ASTM D5900-23 - 1.1.2023
 
Significance and Use

3.1?IRMs are vitally important in product and specification testing, in research and development work, in technical service work, and in quality control operations in the rubber and carbon black industries. They are especially valuable for referee purposes. Many ASTM rubber standards for the evaluation of natural or synthetic rubber require the use of specific IRMs in their test recipes for better laboratory repeatability and reproducibility.

3.2?New material lots that have been selected as candidates for IRM approval shall conform to the appropriate specifications given in this standard and meet requirements given in Practice D4678 before the lots may be accepted as IRMs.

3.3?The chemical and physical IRM specifications shown will ensure some consistency in IRM properties from one lot to the next. However, the specifications cannot ensure exact inter-lot consistency.

 
1. Scope

1.1?This specification covers the chemical and physical quality specifications or requirements, or both, for Industry Reference Materials (IRMs) as cited in Practice D4678 and other standards.

1.2?IRMs, as evaluated and referenced in Practice D4678, are vitally important to conduct product, specification, and development testing in the rubber and carbon black industries.

1.3?Before a new lot of material can be accepted as an IRM, it must comply with the specifications prescribed in this specification. However, these specifications are only part of the requirements. Other requirements as given in Practice D4678 shall be met before a candidate material can be formally accepted as an IRM.

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?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.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D4678-15a(2023)

Standard Practice for Rubber—Preparation, Testing, Acceptance, Documentation, and Use of Reference Materials (Includes all amendments and changes 12/29/2023).

D4934-02(2025)

Standard Test Method for Rubber Compounding Materials: 2-Benzothiazyl Sulfenamide Accelerators—Insolubles

D4936-10(2023)

Standard Test Method for Mercaptobenzothiazole Sulfenamide Assay by Reduction/Titration

D5289-19a(2026)

Standard Test Method for Rubber Property—Vulcanization Using Rotorless Cure Meters (Includes all amendments and changes 4/30/2026).

D6738-15(2023)

Standard Test Method for Precipitated Silica—Volatile Content

D6739-20(2025)

Standard Test Method for Silica—pH Value

D6845-22

Standard Test Method for Silica, Precipitated, Hydrated—CTAB (Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide) Surface Area

D6854-15

Standard Test Method for Silica-Oil Absorption Number

ISO 3262

D4578-22

Standard Test Methods for Rubber Chemicals—Determination of Percent Insoluble Sulfur by Extraction

D3280-85(2020)

Standard Test Methods for Analysis of White Zinc Pigments

D4004-06(2025)

Standard Test Methods for Rubber—Determination of Metal Content by Flame Atomic Absorption (AAS) Analysis

D4075-06(2025)

Standard Test Methods for Rubber Compounding Materials—Flame Atomic Absorption Analysis—Determination of Metals

D4315-21(2025)

Standard Test Methods for Rubber Compounding Material—Zinc Oxide

D3194-17(2022)

Standard Test Method for Rubber From Natural Sources—Plasticity Retention Index (PRI)

D3157-05(2026)

Standard Test Method for Rubber from Natural Sources—Color

D1980-87(1998)

Standard Test Method for Acid Value of Fatty Acids and Polymerized Fatty Acids (Withdrawn 2007)

D4570-02(2025)

Standard Test Method for Rubber Chemicals—Determination of Particle Size of Sulfur by Sieving (Dry)

D4571-22

Standard Test Methods for Rubber Compounding Materials—Determination of Volatile Material

D4572-21(2025)

Standard Test Method for Rubber Chemicals—Wet Sieve Analysis of Sulfur

D4574-22

Standard Test Methods for Rubber Compounding Materials—Determination of Ash Content

D4569-06(2025)

Standard Test Method for Rubber Compounding Materials—Determination of Acidity in Sulfur

D1982-13(2022)

Standard Test Method for Titer of Fatty Acids

D1993-22

Standard Test Method for Precipitated Silica-Surface Area by Multipoint BET Nitrogen Adsorption

D2007-19(2024)e1

Standard Test Method for Characteristic Groups in Rubber Extender and Processing Oils and Other Petroleum-Derived Oils by the Clay-Gel Absorption Chromatographic Method (Includes all amendments and changes 4/8/2024).

D2140-24

Standard Practice for Calculating Carbon-Type Composition of Insulating Oils of Petroleum Origin

D2161-20(2025)

Standard Practice for Conversion of Kinematic Viscosity to Saybolt Universal Viscosity or to Saybolt Furol Viscosity

D2501-24

Standard Test Method for Calculation of Viscosity-Gravity Constant (VGC) of Petroleum Oils

D3037-93

Standard Test Methods for Carbon Black—Surface Area by Nitrogen Adsorption (Withdrawn 1999)

D445-24

Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)

D287-22

Standard Test Method for API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Petroleum Products (Hydrometer/Method)

D88-07

Standard Test Method for Saybolt Viscosity

D92-24

Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester

D97-17b(2022)

Standard Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Products (Includes all amendments and changes 11/29/2022).

D280-01(2023)

Standard Test Methods for Hygroscopic Moisture (and Other Matter Volatile Under the Test Conditions) in Pigments

D611-23

Standard Test Methods for Aniline Point and Mixed Aniline Point of Petroleum Products and Hydrocarbon Solvents

D1278-91a(2026)

Standard Test Methods for Rubber from Natural Sources—Chemical Analysis (Includes all amendments and changes 4/22/2026).

D1416-89

Test Methods for Rubber from Synthetic Sources--Chemical Analysis (Withdrawn 1996)

D1500-24

Standard Test Method for ASTM Color of Petroleum Products (ASTM Color Scale)

D1519-95(2023)

Standard Test Methods for Rubber Chemicals—Determination of Melting Range

D1646-19a(2026)

Standard Test Methods for Rubber—Viscosity, Stress Relaxation, and Pre-Vulcanization Characteristics (Mooney Viscometer) (Includes all amendments and changes 4/24/2026).

D1747-09(2019)

Standard Test Method for Refractive Index of Viscous Materials

D1951-86(1995)e1

Standard Test Method for Ash in Drying Oils and Fatty Acids (Withdrawn 2003)

D1959-97

Standard Test Method for Iodine Value of Drying Oils and Fatty Acids (Withdrawn 2006)

D1960-86(1995)e1

Standard Test Method for Loss on Heating of Drying Oils (Withdrawn 2003)

D1965-87(1998)

Standard Test Method for Unsaponifiable Matter in Drying Oils, Fatty Acids, and Polymerized Fatty Acids (Withdrawn 2007)