Could someone help me. I'm a chemist at a oil analysis lab. We are currently trying to setup the crackle test for polybutene used in cable box as insulator. I dont have any information as what type of hot plates or equipment used for this test. I've also serched the internet for standard methods, but there aren't any standard method for this test. Could someone please help me.

Cigarette lighter under a spoon?

The Sept - Oct 2005 issue of Practicing Oil Analysis on the NORIA web-site(?), describes different techniques for measuring water in oil including the crackle test. The visual crackle test is described in detail (copyrighted by NORIA)

Dear Bob,

thank you for your reply. i have read the document online, i was wondering if there is any stadard methods to do this test. what would be the best test to analysis water in polybutene oil, they are used as cable box insulators?

quote:

Originally posted by Bob K.:
The Sept - Oct 2005 issue of Practicing Oil Analysis on the NORIA web-site(?), describes different techniques for measuring water in oil including the crackle test. The visual crackle test is described in detail (copyrighted by NORIA)

It would help if i had more details on the test, i'm trying to test polybutene oil used as insulators for cable box.

quote:

Originally posted by Lube MATE:
Cigarette lighter under a spoon?

just take 5 ml sample in a test tube and heat it on a bunsen burner flame.The crackle test is an indicative test only.I do not think that it needs a standard test method to perform.

Thank you for the information. Are you familiar with other test for water analysis in oil. How good is the dean and stark test?

quote:

Originally posted by KRISHNAKUMAR MENON:
just take 5 ml sample in a test tube and heat it on a bunsen burner flame.The crackle test is an indicative test only.I do not think that it needs a standard test method to perform.

The dean stark method (ASTM D 95) is a good one.But it fails to quantify, when the water content falls below 0.10%.In such cases Karl Fischer titrator method will help you much.By which you can measure the water content in PPM.

Thank you for the information. You really have been helpful.

quote:

Originally posted by KRISHNAKUMAR MENON:
The dean stark method (ASTM D 95) is a good one.But it fails to quantify, when the water content falls below 0.10%.In such cases Karl Fischer titrator method will help you much.By which you can measure the water content in PPM.