Density and Relative Density of Engine Coolant Concentrates and Aqueous Engine Coolants by Digital Density Meter
Density and Relative Density of Engine Coolant Concentrates and Aqueous Engine Coolants by Digital Density Meter
Density and Relative Density of Engine Coolant Concentrates and Aqueous Engine Coolants by Digital Density Meter
for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D5931 − 20
1. Scope* 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the density 3.1 Definitions:
or relative density of glycols, glycerin, heat transfer fluids, 3.1.1 relative density, n—the ratio of the density of a
engine coolant concentrates, and aqueous engine coolants. material at a stated temperature to the density of water at the
1.2 This test method should not be applied to samples so same stated temperature.
dark in color that the absence of air bubbles in the sample cell
cannot be established with certainty. 4. Summary of Test Method
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as 4.1 A small volume of liquid sample is introduced into an
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this oscillating sample tube, and the change in oscillating frequency
standard. caused by the change in the mass of the tube is used in
1.3.1 The accepted units of measure for density are grams conjunction with calibration data to determine the density of
per milliliter or kilograms per cubic meter. the sample.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5. Significance and Use
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 5.1 Density is a fundamental physical property that can be
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- used in conjunction with other properties to characterize engine
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. coolant concentrates and aqueous engine coolants.
For specific hazard statements, see 7.4. 5.2 Determination of the density or relative density of these
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor- products is necessary for the conversion of measured volumes
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- to volumes at the standard temperature of choice. ASTM
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the specifications normally state the temperatures for density and
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- relative density of fluids; 25 °C, 20 °C, and 15.6 °C are
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical commonly used temperatures.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
6. Apparatus
2. Referenced Documents
6.1 Digital Density Analyzer, consisting of a U-shaped,
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 oscillating sample tube and a system for electronic excitation,
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water frequency counting, and display. The analyzer must accommo-
E230/E230M Specification for Temperature-Electromotive date the accurate measurement of the sample temperature
Force (emf) Tables for Standardized Thermocouples during measurement or must control the sample temperature as
described in 6.2. The instrument must meet the precision
1
requirements described in this test method.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D15 on Engine
Coolants and Related Fluids and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 6.2 Circulating Constant—Temperature Bath, (optional) ca-
D15.03 on Physical Properties. pable of maintaining the temperature of the circulating liquid
Current edition approved May 15, 2020. Published June 2020. Originally
constant to 60.05 °C in the desired range. Temperature control
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as D5931–13(2017).
DOI: 10.1520/D5931-20. can be maintained as part of the density analyzer instrument
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or package.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on 6.3 Syringes, at least 2 mL in volume with a tip or an
the ASTM website. adapter tip that will fit the opening of the oscillating tube.
2
D5931 − 20
A 5 @ T w2 2 T a2# / @ d w 2 d a# (2) calibration requires the determination of an instrument constant
B 5 T a2 2 ~ A 3 d a! (3) K, which must be used to calculate the density or relative
density from the observed data.
where: 9.4.1 Flush and dry the sample tube as described in 9.2.1
Tw = observed period of oscillation for cell containing water, and allow the display to reach a steady reading. Record the
Ta = observed period of oscillation for cell containing air, T-value for air.
dw = density of water at test temperature, °C, and 9.4.2 Introduce redistilled, freshly boiled and cooled reagent
da = density of air at test temperature, °C. water into the sample tube as described in 9.2.3, and allow the
Alternatively, use the T and d values for the other reference display to reach a steady reading and record the T-value for
liquid if one is used. water.
9.2.7 If the instrument is equipped to calculate density from 9.4.3 Using the observed T-values and the reference values
the constants A and B and the observed T-value from the for water and air (9.2.4 and 9.2.5), calculate the instrument
sample, enter the constants in the instrument memory in constant K using the following equations:
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Alternatively, For density:
if the instrument is equipped to do so, let it make the K 1 5 $ d w 2 d a% / $ T w 2 2 T a 2% (4)
appropriate corrections in the calibration or adjustment con-
stants as part of the built-in calibration or adjustment proce- For relative density:
dure. K 2 5 $ 1.0000 2 d a % / $ T w 2 2 T a 2 % (5)
9.2.8 Check the calibration and adjust if needed by perform-
where:
ing the routine calibration check described in 9.3.
9.2.9 To calibrate the instrument to display relative density, Tw = observed period of oscillation for cell containing water,
Ta = observed period of oscillation for cell containing air,
that is, the density of the sample at a given temperature relative
dw = density of water at test temperature, °C, and
to the density of water at the same temperature, follow 9.2.1 – da = density of air at test temperature, °C.
9.2.7, but substitute 1.000 for dw in performing the calculations
described in 9.2.6. 10. Procedure
9.3 Weekly calibration adjustments to constants A and B can 10.1 Mix the sample, if required, to be completely homo-
be made if required without repeating the calculation proce- geneous. If suspended solids are present in the sample, filter
dure. through a 0.5 µm filter. Introduce a small amount (about
0.7 mL) of sample into the clean, dry sample tube of the
NOTE 2—The need for a change in calibration generally is attributable instrument using a suitable syringe.
to deposits in the sample tube that are not removed by the routine flushing
procedure. Although this condition can be compensated for by adjusting A 10.2 Turn on the illumination light and examine the sample
and B, it is good practice to clean the tube sequentially with water, tube carefully. Make sure that no bubbles are trapped in the
petroleum ether, and acetone.
tube and that it is filled to just beyond the suspension point. The
9.3.1 Flush and dry the sample tube as described in 9.2.1 sample must be homogeneous and free of even the smallest
and allow the display to reach a steady reading. If the display bubbles.
does not exhibit the correct density for air at the temperature of
NOTE 4—If the sample is too dark in color to determine the absence of
test, repeat the cleaning procedure or adjust the value of bubbles with certainty, the density cannot be measured within the stated
constant B commencing with the last decimal place until the precision limits of Section 13.
correct density is displayed. 10.3 Turn the illumination light off immediately after
9.3.2 If adjustment to constant B was necessary in 9.3.1, sample introduction because the heat generated can affect the
continue the recalibration by introducing redistilled, freshly measurement temperature.
boiled and cooled reagent water into the sample tube as
described in 9.2.3 and allow the display to reach a steady 10.4 After the instrument displays a steady reading to four
reading. If the instrument has been calibrated to display the significant figures for density and five for T-values, indicating
density, adjust the reading to the correct value for water at the that temperature equilibrium has been reached, record the
test temperature (see Table 1) by changing the value of density or T-value.
constant A, commencing with the last decimal place. If the 11. Calculation
instrument has been calibrated to display the relative density,
11.1 Calculating Density Analyzers—The recorded value is
adjust the reading to the value 1.000.
the final result, expressed either as density in g/mL, kg/m3 or as
NOTE 3—In applying this weekly calibration procedure, it can be found relative density. Note that kg/m3 = 1000 × g ⁄mL.
that more than one value for A and B, differing in the fourth decimal place,
will yield the correct density reading for the density of air and water. The
11.2 Noncalculating Density Analyzers—Using the ob-
setting chosen then would be dependent upon whether it is approached served T-value for the sample and the T-value for water and
from a higher or lower value. The setting selected by this test method appropriate instrument constants determined in 9.4.3, calculate
could have the effect of altering the fourth place of the reading obtained the density or relative density using (Eq 6) and (Eq 7). Carry
for a sample. out all calculations to six significant figures and round the final
9.4 Some analyzer models are designed to display the results to five.
measured period of oscillation only (T-values) and their
3
D5931 − 20
For density: 13.1.1 Repeatability—The difference between successive
3 2
density, g/mL ~ kg/dm ! at t 5 d w 1K 1 ~ T s 2 T w ! 2
(6) test results obtained by the same operator with the same
apparatus under constant operating conditions on identical test
For relative density: material would, in the long run, in the normal and correct
relative density, t/t 5 11K 2 ~ T s 2 2 T w 2 ! (7) operation of this test method, be expected to be as follows:
where: Range Repeatability Standard Deviation
Tw = observed period of oscillation for cell containing water, 1.0360 to 1.1140 g/mL 0.0002 0.0008
Ts = observed period of oscillation for cell containing
sample, 13.1.2 Reproducibility—The difference between two single
dw = density of water at test temperature, and independent results, obtained by different operators work-
K1 = instrument constant for density, ing in different laboratories on identical test materials would, in
K2 = instrument constant for relative density, and the long run, in the normal and correct operation of this test
t = temperature of test, °C. method, be expected to be as follows:
Range Reproducibility Standard Deviation
12. Report
12.1 In reporting density, give the test temperature and the 1.0360 to 1.1140 g/mL 0.0020 0.0008
units, for example, density at 20 °C = 1.0360 g ⁄mL or 1036 13.2 Bias—This test method is an absolute measure of
kg/m3. physical property so no bias is expected.
12.2 In reporting relative density, give both the test tem-
perature and the reference temperature but no units, for 14. Keywords
example, relative density at 20/20 °C = 1.0379.
14.1 aqueous engine coolants; density; digital density ana-
12.3 Report the final results to the five significant figures. lyzer; engine coolant concentrates; relative density
13. Precision and Bias4
13.1 The precision of this test method as obtained by
statistical examination of interlaboratory test results at test
temperature of 20 °C is as follows:
4
Supporting data are available from ASTM International Headquarters. Request
RR:D15-1011.
APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1.1 Confirm the instrument is in statistical control at least neous and stable under the anticipated storage conditions. Prior
once a week when it is in use by analyzing a quality control to monitoring the measurement process, the user of the method
(QC) sample that is representative of samples typically ana- needs to determine the average and control limits of the QC
lyzed. Analysis of a single QC sample can be sufficient. sample. The QC sample precision should be checked against
Analysis of QC sample results can be carried out using control the method precision to ensure data quality.
chart techniques. If the QC sample result determined causes the X1.1.1 Although not mandatory, it is recommended that
lab to be in an out-of-control situation, such as exceeding the periodic analyses of certified density standards (that is, trace-
lab’s control limits, instrument recalibration or adjustment is able to national standards), which are separate from those that
required. An ample supply of QC sample material should be may be used in calibrating the instrument, be used to confirm
available for the intended period of use, and must be homoge- testing accuracy.
4
D5931 − 20
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Committee D15.03 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(D5931–13 (2017)) that may impact the use of this standard.
(1) Updated Section 1, Scope, with a more inclusive range of (5) Updated Table 1; current one outdated.
fluids being tested. (6) Corrected calculation in 12.2 to be consistent with new
(2) Updated 5.2 to broaden the allowable range of test tem- Table 1.
peratures. (7) Added new Appendix X1 covering quality control checks.
(3) Changed the wording in 6.5 to make it clearer.
(4) Updated 9.2.7 to allow for newer version of digital density
meters.
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