Designation: D6553 − 00 (Reapproved 2010)

Standard Test Method for

Coolant Compatibility of Way Lubricants1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6553; 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 replacing the distilled water of that test method. A 40-mL

1.1 This test method measures the ability of single-use way sample and 40 mL of either actual coolant or a pH 9.0 buffer
lubricants to separate from metalworking coolants (synthetic solution (see Note 1) are stirred for 5 min at 54°C (see Note 2)
coolants, semisynthetic coolants, and soluble oils) or other in a graduated cylinder. The time required for the separation of
alkaline aqueous fluids. the emulsion thus formed is recorded. If complete separation or
emulsion reduction to 3 mL or less does not occur after
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standing for 30 min, the volumes of oil (or fluid), water, and
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this emulsion remaining at the time are reported.
standard.
NOTE 1—Distilled water is not a satisfactory aqueous phase for testing
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the the ability of way lubricants to separate from coolants because distilled
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the water gives different results from coolants. The best procedure is to use the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- actual coolant that the way lubricant will contaminate. A buffer solution of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- pH 9.0 may be used in place of a specific coolant to predict the
separability from alkaline coolants in general.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific NOTE 2—It is recommended, however, that the test temperature be
warning statements, see Section 7. raised to 82 6 1°C when testing way lubricants more viscous than 90 cSt
(mm 2/s) at 40°C.
2. Referenced Documents
5. Significance and Use
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water 5.1 In the normal use of a way lubricant in a machine tool,
D1401 Test Method for Water Separability of Petroleum Oils the way lubricant eventually becomes a contaminant that may
and Synthetic Fluids emulsify into the coolant. It is generally desirable to remove
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and this contaminant by skimming; otherwise, the coolant lifetime
Petroleum Products may be significantly shortened. This test method provides a
guide for determining the separability characteristics of way
3. Terminology lubricants that are expected to get into aqueous alkaline
3.1 Definitions: metalworking coolants. It is used for specification of new oils
3.1.1 cuff—a layer between the way oil layer and the coolant and might be useful in monitoring of in-service oils.
or buffer layer that contains significant amounts of both. In 6. Apparatus
describing this intermediate layer, cuff is preferred to emulsion
since many of the coolants are themselves emulsions. 6.1 Cylinder, 100 mL, graduated from 5 to 100 mL in
1.0-mL divisions, made of glass, heat-resistant glass, or a
4. Summary of Test Method chemical equivalent. The inside diameter shall be no less than
27 mm and no more than 30 mm throughout its length,
4.1 This test procedure is essentially identical to Test
measured from the top to a point 6 mm from the bottom of the
Method D1401, with the actual coolant or an alkaline buffer
cylinder. The overall length of the cylinder shall be 225 to 260
mm. The graduation shall not be in error by more than 1 mL at
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on any point on the scale.
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 6.2 Heating Bath, sufficiently large and deep enough to
D02.L0.01 on Metal Removal Fluids and Lubricants.
Current edition approved July 1, 2010. Published November 2010. Originally permit the immersion of at least two test cylinders in the bath
approved in 2000. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D6553–00(2005). liquid up to their 85-mL graduations. The bath shall be capable
DOI: 10.1520/D6553-00R10.
2
of being maintained at a temperature of 54 6 1°C (see Note 2),
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, [Link], or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@[Link]. For Annual Book of ASTM
and shall be fitted with clamps, which hold the cylinder in a
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on position so that the longitudinal axis of the paddle corresponds
the ASTM website. to the vertical center line of the cylinder during the stirring

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 D6553 − 00 (2010)
operation. The clamps shall hold the cylinder securely while its with acetone and then with tap water. The glassware shall be
contents are being stirred. further cleaned with a suitable cleaning reagent. Rinse thor-
6.3 Stirring Paddle, made of chromium-plated or stainless oughly with tap water and then with reagent water. Inspect the
steel and conforming to the following dimensions: length, 120 cylinders for any residue or water droplets adhering to the
6 1.5 mm; width, 19 6 0.5 mm; thickness, 1.5 mm. It is inside walls. Both conditions indicate a need for additional
mounted on a vertical shaft of similar metal, approximately 6 cleaning.
mm in diameter, connected to a drive mechanism that rotates 9.2 Clean the stirring paddle and shaft with absorbent cotton
the paddle on its longitudinal axis at 1500 6 15 rpm. The or tissue wet with cleaning solvent and air dry. Care must be
apparatus is of such design that, when the cylinder is clamped taken not to bend or misalign the paddle assembly during the
in position and the paddle assembly is lowered into the cleaning operation.
cylinder, a positive stop engages and holds the assembly when
the lower edge of the paddle is 6 mm from the bottom of the 10. Procedure
cylinder. During the operation of the stirrer, the center of the 10.1 Heat the bath liquid to 54 6 1°C (see Note 2) and
bottom edge of the paddle shall not deviate more than 1 mm maintain it at that temperature throughout the test. Add coolant
from the axis of rotation. When not in operation, the paddle or buffer (see Note 3) to the graduated cylinder up to the 40-mL
assembly can be lifted vertically to clear the top of the mark, and then add to the same cylinder a representative
graduated cylinder. sample of the oil (or fluid) under test until the top level of the
7. Reagents and Materials oil reaches the 80-mL mark on the cylinder. Place the cylinder
in the bath, and allow the contents to reach bath temperature.
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be Normally this will require about 10 min.
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
all reagents shall conform to the specifications of the Commit- NOTE 3—If initial volumetric measurements are made at room tempera-
ture, expansion occurring at the elevated test temperature will have to be
tee on Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society, considered. For example, there will be a total volumetric expansion of
where such specifications are available.3 Other grades may be about 2 to 3 mL at 82°C. Corrections to each volume reading at 82°C,
used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of therefore, should be made so that the total of the volume readings made
sufficiently high purity to permit its use without lessening the for oils (or fluid), water, and emulsion does not exceed 80 mL. An
accuracy of the determination. alternative procedure, which would avoid the corrections, is to make the
initial volumetric measurements at the test temperature.
7.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, reference
10.2 Clamp the cylinder in place directly under the stirring
to water shall be understood to mean reagent water as defined
paddle. Lower the paddle into the cylinder until the stop
by Type II of Specification D1193.
engages at the required depth. Start the stirrer and a stop watch
7.3 Buffer Solution—A buffer solution of the desired pH simultaneously, and adjust the stirrer, as required, to a speed of
may be prepared using reagent-grade chemicals and reagent 1500 6 15 rpm. At the end of 5 min, stop the stirrer and raise
water. the stirring assembly until it is just clear of the graduate. Wipe
7.4 Cleaning Solvents, Light-hydrocarbon, such as precipi- the paddle with a policeman (see Note 4), allowing the liquid
tation naphtha (Warning—Health hazard.) for petroleum oils. thus removed to drop back into the cylinder. Remove the
Use other appropriate solvents for dissolving synthetic fluids. cylinder from the retaining clamps and transfer it carefully to
another section of the bath. At 5-min intervals, lift the cylinder
7.5 Acetone. (Warning—Health hazard. Flammable.) out of the bath, inspect, and record the volumes of the way oil
7.6 Cleaning Reagent—Cleaning by either hot NOCHRO- layer, coolant or buffer layer, and cuff layer.
MIX (Warning—Corrosive. Health hazard. Oxidizer.) or a
NOTE 4—The policeman should be made of material resistant to the oil
24-h soak at room temperature in MICRO solution gave or fluid.
acceptable, statistically equivalent results in roun robin testing.
11. Report
8. Sampling
11.1 Record the time (at 5-min intervals) until either (a) the
8.1 The test method is very sensitive to small amounts of
product passes the coolant separability requirements it is being
contamination. Take samples in accordance with Practice
tested against or (b) the test limit for coolant separability is
D4057.
exceeded (usually 3-mL cuff or less for 30 min at 54°C and 60
9. Preparation of Apparatus min at 82°C). The maximum volume to be reported as the oil
layer is 43 mL (see Note 5). For uniformity, report the test
9.1 Clean the graduated cylinder by removing any film of results in the manner shown in the following examples:
oil (or fluid) with cleaning solvent, followed by a wash first
NOTE 5—Certain way oils may produce a hazy oil layer. In situations in
which the measurement of the oil layer and coolant or buffer layer
3
Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American indicates essentially complete separation, the upper layer should be
Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For Suggestions on the testing of reagents not reported as oil. If there are two layers and if the upper layer is more than
listed by the American Chemical Society, see Annual Standards for Laboratory 43 mL, this layer should be considered the cuff.
Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset, U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia
and National Formulary, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville, 11.1.1 40-40-0 (20)—Complete separation occurred in 20
MD. min. More than 3 mL of cuff had remained at 15 min.

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 D6553 − 00 (2010)
TABLE 1 Coolant Compatibility Round Robin Results
Waylube # Aq. Phase Minutes to 3 mL Emulsion Remaining
Cooperator: 1 1 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 8 8
Date: Nov 26 Sep 17 Sep 30 Oct 10 Aug 20

9707221 DEI water 13 12 15 15 15 15 10 15 10 10

9707221 buffer 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+
mL after 1 h 49 46 56 56 60 60 56 58 50 47

9707222 DEI water 17 17 20 15 20 20 15 20 20 15

9707222 buffer 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+
mL after 1 h 47 46 59 59 59 55 58 54 50 50

9707223 DEI water 17 18 15 15 20 25 15 15 25 25

9707223 buffer 60+ 60+ 25 20 60+ 60+ 20 20 25 25
mL after 1 h 11 6 0 0 9 11 <1 <1 <1 <1

9707224 DEI water 20 23 15 20 30 30 15 10 30 30

9707224 buffer 21 21 60+ 60+ 60+ 60+ 15 15 15 30
mL after 1 h 1 1 16 9 18 18 <2 <2 0 3

11.1.2 39-38-3 (20)—Complete separation had not occurred, [Link] Clear.

but the cuff reduced to 3 mL, so the test was ended. [Link] Lacy or bubbles present, or both.
11.1.3 39-35-6 (60)—More than 3 mL of cuff remained after [Link] Hazy (see Note 6).
60 min—39 mL of oil, 35 mL of water, and 6 mL of cuff. [Link] Cloudy (or milky) (see Note 7).
11.1.4 41-37-2 (20)—Complete separation had not occurred, [Link] Combinations of [Link]-[Link].
but the cuff layer reduced to 3 mL or less after 20 min. 11.3 Report the test temperature if other than 54°C and the
11.1.5 43-37-0 (30)—The cuff layer reduced to 3 mL or less identification of the coolant or buffer if other than pH 9.0
after 30 min. The cuff layer at 25 min exceeded 3 mL, for buffer.
example, 0-36-44 or 43-33-4.
11.2 The appearance of each layer may optionally be 12. Precision and Bias
described in the following terms: 12.1 Precision—The precision of this test method is as
11.2.1 Way Oil Layer: illustrated by the round robin results shown in Table 1.
[Link] Clear. 12.2 Bias—The procedure in this test method for measuring
[Link] Hazy. water separability has no bias because the value for coolant
NOTE 6—A hazy layer is defined as being translucent. separability is defined only in terms of this test method.
[Link] Cloudy (or milky). 13. Keywords
NOTE 7—A cloudy layer is defined as being opaque. 13.1 coolant separability; cuff; emulsification; semisyn-
[Link] Combinations of [Link]-[Link]. thetic coolants; soluble oil coolants; synthetic coolants; way
11.2.2 Coolant or Buffer Layer: lubricants

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