Test Methods and Practices

Within ASTM, technical committees associated with plastics, electrical materials, textiles, protective clothing, thermal insulation, consumer products, detention and correctional facilities, and ships have developed tests that are often application tests that are of specific interest to the products involved. One fire test has spawned more application standards than any other, primarily because of its vast use in the United States ASTM E 84 (Steiner tunnel). Thus, NFPA 262, UL 1820, UL 1887, ASTM E 2231, ASTM E 2404, ASTM E 2573, ASTM E 2579, and ASTM E 2599 are all test methods and practices based on the Steiner tunnel test. In some cases, the base apparatus is being modified (although usually it is permissible to conduct the ASTM E 84 test in the apparatus of the other test, but it is often not permissible to conduct the other test in any apparatus complying with the ASTM E 84 apparatus). The other test method that has resulted in many application standards is the cone calorimeter the standards are ASTM D 5485, ASTM D 6113, ASTM E 1474, ASTM E 1740, and ASTM F 1550. 

This book contains 80 nationally recognized test methods and practices for measuring ambient and workplace atmospheres. 

ASTM D 244.2009. Standard test methods and practices for emulsified asphalts. West Conshohocken, PA ASTM International. 

Compilation of Test Methods and Practices 11.10.1 Aging (Permanency)... 

There have been numerous recent communications on the subject of biodegradation test methods and practices, including aerobic compost (Gross, 1992), anaerobic bioreactor (Gross, 1992), general methodology and future directions (Pettigrew 1992 Swift 1993,1994) and a fine review article by Andrady (1994). ASTM (1993) and... 

Performance criteria are found in material and engineering standards. ASTM standards offer a scope, significance and use paragraphs, and precision and bias statements to assist the user of test methods and practices in defining the validity of the results. Common evaluation criteria include blistering, corrosion creepback, rust spots, etc. 

Several electrochemical tests have been used successfully over the years to estimate the corrosion behavior of a given metal in soil or to determine the soil corrosivity. These tests can be carried out in water extract of soil and/or in water saturated soil, when all dissolved salts (ions) are present. The electrochemical test methods and practices are described in several ASTM Tests Methods and Practice ... 

ASTM G 3 (Practice for Conventions Applicable to Electrochemical Measurements in Corrosion Testing) [74] and Refs 49, 55, and 73 show the schematics for the apparatus for corrosion measurements and schematic drawings for cathodic and anodic polarization diagrams and polarization plots. ASTM G 5 (Standard Reference Test Method for Making Potentiostatic and Potentiodynamic Anodic Polarization Measurements) [74] and ASTM F 4 [55] test methods and practices describe the setup and procedures for making potentiostatic and potentiodynamic anodic polarization measurements. A cyclic polarization curve that contains both the cathodic and anodic portions provides data that can be used to describe corrosion behavior in terms of passivity, breakdown, corrosion rate, and susceptibility to pitting. 

There are several North American organizations, some of which are ANSI accredited, that develop and publish product standards and test methods and practices for plastic piping systems. These include ... 

A number of standard test methods and practices have been developed to measure (a) the composition of glue mixes (especially polymer and/or filler/extender content) and (b) the rheological and working properties of adhesives (viscosity, density, tack, etc.). They are listed in Appendix 2 by these property groupings. 

Section 3. Metals Test Methods and Analytical Practices (6 vols.)... 

The mechanisms of comminution are complex involving breakage along particle cracks and fissures etc., and depend on the hardness and structure of the feed particle. The Institution of Chemical Engineers (London) produced a major report on comminution (IChem, 1975), which was followed by reviews by Bemrose and Bridgwater (1987), Prior etal. (1990) and Jones (1997). These reviews included sections on both the fundamental and practical aspects of comminution and attrition in process equipment, test methods and an extensive list of references. 

Ruth, B. F. and Kempe, L. Trans. Am. Inst. Chem. Eng. 33 (1937) 34. An extension of the testing methods and equations of batch filtration practice to the field of continuous filtration. 

Validation protocols are required to describe the objective, methodology, and acceptance criteria for installation, operational, and performance qualifications. They are written to ensure test methods, and acceptance criteria are reviewed and approved before qualification of protocols. In practical terms, there are several stages for the production of protocols. First, an acceptable format needs to be agreed. No universal format exists for protocols, but to some extent, the type of equipment, the size of the project, and the personal preferences will dictate the protocol style. However, some norms have been established. Like other controlled documents, protocols are assigned unique reference numbers and revision numbers. They are titled and numbered on every page and have a particular place for approval signatures. Other common elements in protocols tend to be brief descriptions of the item being qualified and a clear statement of responsibilities. 

Calibration procedures and test methods and frequencies need to be defined usually as part of an SOP. If you intend to transfer data from the instrument to a software package, ensure that data integrity is preserved during transfer. Don t assume that the transfer protocols on standard interfaces always work as intended. It is good practice to ensure that the data have not been truncated or distorted during transfer. 

Corrosion detection plays an important role in any corrosion control program. Most of the methods employ nondestructive test methods and include hydrogen evaluation, radiography, dynamic pressure, corrosion probes, strain gauges and eddy current measurements. Of these, the methods employed in cooling tower practice are hydrogen evaluation and corrosion probes. 

What is involved in the calculation of modulus First, we mean by modulus in materials science a relation between stress and strain in a bulk sample under practical conditions. This means in effect a testing rate or frequency usually less than a few kilohertz or at the most in the ultrasonic region of, say, 10 MHz. We also suppose the sample to be a representative volume element of size suitable for the test method and we assume its elastic properties to be uniform over this RVE. 

Closely related to preventive action is the process audit. Such an audit is performed as part of a laboratory assessment for each test on the proposed scope of accreditation. Performance of a test procedure is observed relative not only to the requirements of the ISO 17025 standard (or ISO Guide 25) but also with respect to performing the ASTM or ISO test method properly. As a minimum, the laboratory must have properly calibrated equipment, the current test method, and trained testing personnel. In addition, a representative number of test demonstrations will reveal whether good laboratory practices are observed in sample preparation, using the correct test parameters and calculating the results. When operators and technicians accept responsibility through such demonstrations, they tend to commit to the quality process. Real improvement occurs with involvement at all levels. 

Analytical methods are validated by investigating the specificity, sensitivity, detection limits, quantification limits, accuracy (of the individual result), precision (variation between different tests), applicability and practicability under laboratory conditions and the robustness (susceptibility to interference) of the method. This enables the organization itself to employ these tests much more consciously and with better results, but it also serves the purpose of enabling the registration authorities to use these tests for the regular batch control tests. Official guidelines by the regulatory authorities for the validation of analytical methods and processes are available for consultation. 

Physical chemistry deals with the physical principles underlying the properties of chemical substances. Like other branches of physical science, it contains a body of theory that has stood the test of experiment and is continually growing as a result of new experiments. In order to learn physical chemistry, you must become familiar with the experimental foundations on which the theoretical principles are based. Indeed, in many cases, the ability to apply the principles usefully requires an intimate knowledge of those methods and practical arts that are called experimental technique. ... 

It is critical to train and offer refresher training in not only good laboratory notebook practices but also in all job skills, test methods, and instrument systems used, and to review data rapidly. It is important that a well-respected individual provide the training. Good notebook practices are also essential to successfully file for and defend patents. A summary of laboratory notebook tips is outlined in the following section. 

This practice provides nine appropriate testing methods and a specific data-reporting procedure for the subject materials. 

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