ASTM D7344-08

Significance and Use

The distillation (volatility) characteristics of hydrocarbons have an important effect on their safety and performance, especially in the case of fuels and solvents. The boiling range gives information on the composition, the properties, and the behavior of the fuel during storage and use. Volatility is the major determinant of the tendency of a hydrocarbon mixture to produce potentially explosive vapors.

The distillation characteristics are equally important for both automotive and aviation gasolines, affecting starting, warm-up, and tendency to vapor lock at high operating temperatures or high altitude, or both. The presence of high boiling point components in these and other fuels can significantly affect the degree of formation of solid combustion deposits.

Volatility, as it affects the rate of evaporation, is an important factor in the application of many solvents, particularly those used in paints.

Distillation limits are often included in petroleum product specifications, in commercial contract agreements, process refinery/control applications, and for compliance to regulatory rules.