Ele 45-9300 manual IV. Operation, Sample Preparation

International

IV. OPERATION

A.Sample Preparation

Follow the procedure outlined in ASTM D 2041 for separating the sample particles, oven-drying the sample, and cooling it to room temperature.

B.Operation

1.Weigh the empty pycnometer without the lower water inlet hose and without the gauge and hose assembly on the top. Designate this weight as "B."

2.Place the prepared sample in the pycnometer and weigh the sample and pycnometer together, designating this weight as "C." The weight of the sample is A = C - B.

3.Install the gauge and hose assembly and connect the aspirator to both the pycnometer and the laboratory water faucet, as shown in Fig. 1.

Note: Instead of the aspirator, a vacuum pump may be connected directly (through a water trap) to the hose.

4.With the water inlet valve closed, connect the water inlet hose to both the pycnometer and the laboratory water supply, as shown in Fig. 1.

5.To begin operating the aspirator, turn on the water faucet (or vacuum pump) to create a vacuum of at least 10" Hg in the pycnometer.

6.Open the water inlet valve (see Fig. 1) to let water in at a temperature of about 77oF (25oC). Fill the pycnometer up to about an inch (25.4 mm) below the top of the sphere and then close the water inlet valve.

7.Continue applying vacuum and maintain a residual pressure of 1.2" (30 mm) Hg or less for 5 to 15 minutes. During this vacuum period, agitate the pycnometer vigorously by shaking it with both hands at intervals of about 2 minutes to release all the air bubbles.

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