5.1 The distillation (volatility) characteristics of hydrocarbons and other liquids have an important effect on their safety and performance, especially in the case of fuels and solvents. The boiling range gives information on the composition, the properties, and the behavior of the fuel during storage and use. Volatility is the major determinant of the tendency of a hydrocarbon mixture to produce potentially explosive vapors.

5.2 The distillation characteristics are equally important for both automotive and aviation gasolines, affecting starting, warm-up, and tendency to vapor lock at high operating temperatures or high altitude, or both. The presence of high boiling point components in these and other fuels can significantly affect the degree of formation of solid combustion deposits.

5.3 Volatility, as it affects the rate of evaporation, is an important factor in the application of many solvents, particularly those used in paints.

5.4 Distillation limits are often included in petroleum product specifications, in commercial contract agreements, process refinery/control applications, and for compliance to regulatory rules.

5.5 This test method is suitable for setting specifications, for use as an internal quality control tool, and for use in development or research work on hydrocarbon solvents.

5.5.1 This test method gives a broad indication of general purity and can also indicate presence of excessive moisture. It will not differentiate between products of similar boiling range.

1.1 This test method covers the procedure for the determination of the distillation characteristics of petroleum products and liquid fuels in the range of 20 °C to 400 °C (68 °F to 752 °F) using miniaturized automatic distillation apparatus.

1.2 This test method is applicable to such products as: light and middle distillates, automotive spark-ignition engine fuels, automotive spark-ignition engine fuels containing up to 10 % ethanol, aviation gasolines, aviation turbine fuels, all grades of No. 1 and No. 2 diesel fuels (as described in Specification D975), biodiesel (B100), biodiesel blends up to 30 % biodiesel, special petroleum spirits, pure petrochemical compounds, naphthas, white spirits, kerosenes, furnace fuel oils, and distillate marine fuels.

Note 1: The up to 10 % by volume ethanol limit in spark ignition engine fuels (E10) was the range used in the supporting interlaboratory studies. Spark ignition engine fuels containing > 10 % by volume ethanol and up to 20 % by volume ethanol (E20) may be analyzed, however the stated precision and bias does not apply.

1.3 This test method is designed for the analysis of distillate products; it is not applicable to products containing appreciable quantities of residual material.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.