Designation: C 729 – 75 (Reapproved 2000)

Standard Test Method for

Density of Glass by the Sink-Float Comparator1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 729; 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 tially the solutions, specimen, and standard are at a temperature

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the density near 25°C, and both the standard and the specimen float in the
of glass or nonporous solids of density from 1.1 to 3.3 g/cm 3. solution. The temperature of the system is raised at a uniform
It can be used to determine the apparent density of ceramics or rate. Because the expansion coefficient of the solution is higher
solids, preferably of known porosity. than that of the glass standard and specimen, both the standard
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the and the specimen will sink (settle) in the solution. The
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the temperatures at which the specimen and standard reach the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- mid-point of the test tube are noted and by use of special tables,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- the density of the specimen is obtained.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.2 Range of a Given Density Solution— A given density
solution can be used to measure specimens whose density is
2. Referenced Documents within6 0.0200 g/cm3 of the density of the solution at 35°C, by
2.1 ASTM Standards: operating the comparator bath in the range 25 to 45°C.
C 693 Test Method for Density of Glass by Buoyancy2
4. Significance and Use
D 1217 Test Method for Density and Relative Density
(Specific Gravity) of Liquids by Bingham Pycnometer3 4.1 The sink-float comparator method of test for glass
E 12 Terminology Relating to Density and Specific Gravity density provides the most accurate (yet convenient for practical
of Solids, Liquids, and Gases4 applications) method of evaluating the density of small pieces
E 29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to or specimens of glass. The data obtained are useful for daily
Determine Conformance with Specification5 quality control of production, acceptance or rejection under
E 77 Test Method for Inspection and Verification of Ther- specifications, and for special purposes in research and devel-
mometers6 opment.
F 77 Test Method for Apparent Density of Ceramics for 4.2 Although this test scope is limited to a density range
Electron Device and Semiconductor Application2 from 1.1 to 3.3 g/cm3, it may be extended (in principle) to
higher densities by the use of other miscible liquids (Test
3. Summary of Method Method F 77) such as water and thallium malonate-formate
3.1 The specimen of unknown density is compared with a (approximately 5.0 g/cm3). The stability of the liquid and the
reference standard of known density. The specimen to be precision of the test may be reduced somewhat, however, at
measured is placed in a test tube containing a solution whose higher densities.
density at 35°C is within 0.0200 g/cm3 of the density of the
5. Apparatus
specimen at 25°C. The solution is prepared using miscible
liquids of known densities bracketing the desired range. The 5.1 Single Tube and Multiple-Tube Comparators (Method
tube also contains a glass density reference standard whose E 77)— A single-tube comparator can be constructed from
density at 35°C is close to that of the solution at 35°C; the tube materials readily available in a typical laboratory, and useful if
is immersed in a variable-temperature comparator bath. Ini- one wishes to measure the density of materials within a fairly
narrow range, or if only a few tests need to be run each day.
The multiple-tube comparator can be purchased commer-
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C-14 on Glass cially.7 It is useful if materials with a wide range of density
and Glass Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C14.04 on must be tested or if many specimens must be tested each day.
Physical and Mechanical Properties.
Current edition approved Aug. 29, 1975. Published November 1975. Originally The comparators shall consist of the following:
published as C 729 – 72 T. Last previous edition C 729 – 72 T. 5.1.1 Single-Tube Comparator (Fig. 1):
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.02.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.01.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.05.
5 7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. A multiple-tube comparator is available from American Glass Research, Inc.,
6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.03. Box 149, Butler, PA 16001.

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

1
 C 729 – 75 (2000)

Metric Equivalents
in. ⁄
14 ⁄
12 1 13⁄4 2 9
mm 6.4 12.7 25.4 44.4 51 229

FIG. 1 Single Tube Sink-Float Density Apparatus

5.1.1.1 Circulating Water Bath, consisting of a 4000-cm3 keeps the specimens immersed in the solution. The second test
beaker, a cover plate supporting test tubes and thermometer, a tube contains density solution and a thermometer; both test
cooling water coil made from copper tubing, an electrically tubes employ rubber stoppers for supporting the cage or
driven stirrer, and containing an immersion heater with rheostat thermometer.
for controlling heating rate, or heated by an external heat 5.1.1.3 Thermometers, two, mercury, readable to 0.1°C
source such as a hot plate. between 20 and 50°C. One thermometer passes through a
5.1.1.2 Test Tubes, two, 100-cm3 capacity. The cover plate rubber stopper supported by the cover plate into the water bath.
supports the test tubes, which extended into the water bath.
The second thermometer passes through a rubber stopper into
One tube contains the density solution, the test specimen, the
standard, and a glass or TFE-fluorocarbon cage (Fig. 2) that

2
 C 729 – 75 (2000)
N OTE 1—Methylene iodide, sym-tetrabromoethane, and alpha-
bromonaphthalene are light-sensitive. These liquids should be stored in
light-protective containers. A piece of copper wire in the methylene iodide
container will help retard decomposition.
6.2.4 The density solution consists of mixtures of isopropyl
salicylate and sym-tetrabromoethane for densities between 1.10
and 2.96 g/cm3, and of sym-tetrabromoethane and methylene
iodide for densities between 2.96 and 3.32 g/cm3. Proper
amounts of the two liquids to be used are found by simulta-
neous solution of:
rsVs 5 r 1V1 1 r2V2 (1)
Vs 5 V 1 1 V2 (2)
rs 5 ~r1V1 1 r 2V2!/~V1 1 V2! (3)
FIG. 2 TFE-Flourocarbon Cage for 100-mL Test Tube
where:
rs = density of solution − density of standard at
the test tube that contains density solution only. Thermistor 35°C,
thermometers can be used instead of mercury thermometers, if Vs = volume of solution to be prepared,
desired. r 1 and r2 = densities of the component liquids at 35°C,
5.1.2 Multiple-Tube Comparator—The commercially ob- and
tainable multiple-tube comparator employs the same principle V1 and V2 = volumes of the component liquids at 35°C.
as the single-tube comparator, except that the multiple-tube 6.2.5 Solution Preparation—Approximate volumes of liq-
type contains additional specimen tubes. These specimen tubes uids required to supply desired density r s are shown in Table
may contain similar density solutions if a large number of 1. Mix the two required volumes of liquids 1 and 2 (6.2.4) in
specimens with similar density are to be measured; they may a beaker, set on a hot plate, and warm to 35°C. Place a density
contain density solutions of differing density if a number of
specimens with a range of densities are to be measured. TABLE 1 Volumes of Liquids for Solutions of Various Densities
Volume of Material Used, cm3
6. Reagents and Materials rs g/cm3 sym-Tetra-
at 35°C Isopropyl Methylene
6.1 Density Reference Standards—The reference standard Salicylate
bromo-
Iodide
shall be a solid piece of glass with a volume between 0.10 and ethane

0.15 cm3, and a ratio of major to minor dimensions not 2.103 135 165 ...
2.136 127 173 ...
exceeding 2.0. It shall have a smooth surface and be free of 2.190 120 180 ...
seeds, cords, and cracks. A quantity of such standards may be 2.222 115 185 ...
cut from a 20-g piece of glass similarly free of defects, with 2.236 113 187 ...
2.257 109 191 ...
density at 25°C (r25) known to 60.0001 g/cm3. The density of 2.291 104 196 ...
such a standard glass can be determined to 60.00001 g/cm3 by 2.315 100 200 ...
a precise buoyancy method.8 Determine the settling tempera- 2.335 95 205 ...
2.363 92 208 ...
ture of each reference standard to the nearest 0.1°C and discard 2.403 85 215 ...
any that deviate more than 0.1°C from mean temperature. Less 2.434 80 220 ...
precise density standards are commercially available.9 2.448 78 222 ...
2.473 74 226 ...
6.2 Density Solution—The following organic liquids10 are 2.495 70 230 ...
mixed to provide a solution of the desired density: 2.511 68 232 ...
6.2.1 Isopropyl Salicylate, density (25°C) approximately 2.529 65 235 ...
2.560 60 240 ...
1.10 g/cm3 or alpha-bromonaphthalene, density (25°C) ap- 2.589 56 244 ...
proximately 1.49 g/cm3. 2.596 54 246 ...
6.2.2 sym-Tetrabromoethane, density (25°C) approximately 2.619 50 250 ...
2.633 48 252 ...
2.96 g/cm3. 2.669 42 258 ...
6.2.3 Methylene Iodide, density (25°C) approximately 3.32 2.702 37 263 ...
g/cm3. 2.728 33 267 ...
2.757 28 272 ...
2.812 19 281 ...
2.847 13 287 ...
8
2.863 10 290 ...
Bowman, H. A., and Schoonover, R. M., “Procedure for High Precision Density 2.893 6 294 ...
Determinations by Hydrostatic Weighing,” Journal of Research, National Bureau of 2.933 ... 300 1
Standards, 71 C, 3, 1967, p. 179. 2.960 ... 277 23
9
Sources include: 2.999 ... 248 52
American Glass Research, Inc., Box 149, Butler, PA 16001, 3.035 ... 214 86
Emhart Corporation, Hartford Division, P.O. Box 1620, Hartford, CT 06102, and 3.054 ... 198 102
Engineered Materials, P.O. Box 363, Church St. Station, New York, NY 10008. 3.096 ... 168 132
10
These liquids are available from most chemical supply companies.

3
 C 729 – 75 (2000)
standard in the solution. Adjust the mixture by adding 1 or Tc between 25 and 45°C in 0.1°C increments, and specimen
more drops of either component until the density standard density at 25°C is tabulated with corrected specimen settling
settles at 35 6 0.2°C in the well-stirred solution. temperature Tc. A typical density table is shown in Table 2.
7.5 Density Equation for Unlike Expansions—If the thermal
7. Preparation of Density-Temperature Tables
expansions of specimen and standard differ, specimen density
7.1 Tables are prepared from the equations of this section to will be in error by approximately 0.0001 g/cm3 for every
relate the specimen density at 25°C to its settling temperature. 20 3 10−7/°C mismatch in expansion. This error is greater if
These tables are prepared once for each glass reference the specimen settles above 35°C and less if it settles below
standard-density solution system. Subsequent supplies of den- 35°C. Use the following equation, which is accurate to
sity solutions prepared for use with the same glass reference 60.0001 g/cm3:
standard will be sufficiently similar in expansion and density
r25 5 r s25@~1.0000 2 30 as! 1 3a~T c 2 25!# 1 Cr~T c 2 35! (9)
characteristics so that the same table can be used.
7.2 Determination of Temperature Coeffıcient of Density— where: a = linear expansion coefficient of specimen.
Measure the density of the solution at approximately 25 and
45°C using the Bingham pycnometer, Test Method D 1217, or 8. Procedure for Determining Density of Test Specimens
equivalent pycnometer method. Calculate the temperature 8.1 Prepare the specimen for testing by cutting from the
coefficient of density, Cr, as follows: sample a piece comparable in size with the standard. The test
Cr 5 ~rT1 2 r T2!/~T1 2 T2! (4) specimen should be smooth and free of bubbles and cracks.
Identify the specimen using a diamond-point marking pencil or
where: by cutting it to a distinctive shape. Clean the specimen in
Cr = temperature coefficient of the solution, reagent grade alcohol or acetone and wipe dry with silicone-
g/cm3·°C, and free lens tissue. Place specimen in the solution (Note 3) that
rT1 and rT2 = density of the solution at temperature T1 contains the standard. The bath and solution temperatures
and T2, g/cm3. should be approximately 256 3°C, and both specimen and
7.3 Equations for Determination of Density: standard should float.
NOTE 2—Alternative equations or method of calculation may be used in
NOTE 3—Adsorbed moisture on the specimen surface will lower the
conjunction with different density tables and standard settling tempera-
measured density. Moisture, from condensation, on the solution surface
tures.
should be removed by periodically filtering the solution through coarse
7.3.1 These equations relate the specimen density to its filter paper.
settling temperatures. Express the exact relationship:
8.2 Place all the tubes, thermometers, stoppers, etc., in their
rT 5 rs 1 C r~T 2 Ts! (5) proper location in the bath, and rapidly heat the bath (1 to
where: 2°C/min), noting the temperature of the density solution at
rT = density of specimen at its settling temperature, T, and which the test specimen (or the standard) begins to settle.
rs = density of standard at its settling temperature, T s, 8.3 Adjust the bath temperature by cooling to 2 to 4°C
approximately 35°C. below the expected settling temperature of the specimen (or
7.3.2 If the thermal expansions of a specimen and standard standard). Allow the bath and solutions to come to equilibrium
are similar, express their densities at 25°C as follows: for 10 min, then heat the bath at a rate of 0.1 6 0.02°C/min.
Heating rates can be controlled by adjusting the power to the
r25 5 rs25 1 ~C r 1 3asrs!~T 2 T s! (6)
hotplate or immersion heater and the cooling water flow rate.
where: Cooling water is used as a fine adjustment of heating rate.
r 25 = specimen density at 25°C, 8.4 As either the specimen or standard begin to settle in the
rs25 = standard density at 25°C, and solutions, note the temperature at which either is halfway
as = linear expansion of standard ' expansion of speci- between upper and lower cage disks. The bath and density
men. solution temperatures must agree within 0.4°C when the
7.3.3 It is convenient to fix 35°C as the settling temperature temperature is recorded, with the bath temperature being
of the standard, as it will vary slightly with heating rate, higher. Record T and Ts.
operator, and liquid density. The specimen settling temperature 8.5 Calculate the corrected specimen settling temperature,
must be corrected as follows: Tc, by Eq 7. From an appropriate density table prepared from
Tc 5 T 1 ~35 2 T s! (7) Eq 4 and Eq 8, read the density that corresponds to the
corrected specimen settling temperature, Tc. This density is the
where: density of the specimen at 25°C, r25.
Tc = corrected specimen settling temperature, 8.6 Up to three test specimens can be run in a single tube
T = observed specimen settling temperature, and simultaneously.
Ts = observed standard settling temperature.
Eq 6 then becomes: 9. Report
r 25 5 rs25 1 ~Cr 1 3asrs!~Tc 2 35! (8) 9.1 Report the following:
7.4 Density Table—This table is prepared and used when 9.1.1 Identification of test sample, product, manufacturer,
many routine densities are to be determined. Eq 8 is solved for code number, date, etc. as required,

4
 C 729 – 75 (2000)
TABLE 2 2.511 Density Liquid
Glass Density at 25°C in g/cm3
Standard Settling Temperature Adjusted to 35°CA,B
Tc r25 Tc r25 Tc r25 Tc r25 Tc r25
25.0 2.5305 29.0 2.5228 33.0 2.5151 37.0 2.5074 41.0 2.4997
25.1 2.5303 29.1 2.5226 33.1 2.5149 37.1 2.5072 41.1 2.4995
25.2 2.5301 29.2 2.5224 33.2 2.5148 37.2 2.5071 41.2 2.4993
25.3 2.5299 29.3 2.5222 33.3 2.5146 37.3 2.5069 41.3 2.4991
25.4 2.5297 29.4 2.5221 33.4 2.5144 37.4 2.5067 41.4 2.4989
25.5 2.5295 29.5 2.5219 33.5 2.5142 37.5 2.5065 41.5 2.4988
25.6 2.5293 29.6 2.5217 33.6 2.5140 37.6 2.5063 41.6 2.4986
25.7 2.5292 29.7 2.5215 33.7 2.5138 37.7 2.5061 41.7 2.4984
25.8 2.5290 29.8 2.5213 33.8 2.5136 37.8 2.5059 41.8 2.4982
25.9 2.5288 29.9 2.5211 33.9 2.5134 37.9 2.5057 41.9 2.4980

26.0 2.5286 30.0 2.5209 34.0 2.5132 38.0 2.5055 42.0 2.4978
26.1 2.5284 30.1 2.5207 34.1 2.5130 38.1 2.5053 42.1 2.4976
26.2 2.5282 30.2 2.5205 34.2 2.5128 38.2 2.5051 42.2 2.4974
26.3 2.5280 30.3 2.5203 34.3 2.5126 38.3 2.5049 42.3 2.4972
26.4 2.5278 30.4 2.5201 34.4 2.5125 38.4 2.5047 42.4 2.4970
26.5 2.5276 30.5 2.5199 34.5 2.5123 38.5 2.5045 42.5 2.4968
26.6 2.5274 30.6 2.5197 34.6 2.5121 38.6 2.5044 42.6 2.4966
26.7 2.5272 30.7 2.5196 34.7 2.5119 38.7 2.5042 42.7 2.4964
26.8 2.5270 30.8 2.5194 34.8 2.5117 38.8 2.5040 42.8 2.4962
26.9 2.5269 30.9 2.5192 34.9 2.5115 38.9 2.5038 42.9 2.4961

27.0 2.5267 31.0 2.5190 35.0 2.5113 39.0 2.5036 43.0 2.4959
27.1 2.5265 31.1 2.5188 35.1 2.5111 39.1 2.5034 43.1 2.4957
27.2 2.5263 31.2 2.5186 35.2 2.5109 39.2 2.5032 43.2 2.4955
27.3 2.5261 31.3 2.5184 35.3 2.5107 39.3 2.5030 43.3 2.4953
27.4 2.5259 31.4 2.5182 35.4 2.5105 39.4 2.5028 43.4 2.4951
27.5 2.5257 31.5 2.5180 35.5 2.5103 39.5 2.5026 43.5 2.4949
27.6 2.5255 31.6 2.5178 35.6 2.5101 39.6 2.5024 43.6 2.4947
27.7 2.5253 31.7 2.5176 35.7 2.5099 39.7 2.5022 43.7 2.4945
27.8 2.5251 31.8 2.5174 35.8 2.5098 39.8 2.5020 43.8 2.4943
27.9 2.5249 31.9 2.5173 35.9 2.5096 39.9 2.5018 43.9 2.4941

28.0 2.5247 32.0 2.5171 36.0 2.5094 40.0 2.5017 44.0 2.4939
28.1 2.5245 32.1 2.5169 36.1 2.5092 40.1 2.5015 44.1 2.4937
28.2 2.5244 32.2 2.5167 36.2 2.5090 40.2 2.5013 44.2 2.4935
28.3 2.5242 32.3 2.5165 36.3 2.5088 40.3 2.5011 44.3 2.4934
28.4 2.5240 32.4 2.5163 36.4 2.5086 40.4 2.5009 44.4 2.4932
28.5 2.5238 32.5 2.5161 36.5 2.5084 40.5 2.5007 44.5 2.4930
28.6 2.5236 32.6 2.5159 36.6 2.5082 40.6 2.5005 44.6 2.4928
28.7 2.5234 32.7 2.5157 36.7 2.5080 40.7 2.5003 44.7 2.4926
28.8 2.5232 32.8 2.5155 36.8 2.5078 40.8 2.5001 44.8 2.4924
28.9 2.5230 32.9 2.5153 36.9 2.5076 40.9 2.4999 44.9 2.4922
45.0 2.4920
A
Standard: soda-lime glass.
B
Table Coefficient: 0.001925 g/cm3 °C.

9.1.2 Test information, including test date, density solution limits is 60.0002 g/cm3. By using a standard whose density is
and table used, identification and uncertainty of density stan- known to the 5th decimal place (60.00001 g/cm3), the method
dard, settling temperatures of standard and test specimen, and is accurate to 60.0002 g/cm3.
other required data, and
9.1.3 Density of test specimen or average density of test lot, 11. Keywords
at 25°C, as determined from density table.
11.1 density; glass; sink-float
10. Precision and Bias
10.1 The standard deviation of this test method is approxi-
mately 0.0001 g/cm3. The precision with 95 % confidence

5
 C 729 – 75 (2000)

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