National Institute of Standards & Technology

Report of Investigation
Reference Material 8010
Sand for Sieve Analysis
This Reference Material (RM) is intended to serve as a test material in the sieve analysis of granular materials. Each
unit comprises a three-bottle set of sands covering three size distributions. Each bottle contains approximately 130 g
of sand, enough for the sample sizes designated in ASTM C 429 Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Raw
Materials for Glass Manufacture [1].

Six sands were obtained by ASTM Committee C-14 for use in a 1997 round robin study involving 15 participating
laboratories to establish a precision statement for ASTM C 429. Three of these six sands, Materials A, C, and D,
were selected by NIST to be measured as RMs. This selection was done with the objective of covering the size
range of U.S.A. standard testing sieve numbers (No.), from No. 30 (600 m) to No. 325 (45 m). Material A is a
test material for the coarser sieves (No. 30 to No. 100), Material C is for the midrange (No. 70 to No. 200), and
Material D is for the finer sieves (No. 100 to No. 325).

Sieve Analysis: Fifteen laboratories provided sieve analysis of two samples of each of the three sands. Each
mechanical sieving analysis was done following recommendations in ASTM STP 447B [2] and used a test stack of
nine sieves: No. 30 (600 m), No. 40 (425 m), No. 50 (300 m), No. 70 (212 m), No. 100 (150 m), No. 140
(106 m), No. 200 (75 m), No. 270 (53 m), and No. 325 (45 m). The sieve testing was designed to provide
reference values (average mass fractions) for sieve analysis and estimates of the standard deviations for within-lab
repeatability (sr) and between-lab reproducibility (sR). The entire bottle of sand was poured onto the top sieve and
the sieves were then shaken for 15 min in an automated unit. After the shaking was completed, the stack of sieves
was disassembled, and the sand removed from each sieve and weighed. The mass of sand retained on each sieve
was used to calculate the mass fraction retained on that sieve. This is the ratio of the mass of sand retained on a
sieve to the total sand mass. Each laboratory reported the mass fractions to a precision of 0.1 %.

Expiration: This RM can be used indefinitely within the measurement uncertainties specified, provided the RM is
used in accordance with the instructions given in this report. However, it is expected that some material will be lost
with each use. When the units loss exceeds 2 % of the original mass, or if spillage or contamination occurs, use of
the RM unit should be discontinued.

The technical direction and sieve analysis at NIST were provided by J.F. Kelly of the NIST Ceramics Division.

Organization of the interlaboratory testing program was coordinated by D.J. ODonnell of Unimin Corp.,
R.J. DeLuca, Consultant and S.L. Gray of Corning, Inc.

Statistical review was performed by K.R. Eberhardt of the NIST Statistical Engineering Division.

The support aspects involved in the issuance of this RM were coordinated through the NIST Standard Reference
Materials Program by R.J. Gettings and B.S. MacDonald of the Measurement Services Division.

Debra L. Kaiser, Chief

Ceramics Division

Gaithersburg, MD 20899 Robert L. Watters, Jr., Acting Chief

Report Issue Date: 18 May 2004 Measurement Services Division
See Report History on Last Page

RM 8010 Page 1 of 3
INSTRUCTION FOR USE

To evaluate a set of standard 203 mm (8 in) or 305 mm (12 in) diameter test sieves with this RM, the entire bottle of
sand should be poured onto the top sieve screen. The sieves are then shaken in the same manner as that to be
followed in routine analysis. After the shaking has been completed, the stack of sieves is disassembled, and the sand
is removed from each sieve and placed into a suitable weighing container. To reduce loss of material during this
step, the transfer operation should utilize a large funnel or be carried out over glazed paper to recover any spillage.
A soft brush is useful in removing the sand from the sieve and funnel. Each of the sieve fractions is weighed to a
precision of 0.01 g. After weighing, the sand is returned to the original RM bottle and kept for reuse. The mass
fraction retained on each sieve is compared to the reference value given in Table 1.

The above procedure is for use in comparison of sieve results and as a method to periodically monitor for changes in
screens after service. This procedure is NOT to be used as a certification for test sieves. For assistance in
complying with the calibration of wire cloth sieves according to ASTM E 11 specifications, contact the NIST
Calibration Program by telephone at (301) 975-3471 or (301) 975-2002, or by fax at (301) 869-3548.

Table 1. Reference Values

Material A Material C Material D

Sieve Mass Fraction Uncertainty Mass Fraction Uncertainty Mass Fraction Uncertainty
No. (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
30 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
40 22.4 6.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
50 42.0 7.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2
70 19.5 3.9 5.7 1.9 0.1 0.2
100 9.2 1.5 41.4 5.1 5.4 3.6
140 5.0 0.7 41.4 6.1 28.5 3.3
200 1.5 0.3 10.4 2.2 27.7 4.8
270 0.2 0.2 0.7 0.6 23.3 4.2
325 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 7.2 4.5
Pan 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 8.2 3.2

Table 2. Repeatability (sr) and Reproducibility (sR) Values Derived

From Round Robin Data Using ASTM E 691 [3]

Material A Material C Material D

Sieve sr sR sr sR sr sR
No. (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
30 0.16 0.16 0.03 0.05 0.02 0.07
40 0.78 2.72 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.03
50 1.09 3.24 0.05 0.07 0.03 0.07
70 1.15 1.80 0.13 0.85 0.04 0.09
100 0.38 0.69 0.78 2.29 1.45 1.64
140 0.15 0.31 0.71 2.75 0.72 1.50
200 0.08 0.14 0.27 0.97 0.94 2.15
270 0.07 0.11 0.14 0.26 0.45 1.87
325 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.09 0.51 2.03
Pan 0.05 0.09 0.05 0.12 0.50 1.42

Uncertainty Analysis: The reference values listed in Table 1 are the average mass fraction, expressed in percent, of
material retained on each sieve. The uncertainties in Table 1 are expanded uncertainties, which are calculated
according to the ISO/NIST guidelines [4], and represent the 95 % level of confidence. The expanded uncertainties
are calculated as U = kuc, where uc is the combined standard uncertainty and k is a coverage factor. The value of uc
represents, at the level of one standard deviation, the combined effects of uncertainty due to (1) between-laboratory
reproducibility of the sieve measurements, (2) within-laboratory repeatability of measurements, and (3) possible
small bottle-to-bottle differences in the material. The value of coverage factor k ranges from 2.03 to 2.16 over the
cases reported, depending on the calculated effective degrees of freedom for uc. It is expected that a qualified
operator sieving a bottle of this RM, using sieves manufactured in compliance with ASTM E 11-95 Standard

RM 8010 Page 2 of 3
Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes [5], will obtain values within this prediction interval
approximately 95 % of the time. For example, it may be expected that a No. 40 screen will retain between 16.4 %
and 28.4 % of the original mass of Material A, at a confidence level of approximately 95 %.

REFERENCES

[1] ASTM C 429-82; Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Raw Materials for Glass Manufacture; Annu.
Book of ASTM Stand, Vol. 15.02, West Conshohocken, PA (1996).
[2] Manual on Test Sieving Methods; ASTM Special Technical Publication 447B, Philadelphia, PA (1985).
[3] ASTM E 691-92: Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a
Test Method; Annual Book of ASTM Stand, Vol. 14.02, West Conshohocken, PA (1997).
[4] ISO; Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement; ISBN 92-67-10188-9, lst ed. International
Organization for Standardization: Geneva, Switzerland (1993); see also Taylor, B.N.; Kuyatt, C.E.; Guidelines
for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results; NIST Technical Note 1297,
U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC (1994); available at http://physics.nist.gov/Pubs/.
[5] ASTM E 11-95; Standard Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes; Annu. Book of
ASTM Stand, Vol. 14.02, West Conshohocken, PA (1997).

Report Revision History: 18 May 2004 (This revision reports a correction in the mass of sample provided in the unit size); 14 February 2002
(This revision reports corrected sieve designations); 03 June 1998 (Original report date).

Users of this SRM should ensure that the certificate in their possession is current. This can be accomplished by
contacting the SRM Program at: telephone (301) 975-6776; fax (301) 926-4751; e-mail srminfo@nist.gov; or via the
Internet http://www.nist.gov/srm.

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