ASTM D3828-98

Standard Test Methods for Flash Point by Small Scale Closed Tester

SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover procedures for the determination of the flash point by a small scale closed tester. The procedures may be used to determine the actual flash point temperature of a sample or whether a product will or will not flash at a specified temperature (flash/no flash).  
1.2 This standard should be used to measure and describe the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response to heat and flame under controlled laboratory conditions and should not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may be used as elements of a fire risk assessment which takes into account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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 Note 8, Table 1, Footnote B, A2.1, A2.2 and the Material Safety Data Sheets for the product being tested.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Nov-1998
• ICS: 75.100 - Lubricants, industrial oils and related products
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.08 - Volatility

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D3828-02 - Standard Test Methods for Flash Point by Small Scale Closed Cup Tester
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-2002

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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.
Designation: D 3828 – 98 An American National Standard
Designation: 303/83 (88)
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Test Methods for
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Flash Point by Small Scale Closed Tester
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3828; 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 is also a standard of the Institute of
Petroleum issued under the fixed designation IP 303. The final number indicates year of last revision.
This test method was adopted as a joint ASTM-IP standard in 1979.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
INTRODUCTION
The flash point method is generally used for testing a sample at a specific temperature. At a set
temperature, the specimen being tested and the air–vapor mixture above it are close to thermal
equilibrium. Test methods for other flash point equipment operated at a specific temperature are
described in Test Method D 3941.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 These test methods cover procedures for the determina- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
tion of the flash point by a small scale closed tester. The D 3941 Test Method for Flash Point by the Equilibrium
2
procedures may be used to determine the actual flash point Method with a Closed – Cup Apparatus
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temperature of a sample or whether a product will or will not 2.2 ISO Standards:
flash at a specified temperature (flash/no flash). Guide 34 Quality Systems Guidelines for the Production of
1.2 This standard should be used to measure and describe Reference Materials
the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response Guide 35 Certification of Reference Materials—General
to heat and flame under controlled laboratory conditions and and Statistical Principles
should not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or
3. Terminology
fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire
3.1 Definitions:
conditions. However, results of this test may be used as
elements of a fire risk assessment which takes into account all 3.1.1 flash point—the lowest temperature corrected to a
pressure of 760 mm Hg (101.3 kPa) at which application of a
of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire
hazard of a particular end use. test flame causes the vapors of a specimen of the sample to
ignite under specified conditions of test.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. The values in parentheses are for information only. 3.1.1.1 Discussion—The specimen is deemed to have
flashed when a flame appears and instantaneously propogates
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the itself over the surface of the specimen.
3.1.1.2 Discussion—Occasionally, particularly near the ac-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- tual flash point, application of the test flame will cause a blue
halo or an enlarged flame; this is not a flash and should be
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
statements, see Note 7, Table 1, Footnote B, A2.1, A2.2 and the ignored.
3.1.2 equilibrium—the vapor above the liquid (specimen)
Material Safety Data Sheets for the product being tested.
and the liquid in a flash point apparatus speciment cup are at
the same temperature at the time the ignition source is applied.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—This condition may not be fully
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-2 on
achieved in practice. Although the temperature pattern is in
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.08 on Volatility.
2
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1998. Published January 1999. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01.
3
published as D 3828 – 79. Last previous edition D 3828 – 97. Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
Floor, New York, NY 10036.
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NOTICE:¬This¬standard¬has¬either¬been¬superceded¬and¬replaced¬by¬a¬new¬version¬or¬discontinued.¬
Contact¬ASTM¬International¬(www.astm.org)¬for¬the¬latest¬information.¬
D 3828
TABLE 1 Calibration of Tester
A,B C A C
Material p-xylene (1.4–Dimethylbenzene) (Warning) n-butanol (Butan-1-ol) (Warning)
Specific gravity, 15.6/15.6°C (60/60°F) 0.860 to 0.866 0.810 to 0.812
Boiling range, °C (°F) 2 (4) maximum including 138.35 (281.03) 2 (4) maximum including 117
...