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What Are the Properties of ASTM Oil?

American Society for Testing Materials International has more than 30,000 expert employees who work to set standards for products like metals, paints, plastics, consumer products and petroleum. A standard is a document that cites research, evidence and researcher testimonies to create regulations. ASTM does not mandate or enforce these standards, but government agencies often reference the standards in codes and laws.

  1. Chemical Properties of Petroleum

    • Oil is composed of about 15 percent hydrogen and about 85 percent carbon.

    Physical Properties of Petroleum

    • Petroleum varies from a light form like gasoline to a heavy form like paraffin, with a medium form like lubricating oil in between. This difference in chemical composition leads to differences in other physical properties like color and viscosity. Petroleum is hydrophobic, meaning the substance is water-repellent.

    ASTM Standards for Artists' Oil

    • Artists' oil, or resin oil, has a certain standard identified by ASTM. Some considerations include how fast the paint dries and how much pigment the paint holds. The standard for artists' oil also calls for a medium consistency, perfect for spreading paint on canvas.

    ASTM Standards for Motor Oil

    • One standard for motor oil is the viscosity index, which means when there is a temperature change, the smaller the oil's change, the higher the viscosity index and the better the oil. Another standard is the borderline pumping temperature, which measures the lowest temperature at which oil can be circulated through a vehicle engine. This means oils that circulate in lower temperatures are of better quality. Similarly, the ASTM pour point test measures how well oil flows at low temperatures. Another important concept is evaporation loss---motor vehicles operate at high temperatures, thus it is a problem if oil evaporates from vehicle engines. A good score on the a ASTM test for evaporation loss, or NOACK volatility, finds that oils keep consumption low and equipment protection high.

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