Facts about the ASTM D6378 Standard Test Method
The ASTM D6378 test method measures the absolut vapor pressure of fluid petroleum products, hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon-oxygenate mixtures. It determines the absolut vapor pressure without the partial pressure of dissolved gas. Because of the three-time-expansion, the partial pressure of gas can also be measured.
Methods such as ASTM D6378 are very useful because of the fact that vapor pressure is an important physical property of volatile liquids for shipping and storage. Various government agencies regulate the vapor pressure of gasoline and gasoline-oxygenate blends. (Andreas Schwarzmann, R&D)
ASTM D6378 can be applied for testing samples with boiling points above 0°C (32°F) that exert a vapor pressure between 7 and 150 kPa (1.0 and 21 psi) at 37.8°C (100°F) at a vapor-to-liquid ratio of 4:1. The method also covers the use of automated vapor pressure instruments to determine the vapor pressure exerted in vacuum by aviation turbine fuels. It is suitable for testing aviation turbine fuel samples with boiling points above 0°C (32°F) that exert a vapor pressure between 0 and 110 kPa (0 and 15.5 psi) at a vapor-to-liquid ratio of 4:1. The temperature range is from 25 to 100°C (77 to 212°F).
