AD Systems SP 10 - TEST PROCEDURE - CANDLE PREPARATION

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Doc : AM220-001E Release: 1.5 updated : October 2014
TEST PROCEDURE – CANDLE PREPARATION
Test fuel:
Prepare the fuel to be tested according to the standard test method.
The fuel should be at ambient temperature.
Wick:
Wick plays a very important role in smoke point test! It is responsible for proper combustion and correct
result.
Important Notices:
- Use new wick for every test
- Use only extracted wicks, prepared according to the test method. Extract all wicks, either new or
from a previous determination, for at least 25 cycles in an extractor,
using a mixture of equal volumes of toluene and anhydrous methanol.
o See all details of extraction procedure in the standard test
method. The extraction apparatus is available as an additional
accessory; please refer to “Parts and Accessories” section of
the manual.
- Keep wicks away from humidity. If you hear some crackle sounds
during the test, it means the wick is humid.
- If the wick is not well prepared, the flame is unstable (of course, in
absence of the air draft around the instrument, which is another factor
of flame instability)
- The wick should be not too long and not too short. Maximum length is
140mm (practical reason, more longer wick cannot be inserted into the
candle) and minimum 125mm (method requirement)
- The cotton wick structure and textile specification are very well
defined in the test method. To obtain right measurements use only
wicks conforming to the standard requirements.
o AD Systems is the supplier of the wicks conforming to the
ASTM D1322 specification.
Candle:
Soak a piece of extracted and dried wick, not less than 125 mm long, in the sample and place it in the wick
tube of the candle. It is advisable to re-soak the burning-end of the wick in the sample after the wick is
inserted in the wick tube.
A wick-trimmer is available as an additional accessories (refer to “Parts and Accessories” section of the
manual).
It is advised to use a wick-trimmer assembly for the insertion of the wick in the wick tube; this will avoid
twists and frayed ends. See next section of the manual for instructions.
Pour between 10 to 20ml of the prepared sample at room temperature into a clean and dry candle. The
wick tube with the prepared wick is then inserted into the candle and screwed home.
Important Notices:
 Use only candles supplied by AD Systems for the SP10 apparatus
 Be sure that wick is cut horizontally, it has not frayed ends and the wick tip is perfectly straight
to the candle axis.
 Make sure that the candle air vent at the bottom is not obstructed and free of fuel.