Designation: D3802 – 10

Standard Test Method for

Ball-Pan Hardness of Activated Carbon1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3802; 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 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:

1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the 3.2.1 nominal particle size: natural, granular, and irregu-
ball-pan hardness number of granular activated carbons. For larly shaped particle carbons—that particle size range, ex-
the purpose of this test, granular activated carbons are those pressed in terms of Specification E11 sieve sizes, whose small
having particles 90 % of which are larger than 80 mesh (180 end excludes not more than 5 % of the particle size distribu-
µm) as determined by Test Method D2862. tion, and whose large end excludes not more than 5 % of the
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as distribution, on a weight basis.
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information 3.2.2 nominal particle size: pelleted carbons—that particle
only. size range, expressed in terms of Specification E11 sieve sizes,
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the whose small end excludes not more than 10 % of the particle
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the size distribution, and whose large end excludes not more than
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 5 % of the distribution, on a weight basis.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 3.2.3 small end nominal particle size—that particle size,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. expressed by its equivalent Specification E11 sieve, which
defines the excluded portion of the particle size distribution at
2. Referenced Documents its small particle size end in accordance with 3.2.1 or 3.2.2.
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
4. Summary of Test Method
B19 Specification for Cartridge Brass Sheet, Strip, Plate,
Bar, and Disks 4.1 A screened and weighed sample of the carbon is placed
B150/B150M Specification for Aluminum Bronze Rod, in a special hardness pan with a number of stainless steel balls,
Bar, and Shapes then subjected to a combined rotating and tapping action for 30
D2652 Terminology Relating to Activated Carbon min. At the end of this period, the amount of particle size
D2854 Test Method for Apparent Density of Activated degradation is determined by measuring the quantity of carbon,
Carbon by weight, which is retained on a sieve whose openings are
D2862 Test Method for Particle Size Distribution of Granu- closest to one half the openings of the sieve that defines the
lar Activated Carbon minimum nominal particle size of the original sample.
D2867 Test Methods for Moisture in Activated Carbon
5. Significance and Use
E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test
Sieves 5.1 Several methods have been employed in the past for
E300 Practice for Sampling Industrial Chemicals determining the resistance of activated carbons to particle size
degradation under service conditions, including the ball-pan
3. Terminology method, the stirring bar method, and the dust elutriation
3.1 General—Terms applicable to this standard are defined method. None of these has proved completely satisfactory for
in Terminology D2652. all applications, and all have been questioned by ASTM
Committee D28 on Activated Carbon as tests for establishing
degradation resistance. However, the ball-pan method has been
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D28 on used widely in the past and has a broad history in the activated
Activated Carbon and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D28.04 on Gas
Phase Evaluation Tests.
carbon industry for measuring the property loosely described
Current edition approved April 1, 2010. Published May 2010. Originally as “hardness.” In this context the test is useful in establishing
approved in 1979. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D3802 – 79 (2005). a measurable characteristic of a carbon. Conceding the fact that
DOI: 10.1520/D3802-10. the test does not actually measure in-service resistance to
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM degradation, it can be used to establish the comparability of
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on lots ostensibly of the same grade of carbon.
the ASTM website.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 D3802 – 10
TABLE 1 Hardness Test Sieve (HTS) Corresponding to Specification E11 Sieves Defining Small-End Nominal Particle Size (SNPS)

SNPS HTS SNPS HTS

Opening, mm E11 Mesh Opening, µm E11 Mesh Opening, µm E11 Mesh Opening, µm E11 Mesh

5.6 3 1⁄ 2 2800 7 850 20 425 40

4.75 4 2360 8 710 25 355 45
4.00 5 2000 10 600 30 300 50
3.35 6 1700 12 500 35 250 60
2.80 7 1400 14 425 40 212 70
2.36 8 1180 16 355 45 180 80
2.00 10 1000 18 300 50 150 100
1.70 12 850 20 250 60 125 120
1.40 14 710 25 212 70 106 140
1.18 16 600 30 180 80 90 170
1.00 18 500 35

6. Apparatus and Materials 8. Calibration

6.1 Mechanical Sieve Shaker, designed to produce from 140 8.1 Calibration of balances shall be maintained by standard
to 160 taps and from 280 to 320 rotating motions per minute in laboratory methods. Sieves shall be calibrated at reasonable
a stack of standard Specification E11 sieves.3 Adjust the sieve intervals in accordance with the procedure described in Speci-
shaker to accommodate the desired number of sieves, receiver fication E11.
pan, and sieve cover. Adjust the bottom stops to give a
clearance of approximately 1.6 mm between the bottom plate 9. Procedure
and the sieves so that the sieves will be free to rotate. Fit the
9.1 Determine the nominal particle size of the sample in
cover plate with a cork stopper which extends from 3.2 to 9.5
accordance with Test Method D2862, and its moisture content
mm above the metal recess.
in accordance with Test Methods D2867.
6.2 Wire Cloth Sieves, in accordance with Specification E11;
9.2 Obtain an additional representative sample of approxi-
six required, at least four of which bracket the expected
mately 125 mL of the carbon in accordance with Practice E300.
nominal particle size distribution of the sample, and one of
which, designated the hardness test sieve, has an opening as 9.3 Screen this sample to its nominal particle size distribu-
close as possible to one half the opening of the sieve that tion using Test Method D2862. Discard the fractions above the
defines the smaller nominal particle size of the original sample. larger and below the smaller nominal particle size. Obtain at
Table 1 lists the hardness test sieve corresponding to each least 100 mL of material within the nominal mesh size range.
minimum nominal sieve. Use additional material obtained as in 9.2, if necessary.
6.3 Bottom Receiver Pan and Top Sieve Cover (see 6.1). 9.4 Measure out 100 mL of the screened sample into a tared,
6.4 Hardness Test Pan, having the dimensions of that in Fig. graduated cylinder in accordance with Test Method D2854, and
1. weigh to the nearest 0.1 g.
6.5 Adjustable Interval Timer, with a precision of at least 9.5 Place the hardness pan (Fig. 1) on the standard bottom
65 s, duration at least 600 s (10 min). receiver pan. Pour the screened and weighed sample into the
6.6 Sample Splitter, single-stage riffle type, in accordance hardness pan and add the steel balls.
with 30.5.2 of Practice E300. 9.6 Complete the sieve stack by stacking five full-height
6.7 Balance, with sensitivity and accuracy of at least 0.1 g. sieves and the sieve cover on top of the hardness pan. The extra
6.8 Soft Brass-Wire Brush. 4 sieves, in this case, serve only to form a stack which fills the
6.9 Steel Balls, fifteen 12.7 6 0.1 mm (1⁄2 in.) in diameter shaker, thus avoiding changes in tapping action and readjust-
and fifteen 9.5 6 0.1 mm (3⁄8 in.) in diameter. ment of the sieve stack retainer.
9.7 Place sieve stack in the sieve shaker and shake for 30 6
7. Sampling 0.5 min, with tapping hammer operating.
7.1 Guidance in sampling granular activated carbon is given 9.8 At the end of the shaking period, remove the sieve stack
in Practice E300. from the sieve shaker and remove the hardness pan from the
sieve stack. Place the hardness test sieve on top of the receiving
pan.
3
The sole source of supply of the apparatus (the Tyler Ro-Tap Sieve Shaker, 9.9 Remove the steel balls from the hardness pan and
Model RX-29) known to the committee at this time is W.S. Tyler, Inc., Gastonia, transfer sample to the hardness test sieve, brushing adhering
NC. If you are aware of alternative suppliers, please provide this information to
ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consider-
particles into the sieve. Stack the five full-height sieves and
ation at a meeting of the responsible technical committee,1 which you may attend. sieve cover on top of the hardness test sieve and receiving pan,
4
The sole source of supply of the apparatus (W.S. Tyler Model 1778-SB) known and replace the stack in the sieve shaker. Shake with the
to the committee at this time is W.S. Tyler, Inc., Gastonia, NC. If you are aware of hammer operating for 10 min 6 10 s.
alternative suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM International
Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the 9.10 At the end of the shaking period, remove the sieve
responsible technical committee,1 which you may attend. stack from the sieve shaker and transfer the remainder of the

2
 D3802 – 10

NOTE 1—Material is plate, of one of the following alloys: (1) Cartridge brass, UNS C2600, half-hard temper, hardness 60 HRB or greater (see
Specification B19); or (2) Aluminum bronze, UNS C6140, soft temper, hardness 140 HB or greater (see Specification B150/B150M).
FIG. 1 Pan for Ball-Pan Hardness Test

sample on the hardness test sieve to a tared weighing pan. 11.1.7 Lot number from which the sample was taken.
Weigh to the nearest 0.1 g.
9.11 Sweep the pan catch into a tared weighing dish, and 12. Precision and Bias 5
weigh to the nearest 0.1 g. 12.1 The precision of this test method is based on an
interlaboratory study conducted in 2007. Each of nine labora-
10. Calculation tories tested four different materials. Every “test result” repre-
10.1 Calculate the ball-pan hardness number from the equa- sents an individual determination. All laboratories submitted
tion three replicate test results (from one operator) for each mate-
H 5 100 B/A (1) rial.
12.1.1 Repeatability—Two test results obtained within one
laboratory shall be judged not equivalent if they differ by more
where: than the “r” value for that material; “r” is the interval
H = ball-pan hardness number, representing the critical difference between two test results for
B = weight of sample retained on hardness test sieve (see the same material, obtained by the same operator using the
9.10), g, and same equipment on the same day in the same laboratory.
A = weight of sample loaded onto hardness pan (see 9.4), g. 12.1.2 Reproducibility—Two test results shall be judged not
equivalent if they differ by more than the “R” value for that
10.2 As a check on the accuracy of the test, calculate material; “R” is the interval representing the difference be-
ball-pan hardness from the pan catch as follows: tween two test results for the same material, obtained by
H2 5 100 ~1 2 C/A! (2) different operators using different equipment in different labo-
ratories.
where: 12.1.3 Any judgment in accordance with these two state-
C = pan catch from 9.11, g. ments would have an approximate 95 % probability of being
If H2 differs from H by more than 2 %, one may assume that correct.
significant amounts of carbon are not accounted for, and the 12.2 Bias—At the time of the study, there was no accepted
run must be rejected. reference material suitable for determining the bias for this test
method, therefore no statement on bias is being made.
11. Report 12.3 The precision statement was determined through sta-
11.1 Report the following information: tistical examination of 108 results, from nine laboratories, on
11.1.1 Name of the carbon supplier, four materials. These four carbons are described in Table 2.
11.1.2 Grade designation of the sample, 12.4 As noted in the results table, the repeatability and
11.1.3 Nominal particle size range and moisture content (as reproducibility are dependent on the carbon type. To judge the
measured in 9.3), equivalency of two test results, it is recommended to choose
11.1.4 Ball-pan hardness number,
11.1.5 Name of the agency and technician making the test, 5
Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may
11.1.6 Identification number and date of the test, and be obtained by requesting Research Report RR:D28-1006.