ASTM D3944 Test Method for Solidification Point of Petroleum Wax
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 A 50-mg sample of wax is placed in a test tube at ambient temperature and heated above the solidification point of the wax sample. A thermocouple probe, attached to a recorder, is inserted into the wax sample, which is allowed to cool at room temperature. The thermocouple response of the cooling wax traces a curve on the chart paper of the recorder. The first significant change in the slope of the curve is the solidification point.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The related methods of determining the melt point of petroleum wax are relatively time-consuming. This method endeavors to reduce the duration of testing significantly and at the same time maintain a reasonable precision. This method can be useful for quality control of petroleum waxes as well as research and product development work on these waxes.
5.2 For methods used for testing melt points of petroleum waxes, see Tests Method D87, D127, including Petrolatum and Test Method D938.
