Designation: D6547 − 00 (Reapproved 2010)

Standard Test Method for

Corrosiveness of Lubricating Fluid to Bimetallic Couple1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6547; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope It is an indicator of the compatibility of a fluid with a brass on

1.1 This test method covers the corrosiveness of hydraulic steel galvanic couple at ambient temperature and 50 % relative
and lubricating fluids to a bimetallic galvanic couple. humidity.

NOTE 1—This test method replicates Fed-Std No. 791, Method 5322.2. 5. Apparatus
It utilizes the same apparatus, test conditions, and evaluation criteria, but
it describes test procedures more explicitly. 5.1 Desiccating Jars, two.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as 5.2 Magnifier, 10× power.
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information 5.3 Glass Stirring Rod.
only.
5.4 Abrasive Papers, silicon-carbide or aluminum oxide
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the (150, 240, 400, 600 grit, one sheet per disk).
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 5.5 Cloth, lint-free, clean, dry.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 5.6 Chromium Alloy Steel Disks, three for each test sample.4
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 5.7 Brass Clips, three for each test sample.4
2. Referenced Documents 6. Reagents and Materials
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 6.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
A322 Specification for Steel Bars, Alloy, Standard Grades used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
2.2 Federal Standards: all reagents conform to the Committee on Analytical Reagents
Fed-Std No. 791, Method 5322.2 Corrosiveness of Oil on a of the American Chemical Society where such specifications
Bimetallic Couple3 are available.5
3. Summary of Test Method 6.2 Etching Solution, consisting of distilled water, 450 mL;
3.1 This test method consists of fitting a brass clip to the nitric acid, concentrated, 225 mL; sulfuric acid, concentrated,
fluid-coated surface of a steel disk, storing the assembly at 300 mL; and hydrochloric acid, concentrated, 8 mL.
approximately 50 % relative humidity for ten days, and visu- 6.2.1 To avoid hazardous reactions when preparing the
ally inspecting the assembly for evidence of galvanic corro- etching solution, place the distilled water (450 mL) in a 1.5-L,
sion. or larger, glass beaker set in a container of ice and water. Stir
with a glass mechanical stirrer or plastic coated magnetic spin
4. Significance and Use bar while slowly adding concentrated sulfuric acid (300 mL).
Add more ice to the cooling bath as needed. When acid
4.1 Corrosiveness of a fluid to a bimetallic couple is one of
addition is complete, continue stirring until the solution has
the properties used to evaluate hydraulic or lubricating fluids.
cooled to room temperature, and then start slow addition of the
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM CommitteeD02 on
4
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee The sole source of supply of the apparatus known to the committee at this time
D02.N0.02 on Industrial Applications. is Metaspec, 790 W. Mayfield Rd., San Antonio, TX 78211. If you are aware of
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2010. Published November 2010. Originally alternative suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM International
approved in 2000. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D6547–00(2005). Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
DOI: 10.1520/D6547-00R10. responsible technical committee,1 which you may attend.
2 5
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, [Link], or Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@[Link]. For Annual Book of ASTM Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For Suggestions on the testing of reagents not
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on listed by the American Chemical Society, see Annual Standards for Laboratory
the ASTM website. Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset, U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia
3
Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, Building 4 Section D, and National Formulary, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville,
700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111–5904, Attn: NPODS. MD.

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 D6547 − 00 (2010)
concentrated nitric acid (225 mL). Continue stirring after acid 7.2 For each test fluid, prepare three brass clips. These brass
addition until the solution has cooled to room temperature, and clips may either be new or from a previous test.
then add concentrated hydrochloric acid (8 mL). Allow the 7.2.1 The clips shall consist of a QQ-B-613, composition 2
mixture to equilibrate to room temperature before use. brass, spring temper, fabricated to the dimensions shown in
(Warning—Nitric, hydrochloric, and sulfuric acids are very Fig. 1.
corrosive. Nitric acid and sulfuric acid are also oxidizing acids. 7.2.2 Place 150 mL of etching solution in a 250-mL beaker.
The analyst should prepare the etching solution in a well- Immerse the brass clips in etching solution for 20 s. Remove
ventilated hood and wear appropriate gloves, apron, and face the clip from the etching solution and immediately wash
shield.) successively in cold running water, distilled water, and acetone.
6.3 Acetone, technical grade. (Warning—Flammable. If a visible stain remains on the clip in the area that will be in
Health hazard.) contact with the disk, repeat the etching process for an
additional 20 s with fresh etching solution. Change etching
6.4 Distilled Water. solution and acetone every six clips. Allow the clip to air dry
NOTE 2—Both distilled and deionized water were used in the round
robin with no apparent impact on test outcome.
and store it in the desiccator until ready for use. Be careful not
to touch the surface that will be in contact with the steel disks
6.5 Saturated Aqueous Solution , in contact with excess with bare hands.
calcium nitrate tetrahydrate.
NOTE 3—A saturated aqueous solution in contact with an excess of 8. Procedure
Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O will produce 51 % relative humidity within a closed 8.1 Remove the disks from the desiccator, being careful not
space at 25°C. To prepare the saturated solution, dissolve 660 g of
to touch the finished surface.
Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O in 100 cc of water at 30°C.6
6.6 Low-Erucic Rapeseed Oil, commercial grade.7 8.2 Using the stirring rod, place two drops of the test fluid
along a diameter in a line on the polished surface of each of
7. Test Specimen three disks.
7.1 Gather reagents and materials before beginning speci- 8.3 Remove the brass clips from the desiccator, being
men preparation. The specimens must be prepared and as- careful not to touch the area to be in contact with the steel
sembled for testing on the same day to reduce formation of disks.
passivating oxide films on the surface of the bimetallic couple. 8.4 Place the clips on the disks as indicated in Fig. 1 so that
For each test fluid, prepare three steel disks. These steel disks the center of the clip is in full contact with the wetted area of
may either be new or from a previous test. the disk.
7.1.1 The steel disks shall consist of a chromium alloy steel
in accordance with Specification A322 (E52100 or G52986), 8.5 Place the assemblies in a covered desiccating jar con-
heat treated to Rockwell C-62. When new, the steel disks shall taining the saturated aqueous Ca(NO3)2 · 4H2O solution for ten
be 25.4 mm (1.00 in.) in diameter by 13 to 25 mm (0.5 to 1.0 days (relative humidity approximately 50 %).
in.) thick. Prior to initial use, the steel disk shall be ground on 8.6 Remove the assemblies from the desiccating jar after ten
one side to a 0.51 µm (20 µin.) rms. This treatment need not be days. Absorb excess fluid from the assemblies with a lint-free
repeated prior to reuse. cloth. Using a sharp pencil, mark an outline of the clips where
7.1.2 Polish the surface of the ground side using 150, 240,
400, and 600-grit silicon carbide or aluminum oxide paper in
succession. Use one sheet of each per disk. Perform each
polishing operation at right angles to the previous one, and
continue until all the cross scratches from the previous opera-
tion are removed.
NOTE 4—Hand polishing techniques were used exclusively in the round
robin evaluation of this test method. Mechanical polishing was not
evaluated and may not yield equivalent results.
7.1.3 Clean the disks by wiping with a clean, dry, lint-free
cloth, being careful not to touch the polished surfaces with bare
hands.
7.1.4 Examine with a 10× power magnifier for discolor-
ation, etching, pitting, or other signs of corrosion. Discard
disks with any signs of corrosion.
7.1.5 Store the disks in a desiccator containing desiccant
until time of use.

6
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL,
1993. NOTE 1—Dimensions in millimetres.
7
Low-erucic rapeseed oil may be used at the operator’s discretion as a failing NOTE 2—Tolerance 60.8 mm.
reference fluid to monitor test severity. FIG. 1 Brass Clip Dimensions

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); 2

 D6547 − 00 (2010)
they are in contact with the polished surface of the disks. 9.1.1 Report the fluid as failing the test if the test areas of
Remove the clips and wipe the disks clean with a lint-free more than one disk show signs of corrosion, pitting, or other
cloth. attack. Also report the fluid as failing if two disks are free of
8.7 Using the 10× power magnifier, examine the marked-off corrosion, but the third shows more than three affected spots.
area for discoloration, etching, pitting, or other signs of [Link] Wipe the dish with a lint-free cloth. Rate the
corrosion. Fig. 2 depicts galvanic corrosion stains typical of specimen as passing if no discoloration or pitting is visible.
tests using low-erucic rapeseed oil as the failing reference 9.1.2 Report the fluid as passing if the condition of the disks
fluid. is other than these.
10. Precision and Bias
9. Report
10.1 Precision—It is not practical to specify the precision of
9.1 Report the following information: the procedure in this test method because the results of this test
method are only intended to give a pass/fail rating to the fluid
being tested.
10.2 Bias—The procedure in this test method has no bias
because the value of corrosion-preventing characteristics is
defined only in terms of this test method.
11. Keywords
FIG. 2 Appearance of Disks After Performing Test 11.1 copper corrosion; corrosion; galvanic corrosion; hy-
with Low-erucic Rapeseed Oil draulic fluids

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