Designation: F 36 – 99 (Reapproved 2003)

Standard Test Method for

Compressibility and Recovery of Gasket Materials1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 36; 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.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope 3.1.1 Anvil—A hardened and ground surface of 31.7 mm

1.1 This test method covers determination of the short-time (1.250 in.) minimum diameter.
compressibility and recovery at room temperature of sheet- 3.1.2 Penetrator—A steel cylinder of diameter (within 6
gasket materials, form-in-place gaskets, and in certain cases, 0.025 mm (0.001 in.)) specified for the type of material being
gaskets cut from sheets. It is not intended as a test for tested, with the cylinder end hardened and ground. Penetrator
compressibility under prolonged stress application, generally diameters for various types of gasket materials are as shown in
referred to as “creep,” or for recovery following such pro- Table 1, unless otherwise specified.
longed stress application, the inverse of which is generally 3.1.3 Dial—An indicating dial, or dials, graduated in 0.025
referred to as “compression set.” Also, it is not intended for mm (0.001 in.) to show the thickness of the specimen during
tests at other than room temperature. A resiliency characteristic the test. Readings shall be estimated to the nearest 0.002 mm
(the amount recovered expressed as a percentage of the (0.0001 in.).
compressed thickness) may also be calculated from the test 3.1.4 Preload—A preload which shall include the weight of
data where desired. the penetrator itself and added weights to give the value
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the specified within 61 %. Preloads for various types of gasket
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information materials are as shown in Table 1, unless otherwise specified.
only. 3.1.5 Loading Device— A device for applying a specified
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the major load to the upper end of the penetrator, which may
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the consist of an arrangement of dead weights, a hydraulic cylin-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- der, an air cylinder, or any other device capable of applying the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- major load at a slow uniform rate and to an accuracy of 61 %.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. The major load shall be in addition to the specified preload.
Major loads for various types of gasket materials are as shown
2. Referenced Documents in Table 1, unless otherwise specified.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4. Test Specimen
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method2 4.1 The test specimen in Procedures A through K, inclusive,
F 104 Classification System for Nonmetallic Gasket Mate- as described in Table 1, shall have a minimum area of 6.5 cm
2
rials3 2 (1 in. ) in the form of a square, except in the case of cork
composition, and cork and cellular rubber materials, which
3. Apparatus shall have a test specimen in the form of a circle 6.5 cm2 in
3.1 The testing machine4 shall consist of the following area. The test specimen shall consist of a single ply or a number
components: of superimposed plies sufficient to give a minimum nominal
thickness of 1.6 mm (1⁄16 in.) for all materials except cork
composition, cork and rubber materials, and cork and cellular
rubber materials, for which the minimum nominal thickness
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F03 on Gaskets shall be 3.2 mm (1⁄8 in.). If applied to specimens outside of the
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F03.20 on Mechanical Test
Methods. test thicknesses, the results shall be regarded merely as
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2003. Published October 2003. Originally indicative. For specification purposes, agreement on compress-
approved in 1951. Redesignated F 36 in 1963. Last previous edition approved in ibility and recovery figures shall be reached between producer
1999 as F 36 – 99.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
and consumer for those materials whose thickness in a single
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 09.02. ply or multiple plies does not fall within the tolerances of the
4
Contact ASTM for a list of recommended suppliers. two nominal thicknesses specified. The tolerances for the test

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 F 36 – 99 (2003)
TABLE 1 Conditioning and Test Loads for Gasket Materials
F 104 Identifica- Total Load (Sum of
Penetrator Major Major Load and
Proce- Type of Gasket tion First Two B Pre-Load
Conditioning Procedure Diameter, Load, N Pre-Load)
dureA Material Numerals of N (lbf)
mm (in.) (lbf)
Six-Digit Number N (lbf) MPa (psi)
A Compressed asbestos F 11, F12, 1 h at 100 6 2°C (2126 3.6°F). Cool in 6.4 22.2 1090 1112 34.5
sheet; asbestos F 51, F52 desiccator over a suitable desiccant at (0.252) (5) (245) (250) (5000)
beater sheet; flexible 21 to 30°C (70 to 85°F)
graphite

H Asbestos paper and millboard F 13 4 h at 100 6 2°C (2126 3.6°F). Cool as 6.4 4.4 218 222 6.89
in Procedure A (0.252) (1) (49) (50) (1000)

F Cork composition F 21, F23 at least 46 h at 21 to 30°C (70 to 85°F) 28.7 4.4 440 445 0.69
Cork and cellular rubber and 50 to 55 % relative humidity (1.129) (1) (99) (100) (100)

B Cork and rubber F 22 at least 46 h at 21 to 30°C (70 to 85°F) 12.8 4.4 351 356 2.76
and 50 to 55 % relative humidity (0.504) (1) (79) (80) (400)

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G Treated and untreated papers F 31, F32, 4 h at 21 to 30°C (70 to 85°F) over a 6.4 4.4 218 222 6.89
from cellulose or other F 33, F34 suitable desiccant followed immediately (0.252) (1) (49) (50) (1000)
organic fibers by at least 20 h at 21 to 30°C and 50
to 55 % relative humidity

J Compressed nonasbestos F 71, F72 1 h at 100 6 2°C (212 6 3.6°F). Cool in 6.4 22.2 1090 1112 34.5
sheet; non-asbestos beater desiccator over a suitable desiccant at (0.252) (5) (245) (250) (5000)
sheet 21 to 30°C (70 to 85°F)

K Non-asbestos paper and F 73 4 h at 100 6 2°C (212 6 3.6°F). Cool as 6.4 4.4 218 222 6.89
millboard in Procedure J. (0.252) (1) (49) (50) (1000)
L Fluorocarbon polymer F 42 None 6.4 22.2 534 556 17.25
(Form-in-Place Gaskets) (0.252) (5) (120) (125) (2500)
A
Procedures C, D, and E were deleted from Test Method F 36 to ensure compliance with conditioning procedures in Sections 6 and 7 of Specification D 1170, which
appear as part of Classification F 104.
B
Anhydrous calcium chloride and silica gel have been determined to be suitable desiccants.

thicknesses are listed in Classification F 104, Table 3. The 7. Procedure

specimen shall contain no joint or separation within the 7.1 Determine the amount of deflection of the penetrator at
minimum test area. each of the loads used in the test with no specimens present.
4.2 The test specimen for Procedure L, as described in Table Add the absolute value of this penetrator deflection to the
1, shall be at least two in. long and wider than the penetrator thickness under total load M in 9.1 to obtain a corrected
used for the test. It shall consist of a single ply and contain no reading. The values are machine constants which may vary for
joint or separation. No thickness tolerances are given for different instrument designs.
gaskets covered by this procedure. Test results shall be 7.2 Center the test specimen upon the anvil and apply the
regarded merely as indicative. preload and maintain for a period of 15 s, and record the
preloaded thickness of the specimen. Immediately apply the
5. Conditioning of Specimens major load in a slow uniform manner so that the total load is
5.1 Specimens shall be conditioned as specified for the attained within 10 s. Guide the penetrator in its descent so that
particular type of material. Conditioning procedures for vari- the surface remains parallel to the surface of the anvil.
ous types of gasket materials are as shown in Table 1, unless Maintain the total load for a period of 60 s, and record the
otherwise specified. thickness of the specimen. Immediately remove the major load,
5.2 If a mechanical means of maintaining 50 to 55 % and after a period of 60 s record the thickness of the specimen
relative humidity is not available, a tray containing a saturated under the original preload. This is the recovered thickness.
solution of reagent grade magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2·6H
2O) shall be placed in the chamber to provide the required 8. Number of Tests
relative humidity. In all cases where testing is conducted 8.1 A minimum of three tests shall be run on separate
outside the area of specified humidity, specimens shall be specimens taken from the same sample and the results aver-
removed from the chamber one at a time as needed. aged.

6. Temperature of Test 9. Calculation

6.1 The test shall be conducted with both specimen and 9.1 The compressibility and recovery shall be calculated as
apparatus at a temperature of 21 to 30°C (70 to 85°F). follows:

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 F 36 – 99 (2003)

FIG. 1 Representation of Specimen Thickness

Compressibility, % 5 @~P 2 M!/P# 3 100 (1) 11. Precision and Bias 5

Recovery, % 5 @~R 2 M!/~P 2 M!# 3 100 (2) 11.1 This precision and bias statement was developed using
Practice E 691. (See Table 2.)
where: 11.2 In Column 3 are the coefficients of variation for the
P = thickness under preload, mm (in.), physical properties listed in Column 2. In Column 4 are the
M = thickness under total load, mm (in.), and
maximum differences (ranges) that should be considered ac-
R = recovered thickness, mm (in.).
ceptable for two results that are considered to be from
9.2 When desired, the resiliency shall be calculated as
nominally identical specimens. These are expressed as a
follows:

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percent of the mean value. The precision data are based on tests
Resiliency, % 5 @~R 2 M!/M# 3 100 (3) conducted on Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 gasket material
9.2.1 The aforementioned values are illustrated in Fig. 1. specimens. Eleven laboratories participated in the round robin
on Type 1 and Type 3 gasket material. Nine laboratories
10. Report participated in the round robin on the Type 2 gasket material.
10.1 Report the following information: There was one operator at each of the laboratories testing five
10.1.1 Identification and classification number of material specimens.
tested, NOTE 1—The critical differences were calculated using t = 1.960 which
10.1.2 Nominal thickness of material tested, is based on infinite degrees of freedom.
10.1.3 Letter designation of test procedure, NOTE 2—m = 3 was used in the calculations of the repeatability and
10.1.4 Number of tests performed, reproducibility values because this specification requires a minimum of
10.1.5 Temperature of specimens and apparatus, and three tests to be run.
10.1.6 Compressibility and recovery results for each speci- 12. Keywords
men tested and average for the sample. 12.1 compressibility; gasket; material; recovery; resiliency

5
Supporting data are available from ASTM Headquarters. Request RR: F03-
1005.

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 F 36 – 99 (2003)
TABLE 2 Interlaboratory Test Program
Coefficient of Variation (percent Acceptable Range of Two ResultsA
Physical Property of mean) (S %) max (percent of mean) (D2S %) max
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 1 Type 2 Type 3
Repeatability % Compressibility 3.7 2.3 2.2 6.0 3.6 3.6
(single operator) % Recovery 4.6 1.1 2.6 7.3 1.8 4.2

Reproducibility % Compressibility 6.6 7.8 7.9 19.2 21.9 22.1

(Multilaboratory) % Recovery 7.2 0.9 10.7 21.2 3.0 30.0
A
A result is an average of three determinations.

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