Aug 11, 2010

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set forth new regulations that mandate greenhouse gas reporting in the U.S. carbon black industry. These regulations were the impetus for the development of a new ASTM International standard, ASTM D7633, Test Method for Carbon Black Carbon Content.

The new standard was developed by Subcommittee D24.66 on Environment, Health and Safety, part of ASTM International Committee D24 on Carbon Black.

“Carbon black producers and contract laboratories will be the primary users of ASTM D7633,” says George Joyce, Manager, Materials Analysis Laboratory, Columbian Chemicals Co. Joyce says that the new standard may be adopted into U.S. and Canadian greenhouse gas regulations, and may also eventually be adopted by other national environmental agencies, including those of European Union countries that already have greenhouse gas reporting requirements.

“I anticipate global acceptance and utilization of ASTM D7633 since it is the only applicable testing standard available for carbon content of carbon black products,” says Joyce.

A task group has formed within D24.66 to administer an interlaboratory study program that will be used to develop precision and bias statements for ASTM D7633. Participants are sought for the ILS program, which the task group plans for this fall.

According to Joyce, ILS participants will need to have a carbon combustion analyzer in their laboratory. “Our current test method utilizes a combustion analyzer with infrared detection, but the committee will open participation to labs using all types of carbon combustion analyzers.”

In addition, Joyce notes that D24.66 is currently developing a proposed new standard, ASTM WK27667, Test Method for Carbon Content in Carbon Black Feedstock Oils. The proposed standard will be applicable to most commercial feedstock oils used to produce carbon black products in a furnace or thermal process.

To purchase ASTM standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation number, or contact ASTM Customer Relations (phone: 610-832-9585; https://www.astm.org/contact/).  ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

ASTM Committee D24 Next Meeting: Dec. 6-8, December Committee Week, New Orleans, La.
Technical Contact: George Joyce, Columbian Chemicals Co., Marietta, Ga., Phone: 770-792-9467; gjoyce@columbianchemicals.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Joe Koury, Phone: 610-832-9804; jkoury@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #8641