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ASTM D93 - Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester

Significance and Use

5.1 The flash point temperature is one measure of the tendency of the test specimen to form a flammable mixture with air under controlled laboratory conditions. It is only one of a number of properties which must be considered in assessing the overall flammability hazard of a material.

5.2 Flash point is used in shipping and safety regulations to define flammable and combustible materials. One should consult the particular regulation involved for precise definitions of these classifications.

5.3 These test methods should be used to measure and describe the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response to heat and an ignition source 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 these test methods 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.

5.4 These test methods provide the only closed cup flash point test procedures for temperatures up to 370 °C (698 °F).

1. Scope

1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the flash point of petroleum products in the temperature range from 40 °C to 370 °C by a manual Pensky-Martens closed-cup apparatus or an automated Pensky-Martens closed-cup apparatus, and the determination of the flash point of biodiesel in the temperature range of 60 °C to 190 °C by an automated Pensky-Martens closed cup apparatus.

NOTE 1: Flash point determinations above 250 °C can be performed, however, the precision has not been determined above this temperature. For residual fuels, precision has not been determined for flash points above 100 °C. The precision of in-use lubricating oils has not been determined. Some specifications state a D93 minimum flash point below 40 °C, however, the precision has not been determined below this temperature.

1.2 Procedure A is applicable to distillate fuels (diesel, biodiesel blends, kerosine, heating oil, turbine fuels), new and in-use lubricating oils, and other homogeneous petroleum liquids not included in the scope of Procedure B or Procedure C.

1.3 Procedure B is applicable to residual fuel oils, cutback residua, used lubricating oils, mixtures of petroleum liquids with solids, petroleum liquids that tend to form a surface film under test conditions, or are petroleum liquids of such kinematic viscosity that they are not uniformly heated under the stirring and heating conditions of Procedure A.

1.4 Procedure C is applicable to biodiesel (B100). Since a flash point of residual alcohol in biodiesel is difficult to observe by manual flash point techniques, automated apparatus with electronic flash point detection have been found suitable.

1.5 These test methods are applicable for the detection of contamination of relatively nonvolatile or nonflammable materials with volatile or flammable materials.

1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.6.1 Exception—The values given in parentheses are for information only.


Extracted, with permission, from ASTM D93-20 Standard Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard may be purchased from ASTM International, astm.org