An American National Standard

Designation: C838 – 96 (Reapproved 2010)´1

Standard Test Method for

Bulk Density of As-Manufactured Carbon and Graphite
Shapes1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C838; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

´1 NOTE—Updated units of measurement throughout the standard editorially in May 2010.

1. Scope 4. Significance and Use

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the density 4.1 This test method provides a means of determining bulk
of as-manufactured carbon and graphite from measurements of density on as-manufactured logs, blocks, or shaped articles.
mass and dimensions at room temperature. 4.2 This test method is suitable for manufacturing control
1.2 This test method is applicable to boronated carbon and and acceptance specifications.
graphite. 4.3 Test Method C559 may be used when a higher degree of
1.3 This test method is not applicable to carbon- and accuracy is required.
graphite-containing materials that are thermally unstable at or
below temperatures of 200°C. 5. Test Specimens
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as 5.1 Logs or Blocks—May be measured and weighed as-
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this manufactured or after rough ends have been squared by
standard. machining. The stock shall preferably have been indoors after
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the heat treatment; if there is doubt that the piece is dry, weigh, dry,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the and reweigh it. Repeat, if necessary, until there is less than
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 0.1 % weight loss. The drying temperature should be from 110
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- to 200°C.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 5.2 Shaped Articles—Other than right circular cylinders or
rectangular parallelepipeds may be measured, and a correction
2. Referenced Documents made for the cavities or protuberances if the specimen volume
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 can be determined within 0.5 % (see 6.2).
C559 Test Method for Bulk Density by Physical Measure-
ments of Manufactured Carbon and Graphite Articles 6. Procedure
6.1 Logs or Blocks—Measure as-manufactured on the di-
3. Terminology ameter or cross section at two different locations, taking care to
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: avoid distortions. Take four length measurements on cylinders
3.1.1 bulk density, n—the mass of a unit volume including 90° apart on the periphery of the circular end faces. On
both permeable and impermeable voids (and boron compounds rectangular pieces, make four length measurements, two each
in the case of boronated carbon or boronated graphite) present along opposite faces. Make additional measurements, if
in the material at room temperature. needed, to determine a valid mean for each dimension. Make
dimensional and mass measurements with equipment accurate
to 0.5 %.3
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of Committee D02 on Petroleum 6.2 Shaped Articles—Make dimensional and mass measure-
Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D02.F0 on
Manufactured Carbon and Graphite Products.
ments with equipment accurate to 0.5 %.
Current edition approved May 1, 2010. Published May 2010. Originally
approved in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as C838 – 96 (2005). 7. Calculation
DOI: 10.1520/C0838-96R10E01. 7.1 Calculate the bulk density as follows:
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Corrections of mass measurements for buoyancy effects in air are generally
the ASTM website. negligible for the accuracy obtained.

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Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); 1

 C838 – 96 (2010)´1
M 9.1.1 A machined steel mass and an unmachined graphite
D5 V
billet, both right circular cylinders, were circulated to five
laboratories. Each laboratory utilized two independent observ-
where: ers, each making a replicate set of measurements. Also, each
laboratory was instructed to use normal industrial practice, that
D = density, kg/m3, is, no special calibration or precaution. The data were tested
M = mass, kg, and against the null hypothesis (no difference between labs) and the
V = volume, m3. random effects model for between-laboratory variance.
7.2 Calculate to three significant figures. 9.1.2 Measurements on dimensions satisfied the null hy-
pothesis with a pooled coefficient of variation of 0.25 % for the
8. Report calculated volume. Masses, and hence densities, did not satisfy
8.1 Report the following: the null hypothesis. Within-laboratory coefficient of variation
8.1.1 Type, source, grade, geometry, and whether the speci- on density was 0.28 % and between-laboratory coefficient was
men is as-manufactured or machined. 0.81 %. Although the between-laboratory data indicated a bias,
8.1.2 Densities of the individual specimens and the aver- subsequent rechecking failed to identify such.
ages. 9.1.3 These precision measures represent normal industrial
8.1.3 On shaped articles, other than right circular cylinders practice and do not indicate the precision attainable under
or rectangular parallelepipeds, the amount of volume correc- controlled conditions.
tion and method of calculation used in 5.2. 9.2 Bias—No statement on bias is derivable since the tests
were performed with normal industrial practices and proce-
4
9. Precision and Bias dures.
9.1 Precision:
10. Keywords
4
Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may 10.1 boronated; bulk; carbon; density; graphite; gravimet-
be obtained by requesting Research Report RR:C05-1002. ric; physical

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