An ASTM sieve is a test sieve specifically manufactured and guaranteed to meet the rigorous specifications set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
Understanding ASTM Sieves
Test sieves are fundamental tools used across various industries to separate and classify granular materials based on particle size. These materials can range from aggregates and soils to pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and food products. For accurate and repeatable testing results, it is crucial that sieves conform to established standards.
Conformance to Standards
The key characteristic of an ASTM sieve is its adherence to the detailed specifications outlined by ASTM International. These specifications govern critical aspects such as:
- Wire cloth material and weaving
- Mesh opening sizes and tolerances
- Frame dimensions and construction
Meeting these standards ensures consistency between sieves from different manufacturers and reliability in particle size analysis.
Guaranteed Specifications and Documentation
According to the reference, each test sieve is guaranteed to meet the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) specifications. This guarantee is backed by documentation.
- A certificate of analysis is supplied with each individual sieve. This certificate typically verifies that the sieve's mesh openings and other parameters fall within the acceptable tolerances defined by the relevant ASTM standard (commonly E11 for woven wire sieves).
- The sieve's nameplate provides essential identification and size information, showing the:
- Sieve designation (e.g., No. 20, 1 mm)
- Nominal openings in microns
- Nominal openings in millimeters
- Nominal openings in inches
This detailed information allows users to confirm the sieve's specifications and traceability. Using ASTM-approved sieves is essential for applications where standardized testing procedures are required, ensuring comparability of results across different laboratories and studies.
