ASTM D1403 Test Methods for Cone Penetration of Lubricating Grease
ASTM D1403 Standard Test Methods for Cone Penetration of Lubricating Grease Using One-Quarter and One-Half Scale Cone Equipment
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 The penetration is determined at 25°C (77°F) by releasing the 1/4-scale or 1/8-scale cone assembly from the penetrometer and allowing the cone to drop freely into the grease for 5 s.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 These test methods are applicable to greases of National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) consistency numbers 0 to 4 and is intended for use only where the size of the sample prevents the use of Test Methods D217.
5.2 Actual reduced-scale penetration values are not used or reported. They are converted to full-scale penetration values (see Sections 9 and 10). This test method is not intended to replace the full-scale penetration as described in Test Methods D217. Precision is better in the full-scale penetration method.
5.3 Worked penetration results, after conversion to full-scale values, may be used to establish the consistency of lubricating greases within the above NLGI consistency numbers. The results obtained from these test methods are widely used for specification purposes, however, no correlation with field performance has been established.
5.4 Unworked penetration results provide a means of evaluating the effect of storage conditions on grease consistency.
