ASTM D5853 Standard Test Method for Pour Point of Crude Oils
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 After preliminary heating, the test specimen is cooled at a specified rate and examined at intervals of 3°C for flow characteristics. The lowest temperature at which movement of the test specimen is observed is recorded as the pour point.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The pour point of a crude oil is an index of the lowest temperature of handleability for certain applications.
5.2 This is the only pour point method specifically designed for crude oils.
5.3 The maximum and minimum pour point temperatures provide a temperature window where a crude oil, depending on its thermal history, might appear in the liquid as well as the solid state.
5.4 The test method can be used to supplement other measurements of cold flow behavior. It is especially useful for the screening of the effect of wax interaction modifiers on the flow behavior of crude oils.
