Significance and Use
5.1 It has long been the practice to include in fuel specifications a requirement that the fuel is clear and bright.
5.2 One primary cause for failure to meet this specification requirement is the occurrence of a cloudy or hazy appearance caused by suspended solid particulates or water or some combination of both.
5.2.1 This cloudiness or haze can range from barely visible to opaque.
5.3 This test method provides an objective analytical means for providing a haze rating that does not depend on subjective visual ratings that typically vary with operator and lighting conditions.
Scope
1.1 This test method covers a spectroscopic procedure for determining the level of suspended water and particulate contamination (haze) in liquid middle distillate fuels including those blended with synthesized hydrocarbons or biofuels.
1.1.1 An ordinal, whole-number, Instrument Haze Rating (IHR) from 1 to 6 and a Haze Clarity Index (HCI) from 50.0 to 100.0 are determined on a test specimen at a temperature of 22.0 °C ± 2.0 °C.
1.1.1.1 The stated precision only applies at this temperature.
1.1.1.2 Fuels analyzed at other test specimen temperatures may not be as precise.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. Other units of measurement included in this standard are defined in Section 3.
1.3 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.
1.4 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.