Vapor pressure is a fundamental thermophysical property of a liquid. Vapor pressure data are useful in process design and control, in establishing environmental regulations for safe handling and transport, for estimation of volatile organic content (VOC), and in deriving hazard assessments. Vapor pressure and boiling temperature data are required for Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). The enthalpy of vaporization may also be estimated from the slope of the vapor pressure curve (See Practice E 2071).

1.1 This test method describes a procedure for the determination of the vapor pressure of pure liquids or melts from boiling point measurements made using differential thermal analysis (DTA) or differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) instrumentation operated at different applied pressures.

1.2 This test method may be used for the temperature range 273 to 773 K (0 to 500 °C) and for pressures between 5 kPa to 2 MPa. These ranges may differ depending upon the instrumentation used and the thermal stability of materials tested. Because a range of applied pressures is required by this test method, the analyst is best served by use of instrumentation referred to as high pressure differential thermal instrumentation (HPDSC or HPDTA).

1.3 Computer or electronic-based instruments, techniques, or data treatment equivalent to this test method may also be used.

Note 1—Users of this test method are expressly advised that all such instruments or techniques may not be equivalent. It is the responsibility of the user of this test method to determine the necessary equivalency prior to use. Only the manual procedures are to be considered valid.

1.4 SI value units are the standard. The customary units given in parentheses are for information only.

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

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.