ASTM D4049-99

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An American National Standard
Designation: D 4049 – 99
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Resistance of Lubricating Grease to
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Water Spray
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4049; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.3.1 Discussion—The thickeners can be fibers (such as
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various metallic soaps) or plates or spheres (such as certain
1.1 This test method covers the ability of a grease to adhere
non-soap thickeners), which are insoluble or, at most, only very
to a metal surface when subjected to a water spray under
slightly soluble in the liquid lubricant. The general require-
prescribed laboratory conditions.
ments are that the solid particles be extremely small, uniformly
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
dispersed, and capable of forming a relatively stable, gel-like
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
structure with the liquid lubricant. D 217
only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4. Summary of Test Method
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 The grease to be tested is coated on a stainless steel
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
panel and sprayed with water at the specified test temperature
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
and pressure.The amount of grease remaining on the panel
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
after 5 min 6 15 s is a measure of the resistance of the grease
2. Referenced Documents to water spray.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5. Significance and Use
D 235 Specification for Mineral Spirits (Petroleum Spirits)
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5.1 This test method is used to evaluate the ability of a
(Hydrocarbon Dry Cleaning Solvent)
grease to adhere to a metal surface when subjected to direct
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
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water spray. The results obtained from the use of this test
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
method suggest correlation in operations involving direct water
3. Terminology spray impingement such as steel mill roll neck bearing ser-
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vice. This test method is used for quality control and purchase
3.1 Definitions:
specifications.
3.1.1 lubricating grease, n—a semi-fluid to solid product of
a thickener in a liquid lubricant.
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6. Apparatus
3.1.1.1 Discussion—The dispersion of the thickener forms a
6.1 Stainless Steel Test Panel, 18-8 (chromium-nickel)
two-phase system and immobilizes the liquid by surface
stainless steel, as shown in Fig. 1.
tension and other physical forces. Other ingredients are com-
6.1.1 Grease Application Jig, for applyling grease to panel;
monly included to impart special properties. D 217
Fig. 2.
3.1.2 oil separation, n—the appearance of a liquid fraction
6.2 Water Spray Apparatus, as shown on Fig. 3.
from an otherwise homogeneous lubricating composition.
6.3 Spray Nozzle, as described in Fig. 4.
D 1742
6.4 Thermometer or Thermocouple, capable of measuring
3.1.3 thickener, n—in lubricating grease, a substance com-
38 6 0.5°C, to determine the temperature of the water spray,
posed of finely-divided particles dispersed in a liquid lubricant
positioned to prevent breaking the spray pattern.
to form the product’s structure.
7. Reagents and Materials
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-2 on
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
D02.G on Lubricating Grease.
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 1999. Published January 2000. Originally
published as D 4049 – 81. Last previous edition D 4049 – 93.
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The development of this test method is described in Musilli, T. G.,“ Water NLGI Spokesman, August 1973, Evaluation of Greases for Steel Mill Service,
Spray-Off Characteristics of Lubricating Grease,” NLGI Spokesman, December A. E. Cichelli, Author NLGI Spokesman, April 1980, Grease Lubrication in Steel
1982, pp. 323–326. Mills with Emphasis on Roll Neck Bearings, A. E. Cichelli, Author.
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.04. Available from Koehler Instrument Co., Inc., 1595 Sycamore Ave., Bohemia,
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. NY 11716.
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D4049–99
8.3 Examine for any indication of nonhomogeneity, such as
oil separation, phase changes, or gross contamination. I
...