ASTM D2878-10(2016)

Standard Test Method for Estimating Apparent Vapor Pressures and Molecular Weights of Lubricating Oils

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The vapor pressure of a substance as determined by measurement of evaporation reflects a property of the bulk sample. Little weight is given by the procedure to the presence of low concentrations of volatile impurities.  
5.2 Vapor pressure, per se, is a thermodynamic property that is dependent only upon composition and temperature for stable systems. In the present method, composition changes occur during the course of the test so that the contribution of minor amounts of volatile impurities is minimized.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a calculation procedure for converting data obtained by Test Method D972 to apparent vapor pressures and molecular weights. It has been demonstrated to be applicable to petroleum-based and synthetic ester lubricating oils,2 at temperatures of 395 K to 535 K (250 °F to 500 °F). However, its applicability to lubricating greases has not been established.  
Note 1: Most lubricants boil over a fairly wide temperature range, a fact recognized in discussion of their vapor pressures. For example, the apparent vapor pressure over the range 0 % to 0.1 % evaporated may be as much as 100 times that over the range 4.9 % to 5.0 % evaporated.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. In cases in which materials, products, or equipment are available in inch-pound units only, SI units are omitted.  
1.3 WARNING—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause central nervous system, kidney and liver damage. Mercury, or its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the applicable product Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for details and EPA’s website—http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm—for additional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury or mercury containing products into your state or country may be prohibited by law.  
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 or regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific warning statements, see 6.2, 7.1, 8.2, and Annex A2.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2015
• ICS: 75.100 - Lubricants, industrial oils and related products
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.L0.07 - Engineering Sciences of High Performance Fluids and Solids (Formally D02.1100)

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: D2878 − 10 (Reapproved 2016)
Standard Test Method for
Estimating Apparent Vapor Pressures and Molecular
1
Weights of Lubricating Oils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2878; 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 2. Referenced Documents
3
1.1 This test method covers a calculation procedure for 2.1 ASTM Standards:
converting data obtained by Test Method D972 to apparent A240/A240M Specification for Chromium and Chromium-
vapor pressures and molecular weights. It has been demon- Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip for Pressure
strated to be applicable to petroleum-based and synthetic ester Vessels and for General Applications
2
lubricating oils, at temperatures of 395 K to 535 K (250 °F to D92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland
500 °F). However, its applicability to lubricating greases has Open Cup Tester
not been established. D972 Test Method for Evaporation Loss of Lubricating
Greases and Oils
NOTE 1—Most lubricants boil over a fairly wide temperature range, a
D2503 TestMethodforRelativeMolecularMass(Molecular
fact recognized in discussion of their vapor pressures. For example, the
Weight) of Hydrocarbons by Thermoelectric Measure-
apparent vapor pressure over the range 0 % to 0.1 % evaporated may be
as much as 100 times that over the range 4.9 % to 5.0 % evaporated.
ment of Vapor Pressure
D2595 Test Method for Evaporation Loss of Lubricating
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
Greases Over Wide-Temperature Range
standard. In cases in which materials, products, or equipment
D2883 Test Method for Reaction Threshold Temperature of
are available in inch-pound units only, SI units are omitted.
Liquid and Solid Materials
1.3 WARNING—Mercury has been designated by many
E659 Test Method for Autoignition Temperature of Chemi-
regulatory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause
cals
central nervous system, kidney and liver damage. Mercury, or
its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to
3. Terminology
materials. Caution should be taken when handling mercury and
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
mercury containing products. See the applicable product Ma-
3.1.1 apparent vapor pressure (p), n—the time-averaged
terial Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for details and EPA’s
value of the vapor pressure from the start to the end of the
website—http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm—for addi-
evaporation test.
tional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury
3.1.1.1 Discussion—While this may include some effects of
or mercury containing products into your state or country may
differences in nonideality of the vapor, heat of vaporization,
be prohibited by law.
surface tension, and viscosity between the m-terphenyl and the
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
lubricating oil, these factors have been demonstrated to be
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
negligible.Unlessstated,thisaverageshallcovertherange0to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5 61%.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.2 cell constant (k), n—the ratio of the amount of
bility or regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
m-terphenylorlubricatingoilcarriedoffperunitvolumeofgas
warning statements, see 6.2, 7.1, 8.2, and Annex A2.
to that predicted by Dalton’s law.
k 5 22.41 PW/VpM (1)
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of Committee D02 on Petroleum
where:
Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcom-
mittee D02.L0.07 on Engineering Sciences of High Performance Fluids and Solids
k = call constant
(Formally D02.1100).
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2016. Published February 2016. Originally
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D2878 – 10. DOI:
3
10.1520/D2878-10R16. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
2
Coburn, J. F., “Lubricant Vapor Pressure Derived from Evaporation Loss,” contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Transactions, American Society of Lubricating Engineers, ASLTA, Vol 12 , 1969, Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
pp. 129–134. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D2878 − 10 (2016)
4
6.5 Flowmeter —A rotameter calibrated to deliver air at a
P = ambient atmospheric press
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D2878 − 10 D2878 − 10 (Reapproved 2016)
Standard Test Method for
Estimating Apparent Vapor Pressures and Molecular
1
Weights of Lubricating Oils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2878; 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
1.1 This test method covers a calculation procedure for converting data obtained by Test Method D972 to apparent vapor
2
pressures and molecular weights. It has been demonstrated to be applicable to petroleum-based and synthetic ester lubricating oils,
at temperatures of 395395 K to 535K (250535 K (250 °F to 500°F).500 °F). However, its applicability to lubricating greases has
not been established.
NOTE 1—Most lubricants boil over a fairly wide temperature range, a fact recognized in discussion of their vapor pressures. For example, the apparent
vapor pressure over the range 00 % to 0.1 % evaporated may be as much as 100 times that over the range 4.94.9 % to 5.0 % evaporated.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. In cases in which materials, products, or equipment are
available in inch-pound units only, SI units are omitted.
1.3 WARNING—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause central
nervous system, kidney and liver damage. Mercury, or its vapor, may be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution
should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the applicable product Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS) for details and EPA’s website—http://www.epa.gov/mercury/faq.htm—for additional information. Users should be aware
that selling mercury or mercury containing products into your state or country may be prohibited by law.
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 or regulatory
limitations prior to use. For specific warning statements, see 6.2, 7.1, 8.2, and Annex A2.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A240/A240M Specification for Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip for Pressure Vessels and
for General Applications
D92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester
D972 Test Method for Evaporation Loss of Lubricating Greases and Oils
D2503 Test Method for Relative Molecular Mass (Molecular Weight) of Hydrocarbons by Thermoelectric Measurement of
Vapor Pressure
D2595 Test Method for Evaporation Loss of Lubricating Greases Over Wide-Temperature Range
D2883 Test Method for Reaction Threshold Temperature of Liquid and Solid Materials
E659 Test Method for Autoignition Temperature of Chemicals
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 apparent vapor pressure (p), n—the time-averaged value of the vapor pressure from the start to the end of the evaporation
test.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.L0.07 on Engineering Sciences of High Performance Fluids and Solids (Formally D02.1100).
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2010Jan. 1, 2016. Published October 2010February 2016. Originally approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 20092010 as
D2878–95(2009).D2878 – 10. DOI: 10.1520/D2878-10.10.1520/D2878-10R16.
2
Coburn, J. F., “Lubricant Vapor Pressure Derived from Evaporation Loss,” Transactions, American Society of Lubricating Engineers, ASLTA, Vol 12 , 1969, pp. 129–134.
3
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 the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D2878 − 10 (2016)
3.1.1.1 Discussion—
While this may include some effects of differences in nonideality of the vapor, heat of vaporization, surface tension, and viscosity
between the m-terphenyl and the lubricating oil, these factors have been
...