3.1 This practice is intended to ensure that SRBs are produced and evaluated by a standard procedure.

3.2 This practice is to be used to establish the average physicochemical properties of a set of carbon blacks to be used as SRBs.

3.3 The carbon black grades to be used as SRBs should be selected to give as much coverage of the typical usage range for each test and as nearly evenly spaced across the range as possible. Typically, the carbon black grades selected consist of three tread (hard) type furnace grades (designated A, B, and C), three carcass (soft) type furnace grades (designated D, E, and F), and one thermal type grade (designated G). Subcommittee D24.61 may elect to carry one or more of the existing SRBs into the next set provided there is enough remaining material at the rate of usage to last through the expected life of the next set. Limiting the choice of grades to be used means that not all tests will have an SRB set that is evenly spaced across the range of interest. All the SRB candidates are produced at approximately the same time by the various producers. They are used as a set once they are approved. The sets are consecutively numbered. Values and identification for the current set are given in Guide D4821. Any SRBs carried forward will be renumbered for the new set.

1.1 This practice covers guidelines for the production and testing for uniformity of a set of carbon blacks to be used as Standard Reference Blacks (SRBs).

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.