ASTM has formed a task group to determine whether there is bias in its ASTM D 86Standard Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products at Atmospheric Pressure, a critical test for petroleum products and lubricants. Last revised in 2000, it provides volatility parameters for heat transfer fluids, motor and other automotive spark-ignition fuels, aviation fuels, aviation turbine fuels, solvents and other petroleum products.

Improvements in automatic D 86 distillation technology require an updated, accurate measure of relative bias between automatic and manual D 86 results. A task group of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum and Lubricants was formed to coordinate an interlab study to determine relative bias under strict compliance with D 86 distillation parameters.

For technical details, contact Didier Pigeon, task force chairperson, ISL, Verson, France via e-mail at dpigeon@isl-france.com.