Designation: D 1045 95 (Reapproved 2001)

Standard Test Methods for

Sampling and Testing Plasticizers Used in Plastics1

This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1045; 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.

1. Scope
1.1 These test methods cover sampling and testing of liquid
plasticizers used in compounding of plastics. Acid number,
ester content, specific gravity, color, refractive index, and water
content are determined.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
only.
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. Specific hazards
information is given in Section 5.

D 4052 Test Method for Density and Relative Density of

Liquids by Digital Density Meter8
E 1 Specification for ASTM Thermometers9
E 203 Test Method for Water Using Volumetric Karl Fischer
Titration10
3. Terminology
3.1 DefinitionsDefinitions are in accordance with Terminology D 883 and Terminology D 1600, unless otherwise
indicated.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 These test methods may be used in establishing and
confirming quality control standards for liquid plasticizers used
in the compounding of plastics.

NOTE 1There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.

5. Hazards
5.1 Chemical Hazard of ReagentsSome of the chemicals
used in this test method may be hazardous. Accepted laboratory safety procedures must be followed. See suppliers material safety data sheets for further information.

2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 70 Test Method for Density of Semi-Solid Bituminous
Materials Pycnometer Method2
D 287 Test Method for API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and
Petroleum Products (Hydrometer Method)3
D 792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Relative Density) of Plastics by Displacement4
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics4
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water5
D 1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to
Plastics4
D 1807 Test Methods for Refractive Index and Specific
Optical Dispersion of Electrical Insulating Liquids6
D 3465 Practice for Purity of Monomeric Plasticizers by
Gas Chromatography7

6. Sampling
6.1 The method of sampling specified in 6.2 or 6.3 shall be
used, according to the special conditions that exist.
6.2 From Loaded Tank Car or Other Large VesselThe
composite sample taken shall be not less than 2 L (12 gal) and
should consist of small samples of not more than 1 L (1 qt)
each, taken from near the top and bottom by means of a metal
or glass container with removable stopper or top. This device,
attached to a suitable pole, shall be lowered to the desired
depth, when the stopper or top shall be removed and the
container allowed to fill. A bomb sampler attached to a chain is
convenient to use; the opening should be adjusted so that the
bomb will fill on the way down.
6.3 From Barrels and DrumsAt least 5 % of the packages
in any shipment shall be represented in the sample. The
purchaser may increase the percentage of packages to be
sampled at his discretion; in the case of plasticizers that are
purchased in small quantity, each package may be sampled and

1
These methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastics
Materials (Section D20.15.11 on Plasticizers).
Current edition approved March 15, 1995. Published May 1995. Originally
published as D 1045 49 T. Last previous edition D 1045 86 (1990)e1.
This edition contains changes in Section 1 to include an ISO equivalency
statement.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.03.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.01.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.03.
7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.

Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.03.

Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.03.
10
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.05.
9

Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

D 1045
analyzed, if desired. A portion shall be withdrawn from near
the center of each package sampled by means of a thief or
other sampling device and composited. The composite sample
thus obtained shall be not less than 1 L (1 qt) and shall consist
of equal portions of not less than 250 mL (12 pt) from each
package sampled.

10.3 BlankMake a blank titration on 50 mL of the solvent

used to dissolve the sample.

7. Purity of Reagents
7.1 Purity of ReagentsReagent-grade chemicals shall be
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
all reagents shall conform to the specifications of the Committee on Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society,
where such specifications are available.11 Other grades may be
used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of
sufficiently high purity to permit its use without lessening the
accuracy of the determination.
7.2 Unless otherwise indicated, references to water shall be
understood to mean reagent water conforming to Specification
D 1193.

Acid number 5 @~A 2 B!N3 56.1#/C

where:
A = NaOH or KOH solution required for titration of the
sample, mL,
B = NaOH or KOH solution required for titration of the
blank, mL,
N = normality of the NaOH or KOH solution, and
C = sample used, g.
11.2 If desired, in the case of esters, the results may be
expressed as a percentage by weight of the appropriate acid, by
using the proper factor in the equation in 11.1.

ACID NUMBER

ESTER CONTENTTITRIMETRIC

8. Thermometers
8.1 All temperature measurements shall be made with
ASTM thermometers of suitable range, accurate to within
0.1C and conforming to the requirements prescribed in
Specification E 1.

12. Reagents
12.1 Bromthymol Blue Indicator Solution.
12.2 Hydrochloric Acid, Standard (0.5 N)Prepare and standardize a 0.5 N aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid (HCI).
12.3 Potassium Hydroxide, Standard Solution (0.5 N)
Prepare and standardize a 0.5 N alcoholic solution of potassium
hydroxide (KOH).

11. Calculation
11.1 Calculate the acid number, expressed as milligrams of
KOH per gram of sample, as follows:

9. Reagents
9.1 AlcoholDenatured alcohol, Formula No. 3A of the U.
S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
9.2 Alkali, Standard Solution ( 0.01 N)Prepare and standardize a 0.01 N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide
(NaOH) or a 0.01 N alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide
(KOH).
9.3 Alkali, Standard Solution (0.1 N)Prepare and standardize a 0.1 N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
or a 0.1 N alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH).
9.4 Acetone.
9.5 Bromthymol Blue Indicator Solution.

(1)

13. Procedure
13.1 Weigh accurately about 2 g of the sample into a
250-mL Erlenmeyer flask with ground-glass joint. By means of
a constant delivery pipet or buret, add 50 mL of 0.5 N KOH
solution. Connect to a water-cooled condenser with groundglass joint and reflux for a period of 1 to 4 h, depending on the
ester being tested, or until saponification is complete.
13.2 After the apparatus has cooled, wash down the condenser with water and disconnect. Add a few drops of
bromthymol blue indicator solution to contents of the flask and
titrate with 0.5 N HCl.
13.3 BlankRun a blank, containing 50 mL of the 0.5 N
KOH solution, along with the sample.

10. Procedure
10.1 Weigh 25 g of the sample into a 125-mL Erlenmeyer
flask and dissolve in 50 mL of alcohol. If the sample is not
completely soluble in alcohol, use 50 mL of a mixture of equal
parts of alcohol and acetone. With certain samples it may be
necessary first to add 25 mL of acetone, warm to effect
solution, and then add 25 mL of alcohol.
10.2 Add a few drops of bromthymol blue indicator solution
and titrate with 0.01 N NaOH or KOH solution. If the titration
exceeds 10 mL, repeat the determination using 0.1 N NaOH or
KOH solution.

14. Calculation
14.1 Calculate the ester content, expressed in milligrams of
KOH per gram of sample, as follows:
Ester content 5 @~D 2 E!N 3 56.1#/G 2 F

(2)

where:
D = HCl required for titration of the blank, mL,
E = HCl required for titration of the sample, mL,
F = correction for acidity of sample (Section 11),
N = normality of the HCl, and
G = sample used, g.
14.2 If desired, the results may be expressed as a percentage
of the appropriate ester by weight, by using the proper factor in
the equation in 14.1.

11
Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American
Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not
listed by the American Chemical Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory
Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset, U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia
and National Formulary, U.S. Pharmaceutical Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville,
MD.

D 1045
20.2 To prepare standards having colors of 5, 10, 15, etc.,
dilute 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 mL, etc., of the solution described in 20.1
with water to 50 mL in standard Nessler tubes. If 100-mL
standard Nessler tubes are used, dilute 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 mL, etc., to
100 mL with water to obtain colors of 5, 10, 15, etc. Protect the
tubes from evaporation and from dust when not in use. If
desired, commercially available platinum-cobalt standards in
Nessler tubes or colored glass disks with proper spectral
transmission may be used, provided they are first checked
against standards prepared from K2 PtCl6 and CoCl2 6H2 O as
described above.

ESTER CONTENTGAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

15. Procedure
15.1 The ester content may be determined using Practice
D 3465.
SPECIFIC GRAVITY
16. Selection of Test Method
16.1 Specific gravity may be determined using a hydrometer
(Test Method D 287), Westphal balance, pycnometer (Section
17) or Digital Density Meter (Test Method D 4052). Extremely
viscous samples may be tested by Test Methods D 792 or Test
Method D 70.

21. Procedure
21.1 Fill a 50 or 100-mL Nessler tube with the sample and
compare with the standards by holding side by side and looking
down through the columns of liquid at a matte white surface
illuminated by northern daylight.

17. Procedure Using Pycnometer

17.1 Determine the weight capacity of the pycnometer with
water at 23 6 1C. Fill this standardized pycnometer with a
portion of the sample that has been cooled to approximately
20C. Insert the thermometer or capillary tube, taking care to
avoid introduction of air bubbles. Set the pycnometer in a
constant-temperature water bath maintained at 23 6 1C (73.4
6 1.8F) for a period of at least 30 min. Remove the droplet of
sample from the overflow capillary and cover with the glass
cap. Clean the outside of the pycnometer and weigh.

22. Apparatus
22.1 RefractometerAn Abbe refractometer with scale
graduated directly in terms of refractive index of the D line of
sodium at a temperature of 23C.
22.2 Water SupplyA water supply, the temperature of
which may be varied.
REFRACTIVE INDEX
23. Procedure
23.1 The refractive index may be measured using the
appropriate routine or precision method from Test Method
D 1807 or the method given in Sections 22 and 24.

18. Calculation
18.1 Calculate the specific gravity as follows:
Specific gravity at 23/23C 5 A/B

(3)

24. Procedure
24.1 Place the refractometer in front of a suitable source of
light (either daylight or electric light), insert the thermometer,
and adjust the circulation of water so as to bring the prisms to
the desired temperature (usually 23C (73.4F)). Clean with
alcohol and wipe dry. Spread a drop of the liquid to be tested
upon the lower prism and clamp the prisms together. Adjust the
mirror so that the light enters the telescope. Focus the eyepiece
on the cross-hairs and the reading lens of the scale. Upon
moving the prism arm, a position can now be found where the
lower part of the field is dark and the upper part light. In
general, the borderline will be colored. Correct by turning the
milled head on the right of the telescope so that a sharp black
and white edge is obtained. Move the prism arm until this black
edge just crosses the intersection of the cross-hairs. Read the
refractive index from the scale, estimating the fourth decimal
place.
24.2 The accuracy of the instrument may be checked by a
small test plate of known refractive index, which is supplied
with the refractometer. Attach this test plate to the upper prism
with a liquid of high refractive index (usually monobromonaphthalene). Errors may be corrected by means of a small
adjusting screw.

where:
A = grams of sample used, and
B = water capacity of pycnometer in grams.
COLOR
19. Application
19.1 Useful comparisons between the color of relatively
light colored plasticizers and platinum-cobalt standards may be
made for colors in the range from 0 to 200, as defined in
Section 20.
20. Preparation of Color Standards12
20.1 Dissolve 1.245 g of potassium chloroplatinate (K2
PtCl6), containing 0.5 g of platinum, and 1 g of crystallized
cobaltous chloride (CoCl2 6H2 O), containing about 0.248 g of
cobalt, in water containing 100 mL of HCl (sp gr 1.19). Dilute
to 1 L with water to prepare a solution having a color of 500.
This solution, already prepared, may be purchased from
laboratory supply houses.

12
The preparation of these platinum-cobalt color standards was originally
described by Hazen, A., American Chemical Journal, Vol 14, 1892, 300. The
description given in these methods is substantially identical with that given in the
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Sewage. Am. Public Health
Assn., Ninth Edition, p. 14. A description of these standards is also given by Scott,
W. W., Standard Methods of Chemical Analyses. Fifth Edition, Vol 2, p. 2048.

WATER CONTENT
25. Procedure
25.1 The water content may be measured using Test Method
E 203.
3

D 1045
Section 22 have not been successful. For this reason, data on
precision and bias cannot be given. Anyone wishing to participate in the development of precision and bias data should
contact the ASTM headquarters.

26. Precision and Bias

26.1 Precision and bias statements are an integral part of
referenced test procedures used in this test method. These
statements are to be considered applicable to test results
obtained by use of this test method.
26.2 Attempts to develop precision and bias statements for
Acid Number, Ester Content-Titrimetric, Specific GravityPycnometer, Color, and Refractive Index by the procedure in

27. Keywords
27.1 plasticizer; plasticizer acid number; plasticizer color;
plasticizer ester content; plasticizer refractive index; sampling;
test methods

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