ASTM-type protocol

In some cases, when petroleum and/or petroleum products are released to the environment, a free phase is formed and sample(s) of the hydrocarbon material can be collected directly for characterization. The ability to analyze free product greatly aids the determination of product type and potential source. The samples may be diluted prior to analysis EPA SW-846 3580 (waste dilution) gives some guidelines for proper dilution techniques. However, caution is advised since as part of the initial sample collection procedure, water and sediment may be included in the sample inadvertently. Several protocols involved in initial isolation and cleanup of the sample must be recognized. In fact, considerable importance attaches to the presence of water or sediment in crude oil (ASTM D1796, D4007), for they lead to difficulties in other analyses. 

Keeping the above-mentioned factors in mind, we developed the fingerpad protocol [64,68] to avoid many of the cited difficulties. It has also been used by other investigators [26,70] and is now a standard of ASTM [74]. Table 6 lists the types of viruses that have been tested using this method. Figure 1 gives the main steps in the procedure. 

Swelling or sorption test of liquids and vapours through the rubber is obtained by the standard method of ASTM D 814 and ISO 6179 2010 as a general method for various types of rubber. Other standard methods to test liquid and water vapour transmission rate are displayed in Table 27.1. Gas permeation test is obtained by the standard method of ASTM D 1434-82 and ISO 2782 as a general method, especially for oxygen gas mostly using ASTM D 3985 as a protocol for measurement. Table 27.2 exhibits the standard methods of gas permeability test. 

Pencil hardness measurements were performed as per the protocol specified in the ASTM D3363 standard. A pencil scratch hardness tester from PPH-I was used to test samples (color chips) of different resins under a load of Ikgf at a temperature of 23°C. Mitsubishi-UNI pencils specified by the JIS S6006 standard were used in the evaluation. The hardness ratings, going from softer to harder, range from 6B to 7H and take the form 6B.3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H...7H (B=Black, F=Firm and H=Hard). Scratch resistance was also evaluated using a different method compliant with the ISO 1518 standard. An Erichson Scratch Tester (Type 413) was used to measure the resistance of the material to penetration when scratched with a spherical needle 1mm in diameter under a load of 6N. 

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