This test method is used to estimate the amount of volatile materials present in a material.

This test method is useful for design purposes, service evaluation, regulatory statues, manufacturing control, quality control, specification acceptance, development and research.

The results obtained by this test method may be equivalent to those obtained by other test methods and may be known by other terms in their respective fields. Other tests and terms encountered include loss-on-heating (see Footnote and Test Methods D 6, D 2288, and E 359), heating loss (see Test Method D 1509), evaporative loss (see Test Method D 2595), volatile organic carbon, moisture or water (see Test Methods D 2216 and D 3175), volatility (see Test Method D 4893), highly volatile matter (see Test Method E 897), and volatile content (see Guide D 2832).

1.1 This test method describes a procedure for determining the amount of volatile matter of any kind that is driven off from a test specimen under a specific set of temperature and time conditions. This test method determines only the mass of material lost, not its identity.

1.2 This test method is applicable to a wide variety of solid or liquid materials, mixtures or blends where the major component is stable at the test temperature.

1.3 The applicable temperature range for this test method is generally between ambient temperature and 1000 °C.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.5 There is no ISO method equivalent to this test standard.

1.6 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.