LUBRIZOL TEST PROCEDURE

TP-TM-037C
Edition: July 9, 2010
Previous Edition: January 24, 2005
Original Date: May 22, 2000

Determination of Specific Gravity

Definition: This method determines the ratio of
the weight of a unit volume of the sample at 25°C
or 70°C to the weight of a unit volume of water at
25°C.
Scope: Applicable to all fatty acids.
A. Apparatus:
1. Specific gravity bottles with well fitting
ground glass joints, ca 50 ml. capacity.
Calibrate these bottles as follows: Clean
and dry thoroughly and then fill with recently
boiled and cooled distilled water at 20° to
23°C. Fill the bottle to overflowing by
holding the bottle on its side in such a
manner as to prevent the entrapment of air
bubbles. Insert the stopper and immerse in
water bath at 25° ± 0.2°C. Keep the entire
bulb completely covered with water and
hold at specified temperature for 30
minutes. Carefully remove any water which
has exuded from the side opening. Remove
the bottle from the bath and wipe completely
dry. Weigh the bottle and contents.
Calculate the weight of water in the flask by
subtracting the weight of empty bottle from
the weight of bottle plus water.
2. Water baths. Maintained at 25 ± 0.2°C and
at 70 ± 0.2°C.
3. Thermometer. Any convenient thermometer
of suitable range with 0.1° or 0.2° subdivisions.
Standardize carefully, preferably by
comparison with a thermometer calibrated by
the U.S. National Bureau of Standards.
B. Procedure:
(a) Specific gravity at 25/25°C.
1. Melt the sample and filter through filter
paper to remove any impurities and the last
traces of moisture. The sample must be
completely dry.
2. Cool the sample to 20° to 23°C (see D, 1)
and fill the bottle to overflowing, holding the
bottle on its side in such a manner as to
prevent the entrapment of air bubbles.
3. Insert the stopper, immerse, and hold in the
water bath at 25° ± 0.2°C for 30 minutes.
4. Carefully wipe off any fatty acid which has
come through the capillary opening and
remove from bath. Clean and dry
thoroughly.
5. Weigh the bottle and contents and calculate
the specific gravity as directed in Section C,
paragraph 1.
(b) Specific gravity at 70/25°C
1. The procedure is the same as described in
(a), except that the melted fat is poured into
the specific gravity bottle at 66° to 68°C.
2. The bottle containing the sample is allowed
to remain in a bath at 70° ± 0.2°C for 30
minutes. Cool to room temperature and
weigh the bottle and contents. Calculate
the specific gravity as directed in Section C,
paragraph 2.

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 Lubrizol Test Procedure TP-TM-037C
Determination of Specific Gravity
Page 2 of 2

C. Calculation:
(Weight of bottle and sample) - (Weight of bottle)
Specific Gravity at 25/25ºC = (Weight of water at 25ºC)

Specific Gravity at 70/25ºC = F

W [ 1 + (0.000025 x 45)]

F = Weight of sample at 70ºC

W = Weight of water at 25ºC

D. Notes:
1. Fatty acids not liquid at 25°C may be tested at
70/25°C.
2. Unless the specific gravity bottles are protected
with caps, care must be taken so that no fatty
acid or water is lost in the interval between
removal from the bath and weighing. If the
temperature of the room is above 25°C, this is
very apt to happen. Even the warmth of the
hand surrounding the bottle is sufficient to cause
expansion of the contents of the flask.
3. Unless the specific gravity bottles are made of
glass with a very low coefficient of expansion, a
correction must be made for the expansion of
the glass. The coefficient of expansion of
ordinary glass is ca 0.000025 (see C, 2).