COPPER STRIP CORROSION TEST FOR FUELS

(ASTM D-193)

OBJECTIVE:

To perform copper strip corrosion test on the given sample of gasoline & diesel.

APPARATUS/REGENTS/MATERIAL USED:

 Gasoline & Diesel sample.

 2, 2, 4-trimethyl pentane (isooctane).
 Silicon-carbide paper or cloth.
 Copper strips (75mm+5mm in length, 12.5+2mm in width and 1.5 mm to 3mm in
thickness).
 Pressure vessel, constructed of stainless steel.
 Test tubes, of borosilicate glass, of nominal 25mm x 150mm.
 Liquid bath for pressure vessel (constructed of non-transparent material & shall be deep
enough to submerge 1 or more pressure vessels).
 Bath for test tubes, Temperature sensor, Polishing vice or holder, Forceps.
 Corrosion standards (for the evaluation of tarnish at the end of the test).

THEORY:

Petroleum products contain sulphur compounds, most of which are removed during refining. Of
the sulphur compounds remaining in the petroleum product, however, some can have a corroding
effect on various metals. This corrosivity is not necessarily directly related to the total sulphur
content. The effect can vary according to other chemicals and types of sulphur compounds
present.

A cleaned and smoothly polished copper strip is immersed in the sample, which is then
maintained at the specified temperature for the specified length of time. This strip is removed
from sample, washed with aromatic and sulphur free petroleum spirit and examined for evidence
of etching, pitting or discoloration. It is then compared with ASTM copper-strip corrosion
standard colour code. The classification code indicates that the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 designate
slight tarnish, moderate tarnish, dark tarnish and corrosion, respectively. Subscripts a-e describes
a standard color reproduction in the standard chart. For example, the classification code 1a
indicates slight tarnish with a light orange color.

Crude petroleum contains sulphur compounds, most of which are removed during refining.
However, of the sulphur compounds remaining in the petroleum product, some can have a
corroding action on various metals and this corrosivity is not necessarily related directly to total
sulphur compounds present. The copper strip corrosion test is designed to-

1.) Assess relative degree of corrosivity of a petroleum product.

2.) Indicates the presence of sulphur compounds

This test serves as a measure of possible difficulties with copper, brass, or bronze parts of the
fuel system.

PROCEDURE:

1. Clean and polish the copper strips.

2. Place a 30ml test portion, completely clear and free of any suspended or entrained water
in a chemically clean, dry test tube.
3. Within 1 min after completing the final polishing, slide the copper strip into the test
portion in the test tube.
4. Carefully slide the test tube into the pressure vessel and screw the lid on tight.
5. Completely immerse the pressure vessel in the liquid bath maintained at test temperature
(i.e. 40oC for Gasoline and 60 oC for diesel samples.)
6. At the end of 3 hrs, withdraw the pressure vessel from the liquid bath.
7. Open the pressure vessel, withdraw the test tube.
8. Empty the contents of the test tube into a suitably sized beaker, letting the copper strip
slide in gently so as to avoid breaking the beaker.
9. Immediately withdraw the strips with forceps and immerse it in wash solvent.
10. Withdraw the strip at once, dry with quantitative filter paper and inspect for evidence of
tarnishing or corrosion by comparison with corrosion standards.
11. Hold both the test strip and the standards in such a manner that light reflected from them
at an angle of approximately 45˚ will be observed.

OBSERVATION:

(A) For Gasoline

The strip after test when compared with corrosion standards corresponds to Class 1B

(B) For Diesel

The strip after test when compared with corrosion standards corresponds to Class 2B

RESULT:

1. For Gasoline the result is reported as Corrosion copper strip (3h and/40oC),
Class 1B.
2. For Diesel the result is reported as Corrosion copper strip (3h and/50oC),
Class 2B.

CONCLUSION

The copper strip corrosion test indicates potential compatibility problems with fuel system
components made of copper, brass or bronze. The limit requires that the fuel not darken these
parts under the test conditions.

The standard specification for copper strip test for Diesel is 3B and for gasoline is not worse than
1. This specify that our sample is under the specified limits.

PRECAUTIONS:

• Contact of copper strip with water before, during, or after the completion of test period
will cause staining, making it difficult to evaluate the strips.

• It is important to polish the whole surface of the strip uniformly to obtain a uniformly
stained strip. If the edges show wear, they will be likely to show more corrosion then the
center of the strip.

• To avoid the danger of marking or staining on copper strip while inspecting and
comparing, insert it in the viewing tube.
• Hold both the test strip and standards in such a manner that light reflected from them at
an angle of approximately 450 will be observed.

• Do not touch the strip with fingers.