An American National Standard

Designation: D 3427 – 03

Standard Test Method for

Air Release Properties of Petroleum Oils1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3427; 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* NOTE 2—By agreement between the customer and the laboratory, the
oil may be heated at other temperatures. However, the precision at these
1.1 This test method covers the ability of turbine, hydraulic, different temperatures is not known at present.
and gear oils to separate entrained air.
NOTE 1—This test method was developed for mineral based oils. It may
5. Significance and Use
be used for some synthetic fluids; however, the precision statement applies 5.1 Agitation of lubricating oil with air in equipment, such
only to petroleum oils. as bearings, couplings, gears, pumps, and oil return lines, may
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the produce a dispersion of finely divided air bubbles in the oil. If
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the the residence time in the reservoir is too short to allow the air
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- bubbles to rise to the oil surface, a mixture of air and oil will
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- circulate through the lubricating oil system. This may result in
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. an inability to maintain oil pressure (particularly with centrifu-
gal pumps), incomplete oil films in bearings and gears, and
2. Referenced Documents poor hydraulic system performance or failure.
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 5.2 This test method measures the time for the entrained air
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water content to fall to the relatively low value of 0.2 % volume
D 1401 Test Method for Water Separability of Petroleum under a standardized set of test conditions and hence permits
Oils and Synthetic Fluids the comparison of the ability of oils to separate entrained air
E 1 Specification for ASTM Thermometers under conditions where a separation time is available. The
2.2 DIN Standard:3 significance of this test method has not been fully established.
DIN 51 381 However, entrained air can cause sponginess and lack of
sensitivity of the control of turbine and hydraulic systems. This
3. Terminology test may not be suitable for ranking oils in applications where
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: residence times are short and gas contents are high.
3.1.1 air release time, n—the number of minutes needed for
air entrained in the oil to reduce in volume to 0.2 % under the 6. Apparatus
conditions of this test and at the specified temperature. 6.1 A schematic diagram of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 1.
The component parts are described as follows:
4. Summary of Test Method 6.1.1 Test Vessel, made of borosilicate glass as shown in Fig.
4.1 Compressed air is blown through the test oil, which has 2, consisting of a jacketed sample tube fitted with an air inlet
been heated to a temperature of 25, 50, or 75°C. After the air capillary, baffle plate, and air outlet tube. The two parts of each
flow is stopped, the time required for the air entrained in the oil test vessel should be marked and preferably used as a pair.
to reduce in volume to 0.2 % is recorded as the air release time. Interchanged parts may be used so long as the resultant test
vessel conforms to the stated dimensions.
6.1.2 Pressure Gage, covering the range from 0 to 35 kPa,
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on with divisions at least every 2 kPa, and an accuracy of 1.5 kPa.
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.C0 on Turbine Oils.
6.1.3 Thermometers:
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2003. Published December 2003. Originally 6.1.3.1 Air Thermometer, for measuring compressed air
approved in 1975. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 3427–02.
2
temperature. ASTM Precision Thermometer having a range
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or from −20 to 102°C, graduated in 0.2°C and conforming to the
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
3
Available from Beuth Verlag GmbH, Burggrafenstrasse 6, 1000 Berlin 30,
Germany.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 3427 – 03
or slippage of the hose connections. Use of a pressure relief
valve set at 70 kPa (10 psi) is recommended. In addition, use
of a safety shield is recommended.)
6.2 Balance, capable of measuring density, accurate to 0.5
kg/m3.
6.3 Sinker, having a round or tapered bottom of 5 or 10-mL
displacement, 80.0 6 1.5-mm length. If the sinker contains a
thermometer, it shall be usable between 25 and 75°C.
6.4 Oven, capable of heating samples to 10°C above the test
temperature.
6.5 Timer, readable to 0.1 min, with an accuracy of better
than 0.1 %.
6.6 Pump, with a nonpulsating output and capable of
maintaining an air flow of 40 L/min at a pressure of 20 kPa
(optional, see 7.4).

7. Materials
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
all reagents conform to the specifications of the Committee on
Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society where
FIG. 1 Apparatus for the Determination of Air Release Time such specifications are available.4 Other grades may be used,
provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of sufficiently
high purity to permit its use without lessening the accuracy of
requirements for Thermometer 12C as prescribed in Specifi- the determination.
cation E 1 is suitable. A temperature sensor of at least equiva- 7.2 Purity of Water—Reagent water as defined by Type II of
lent performance is also suitable. Care shall be taken to avoid Specification D 1193.
restricting the air path with the thermometer bulb or any 7.3 Acetone, minimum reagent grade. (Warning—
adapter used. Flammable. Health hazard.)
6.1.3.2 Sample Thermometer, for measuring the tempera- 7.4 Air, Compressed, dry and free from moisture, particu-
ture of the sample during preparation and trial runs. ASTM lates, and oil. Air from a cylinder or a nonpulsating pump may
Precision Thermometer having a range from –20 to 102°C, be used. (Warning—Compressed gas under high pressure.)
graduated in 0.2°C and conforming to the requirements for 7.5 Cleaning Reagent, Cleaning either in hot Nochromix5
Thermometer 12C as prescribed in Specification E 1 is suit- (Warning—Corrosive health hazard oxidizer), or a 24-h soak
able. A temperature sensor of at least equivalent performance is at room temperature in Micro6 solution.
also suitable.
6.1.4 Heater, to bring the compressed air up to measure- NOTE 6—Previously, chrome sulfuric acid was used in this procedure.
Other test methods (for example, Test Method D 1401) have demonstrated
ment temperature. A coil of copper tubing immersed in the
acceptable, statistically equivalent results when Nochromix or Micro is
circulating bath (see 6.1.5) is suitable at 25°C, but additional used to replace sulfuric chromic acid for cleaning.
heating is necessary at 50 and 75°C. This can be obtained by an
additional bath, or by using a separate steam or electric heat 7.6 n-Heptane, reagent grade. (Warning—Flammable.
exchanger. The temperature of the air shall be measured by a Harmful if inhaled.)
thermometer located as close as possible to the testing vessel NOTE 7—Other alternate solvents, such as toluene, etc., may be used in
and meeting the specifications shown in 6.1.3. place of n-heptane.

NOTE 3—The application of thermal insulation to the pipework carry-

ing the heated compressed air is recommended.
4
Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American
6.1.5 Circulating Bath, approximately 10-L capacity with a Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not
rate of flow of 10 L/min and capable of maintaining the test cell listed by the American Chemical Society, see Annual Standards for Laboratory
at a temperature of 25, 50, or 75°C within 60.1°C. Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset, U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia
and National Formulary, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville,
NOTE 4—Use of water in the bath has been found to minimize MD.
5
electrostatic effects. The sole source of supply of Nochromix known to the committee at this time
NOTE 5—The application of thermal insulation to the pipework carry- is Godax Laboratories, Inc., 720-B Erie Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912. If you are
ing the heated bath fluid is recommended. aware of alternative suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM Interna-
tional Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting
(Warning—The use of glass vessels with glass host fittings of the responsible technical committee 1, which you may attend.
6
for circulating 75°C (167°F) bath medium is potentially The sole source of supply of Micro known to the committee at this time is
International Products Corp., P.O. Box 70, Burlington, NJ 08016. If you are aware
dangerous. Back pressure in excess of a gage pressure of 70
of alternative suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM International
kPa (10 psi) can be generated when the bath medium is Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
pumped at the required rate; this can cause fracture of the glass responsible technical committee 1, which you may attend.

2
 D 3427 – 03

FIG. 2 Test Vessel

8. Preparation of Apparatus 8.1.4 Rinse with acetone (Warning—see 7.3) and dry with
8.1 Clean the interior of the test vessel, including the air clean compressed air (Warning—see 7.4).
inlet and sinker, and all other glassware coming in contact with NOTE 8—Oil misting occurs during blowing. The test vessel should be
the sample, before each determination in the following manner: in a hood, or the air outlet tube should be connected to a vent that removes
8.1.1 Rinse away the oil residue with n-heptane the vapors.
(Warning—see 7.6) and acetone (Warning—see 7.3) and dry
by air blowing. 9. Procedure
8.1.2 Clean the apparatus by immersing in cleaning reagent 9.1 Assemble the test apparatus as shown in Fig. 1. Set the
in order to remove completely any traces of silicone. compressed air temperature to within 0.2°C of the desired test
8.1.3 Rinse with reagent water. temperature. Set the circulating bath to give a specimen

3
 D 3427 – 03
temperature within 0.1°C of the desired test temperature. The loss causes any part of the sinker to be exposed, discontinue the
required bath temperature setting and time for the specimen to test and repeat, using a sample that is 10 mL larger than
equilibrate can be established for an equipment setup by previously used.
making trial runs with a thermometer in the oil specimen. For
oils with a viscosity at 40°C of less than 9.0 cSt, the test 10. Calculation of Density
temperature shall be 25°C. For oils with a viscosity at 40°C 10.1 Density:
between 9.0 and 90 cSt, the test temperature shall be 50°C. Oils
having a viscosity at 40°C greater than 90 cSt shall be tested at Density of sample ~kg/m3! 5 (1)
75°C. @Weight of sinker in air ~kg! – Weight of sinker in sample ~kg!#
9.2 Warm approximately 200 mL of the oil to be tested in an Volume of sinker ~m3!
oven set at a temperature of 10°C higher than the test NOTE 13—A 10 mL sinker has a volume of 10 3 10-6 m3.
temperature.
10.2 Target Density:
9.3 Pour 180 6 5 mL of the heated sample into the test
vessel. Initial density ~d0! 3 0.998. (2)
9.4 Allow the sample to equilibrate to the desired test 10.3 If the tare key of the balance is pressed while the sinker
temperature, using the heating-up time previously established is being weighed in air so that the reading is zeroed, then the
(see 9.1) or by directly measuring the temperature. following may be used:
9.5 Warm the sinker of the balance to the test temperature in Weight of sinker in sample ~kg!
an air bath, such as a glass cylinder fitted with a suitable cover Density of sample ~kg/m3! 5 (3)
Volume of sinker ~m3!
situated in the circulating bath. When the sinker has reached
NOTE 14—Some instruments automatically make the above calcula-
the test temperature, immerse it in the sample, taking care that
tions.
no air bubbles cling to it. Attach the sinker to the beam of the
density balance by means of the platinum wire so that the 10.4 The volume of the sinker may be determined by
bottom of the sinker is 10 6 2 mm from the bottom of the test weighing it in air, then in water. The difference in weight (kg)
vessel. 3 10–3= volume in m3.
NOTE 9—The sinker can take approximately 20 min to reach 50°C or 35 11. Reporting
min to reach 75°C.
11.1 Report the air release time, as recorded in 9.9, and the
9.6 Allow the density reading to stabilize, read the density test temperature in °C.
from the balance to the nearest 0.1 kg/m3, and record it as the
initial density. 12. Precision and Bias 7
9.7 Return the sinker to the air bath and replace it with the 12.1 Precision8—The precision of this test method as de-
air inlet tube as shown in Fig. 2. After 5 min, start the supply termined by statistical examination of interlaboratory results is
of air at a gage pressure of 20 kPa at the required temperature. as follows:
Maintain the pressure and temperature of the air (25, 50, and 12.1.1 Repeatability—The difference between two test re-
75°C) by readjustments, if necessary. sults, obtained by the same operator with the same apparatus
9.8 After 7 6 0.1 min, shut off the air and immediately start under constant operating conditions on identical test material,
the timer. Quickly remove the inlet tube from the test vessel, would in the long run, in the normal and correct operation of
and immerse the sinker in the oil/air dispersion. Attach the wire the test method, exceed the following values only in one case
to the beam and maintain a distance of 10 6 2 mm between the in twenty:
bottom of the sinker and the bottom of the test vessel.
0.5 times the square root of their mean (4)
NOTE 10—In the case of certain oils, which form a considerable volume
of oil/air dispersion, the top of the sinker can initially be in foam, and 12.1.2 Reproducibility—The difference between two single
hence, density readings at this time can be in error. and independent results obtained by different operators work-
9.9 Record the time, to the nearest 0.1 min, for the density ing in different laboratories on identical test material would, in
to return to the target of 99.8 % of the initial density (d0). If the the long run, in the normal and correct operation of the test
time is greater than 30 min, discontinue the test. method, exceed the following values only in one case in
twenty:
NOTE 11—The test may be run for a longer period of time by agreement
between the laboratory and the customer.
NOTE 12—For some applications, the shape of the air release time curve
may be required. This can be implemented by recording the density at 7
Supporting data (the results of the cooperative test program, from which these
intervals, as required. values have been derived) have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and
may be obtained by requesting Research Report RR: D02–1014. The program was
9.10 Certain oils may lose light components during the air run by six laboratories, using five samples of unused steam turbine oils and base
saturation, thus changing their effective density. This will be stocks with air used as the entrained gas. Five samples were tested at one
temperature and four at another. Since some reports were incomplete, this resulted
noted if the time for the density to return to the initial figure is in 48 pairs of replicated data.
instantaneous. Where air release value information is required 8
The precision statement was developed using 1.1.1-trichloroethane and chrome
for such oils, an air releasing time curve may be drawn. If the sulfuric acid in the cleaning procedure.

4
 D 3427 – 03
1.3 times the square root of their mean (5) TABLE 1 Comparison of ASTM and DIN Precision Data
Mean Test Repeatability Reproducibility
Result,
12.2 The closely related test method DIN 51 381 reports min DIN ASTM DIN ASTM
precision in another format. For ready comparison, the above Up to 5 1 0.7 2 2.1
statement is shown in DIN terms in Table 1. Over 5 to 10 2 1.3 3 3.6
Over 10 to 15 3 1.6 4 4.7
12.3 Bias—The procedure in Test Method D 3427 for mea-
suring air release properties of petroleum oils has no bias
because the value of the air bubble separation time is defined
only in terms of this test method. There is no known bias
relative to the DIN 51 381 method. 13. Keywords

NOTE 15—The above precision was determined only at test tempera-

13.1 air entrainment; air release time; gear oil; hydraulic oil;
tures of 50°C and 82°C. A new interlaboratory test program is planned. turbine oil

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Subcommittee D02.C0 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(D 3427–02) that may impact the use of this standard.

(1) Added new Note 2, allowing the test to be run at other (3) Added new Note 7 allowing the use of alternate solvents,
temperatures. such as toluene, in place of n-heptane.
(2) Changed quality of acetone required from conforming to (4) Added new Note 11 allowing the test to be run longer than
Specification D 329 to “minimum reagent grade.” 30 min.

ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or [email protected] (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org).