Process ASTM Committee

D.C. Watts, A.M. Afnan, and A.S. Hussain, Process analytical technology and ASTM committee E55, ASTM Standardization News, 32(5), 25-27 (2004). 

Watts, D.C. Afiian, A.M. 8t Hussain, A.S., Process Analytical Technology and ASTM Committee E55 ASTM Standardization News 2004, 32(5), 25-27. 

ASTM standards are developed not by staff, but by those having expertise in specific areas who choose voluntarily to work within the ASTM system producers, users, ultimate consumers, and representatives of government and academia. ASTM provides a forum within which these people can meet on a common ground to write standards that will best meet the needs of all interested parties. The ASTM system adheres strictly to the principles of due process and thus assures equal access to and equal voice in the standards forum and precludes discriminatory anticompetitive effects. Standards developed by ASTM committees are published in the 66-volume annual book of ASTM standards. 

To emphasize further the importance of this field, an ASTM Committee (E 55) on Pharmaceutical AppUcations of Process Analytical Technology has been formed and there are several subcommittees of the ASTM E-55 that address particular issues such as nomenclature and applications. 

Several tests have been developed over the years to determine the crevice corrosion resistance of alloys. The objectives of these tests include comparison of alloys, qualification of alloys for a given service, evaluation of the effects of fabrication processes on crevice corrosion resistance, quality control, and life prediction. This chapter will briefly describe the types of tests, and their applicability and limitations, with a focus on tests that have been or are now being considered by ASTM Committee G-1 on Corrosion of Metals. While these test principles are applicable to a wide variety of alloys, the information presented is focused on stainless and nickel-base alloys. 

The development and use of appropriate standards for SCC response in both research and characterization for application is extremely important if continued improvements in the literature database are to be realized. ASTM has put forth the most extensive effort in this endeavor, dating to the early 1960s, with the first standard published in 1972 (ASTM G 30). Since that time, 17 standards have been published on specimens, environments, alIo3 , and classifications, but only three have been added since the first edition of Manual 20. The development of such standards deaUng with stress corrosion has been the responsibility of ASTM Subcommittee GO 1.06 on Stress Corrosion Cracking and Corrosion Fatigue, under ASTM Committee GOl on Corrosion of Metals. An additional important contribution to the standards development process is the sponsorship of technical symposia, which provide an effective technical forum for specialists to present current work in progress. The subcommittee has sponsored nine such symposia [1,41,58-64 ], which have served as catalysts for many developed standards. 

Development of test methods for process (on-line) analysis and validation of these analyses are continuing under the direction of ASTM Committee D02.0D, Section 1 and D02.25. A proposed gas chromatographic/selective detection method is under development for the trace analysis of sulfur com-pKnmds in ethene and propene. 

ASTM G4 (latest revision) gives guidance for conducting plant corrosion tests, and in particular, for various methods for mounting specimens (coupons) in process plant. This standard evolved from ASTM and NACE Technical Committees. 

ASTM International. Committee E55 on Pharmaceutical Application of Process Analytical Technology. http //www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/ COMMIT/COMMITTEE/E55.htm E+mystore. 

Another recent trend in molecular weight work that was discussed at the ACS Symposium but is not covered formally in the book is the work of the American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM is in the process of preparing and testing standard methods of measuring molecular weight. Those who are interested or have suggestions to make may write to ASTM, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103. The committee numbers are D20.70.04 and. 05. 

The standards committees, such as D-6 Paper and Paper Products, are designed as main committees. The main committees are divided into subcommittees and task groups. Technical work in the preparation of a draft of a standard usually is done in a task group, although it may be done in a subcommittee. If the development of laboratory data is involved, the draft of a standard may be prepared by the project leader and submitted to a task group or perhaps directly to the subcommittee. The system is flexible, but within this flexibility ASTM adheres rigidly to the principles of due process. 

The NCCLS has an Area Committee on Automation and Informatics, which oversees the above standards and initiates new standards development projects. Current standards development projects include Data Content for Specimen Identification, Protocols to Vafidate Laboratory Information Systems, and Remote Access to Hospital Diagnostic Devices via tihe internet. In 2002, ASTM transferred to NCCLS the ownership and copyright of aU nine standards in its E31.13 group, including the two standards referenced above. These standards all relate to the clinical laboratory, with some of them simply preceding or overlapping the NCCLS automation standards. NCCLS is now in the process of evaluating which of these standards will be maintained and updated and which may be abandoned. 

Discussions have also been held with ASTM E27 Committee (On The Hazard Potential of Chemicals) members regarding the use of the CHETAH (Chemical Thermodynamics and Hazards Estimation Program) software to aid in the classification process. Work is proceeding (by E27.07 Estimation Methods) on both a PC version of the existing CHETAH program (with considerable updating) and a new mainframe (and possible PC) version with expanded capabilities. CHETAH is described in detail in references 43a, b, c. 

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