ASTM to Boost Flashpoint Testing Safety

ASTM D7094 is accepted as an official flashpoint method in the Diesel fuel oil specification (ASTM D975).

Eralytics is proud to announce that its internationally renowned flashpoint specialists, Mr Andreas Schwarzmann and Dr Roland Aschauer, both longstanding members of the ASTM D02.08 volatility and flammability groups, achieved a breakthrough for ASTM D7094 - the safest and fastest way of flashpoint testing.

The December 2013 ASTM meeting will be remembered as the start of a revolution in flashpoint testing all across the world. Based on the results of international ILS studies ASTM accepted ASTM D7094 as an official method for flashpoint testing in the following fuel specifications*:

ASTM D396 (Fuel oils), D975 (Diesel fuel oils), D2880 (Gas turbine fuel oils) and D3699 (Kerosene)

From now on, ASTM D7094 is an official alternative to the 100 years old ASTM D93 Pensky Martens method for flashpoint testing of fuels.

The acceptance of this innovative Continuously Closed Cup Flash Point Method (CCCFP) finally brings 100% safety to fuel testing laboratories worldwide. Instead of igniting the vapors of 70 ml of highly flammable liquids with an open flame, the eralytics CCCFP tester ERAFLASH determines the flashpoint inside a continuously closed cup filled with only 2 ml of sample - all with a significantly faster measuring time and with identical precision to ASTM D93. For D7094 the ASTM Flashpoint Committee officially states that there is no statistically significant bias observed compared to ASTM D93A.

Key features of eralytics unique CCCFP tester ERAFLASH:

Maximum Precision

ERAFLASH makes fully automated flashpoint measurements in strict accordance with the latest flashpoint standard ASTM D7094. The latest inter laboratory study has proven that ERAFLASH outperforms other ASTM D7094 OEM equipment in terms of repeatability (r=2.3 vs 4.1) and reproducibility (R=3.3 vs 5.5). For your convenience, ERAFLASH additionally offers several correlation methods, which cover all major closed cup methods as well as flash/no flash methods.

High Speed

The innovative PBT Peltier Boost Technology, a patented eralytics innovation, allows for previously unmatched heating and cooling rates. The Peltier elements are arranged above the measuring chamber following a revolutionary concept developed by eralytics’ innovative R&D team. Paired with the conveniently small sample cup, this new design allows significantly faster turnaround times than those offered by any other instruments available on the market.

Unmatched Range

PBT Peltier Boost Technology enables measurements in the temperature range below 0°C and in excess of 200°C without the need to change to a new instrument. This makes the ERAFLASH the first flashpoint tester worldwide to cover the full temperature range of -25 to 420°C (-13 to 788°F) in a single analyser. Moreover, measurements down to 0°C require no additional external cooling. This unmatched temperature range combined with the typically small footprint of an eralytics analyser saves laboratory bench space and makes mobile testing more economical than ever before.

* The new versions of these ASTM specifications will be published with the next revision.