Petroleum Coke and Carbon Material

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D1500-04 - Standard Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Replaced By: ASTM D1500-07 - Standard Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D1218-21 - Standard Test Method for Refractive Index and Refractive Dispersion of Hydrocarbon Liquids
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D8323-20 - Standard Guide for Management of In-Service Phosphate Ester-based Fluids for Steam Turbine Electro-Hydraulic Control (EHC) Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D8506-23 - Standard Guide for Microbial Contamination and Biodeterioration in Turbine Oils and Turbine Oil Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6074-15(2022) - Standard Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D1524-15(2022) - Standard Test Method for Visual Examination of Used Electrical Insulating Liquids in the Field
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D8128-22 - Standard Guide for Monitoring Failure Mode Progression in Industrial Applications with Rolling Element Ball Type Bearings
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6045-20 - Standard Test Method for Color of Petroleum Products by the Automatic Tristimulus Method
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D3394-16(2022) - Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Electrical Insulating Board
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D4731-13(2020) - Standard Specification for Hot-Application Filling Compounds for Telecommunications Wire and Cable
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6468-22 - Standard Test Method for High Temperature Stability of Middle Distillate Fuels
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D117-22 - Standard Guide for Sampling, Test Methods, and Specifications for Electrical Insulating Liquids
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D6224-22 - Standard Practice for In-Service Monitoring of Lubricating Oil for Auxiliary Power Plant Equipment
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D3455-11(2019) - Standard Test Methods for Compatibility of Construction Material with Electrical Insulating Oil of Petroleum Origin
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-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:D1500–04a
Designation: 196/97
Standard Test Method for
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ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1500; 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* D 938 Test Method for Congealing Point of Petroleum
Waxes, Including Petrolatum
1.1 This test method covers the visual determination of the
D 2500 Test Method for Cloud Point of Petroleum Products
color of a wide variety of petroleum products, such as
D 4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and
lubricating oils, heating oils, diesel fuel oils, and petroleum
Petroleum Products
waxes.
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2.2 Energy Institute Standard:
NOTE 1—Test Method D 156 is applicable to refined products that have
IP 17 Color by the Lovibond Tintometer
an ASTM color lighter than 0.5. IP Method 17 includes a procedure for
measuring the color of undyed, refined products such as gasoline, white
3. Summary of Test Method
spirit, and kerosine by comparison with a series of IP Standard glasses. It
3.1 Using a standard light source, a liquid sample is placed
also includes a procedure by which petroleum products, except black oils
in the test container and compared with colored glass disks
and bitumens, may be measured for tint and depth of color in terms of
Lovibond units by a series of red, yellow, and blue glasses.
ranging in value from 0.5 to 8.0. When an exact match is not
found and the sample color falls between two standard colors,
1.2 This test method reports results specific to the test
the higher of the two colors is reported.
method and recorded as “ASTM Color.”
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4. Significance and Use
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 Determinationofthecolorofpetroleumproductsisused
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
mainly for manufacturing control purposes and is an important
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
quality characteristic, since color is readily observed by the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
user of the product. In some cases, the color may serve as an
2. Referenced Documents indicationofthedegreeofrefinementofthematerial.Whenthe
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colorrangeofaparticularproductisknown,avariationoutside
2.1 ASTM Standards:
theestablishedrangemayindicatepossiblecontaminationwith
D 155 Method of Test for Color of Lubricating Oil and
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another product. However, color is not always a reliable guide
Petrolatum by Means of ASTM Union Colorimeter
to product quality and should not be used indiscriminately in
D 156 Test Method for Saybolt Color of Petroleum Prod-
product specifications.
ucts (Saybolt Chromometer Method)
5. Apparatus
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5.1 Colorimeter, consisting of light source, glass color
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee standards, sample container housing with cover, and viewing
D02.05 on Properties of Fuels, Petroleum Coke and Carbon Material.
piece as listed in Annex A1.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2004. Published November 2004. Originally
5.2 Sample Container—For referee work, use the glass
approved in 1957. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D 1500–04.
samplejarasshowninFig.1.Forroutinetests,itispermissible
This is also a standard of Energy Institute issued under the fixed designation IP
196. The final number indicates the year of last revision. This test method was
to use a cylindrical, clear glass jar with a flat bottom of 30 to
adopted as a jointASTM-IPstandard in 1966. In the IP, this test method is under the
32.4 mm internal diameter, 115 to 125 mm in external height,
jurisdiction of the Standardization Committee.
2 andawallthicknessnogreaterthan1.6mmasspecifiedinTest
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
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the ASTM website. “Methods for Analysis and Testing,” available from Energy Institute, 61 New
3
Withdrawn. Cavendish St., London, WIG 7AR, U.K.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
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D1500–04a
using this test method.When the sam
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