New ASTM test methods

The recently established ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) subcommittee have developed and received approval for four new test methods and one revised method specifically for wet-blue. The new methods are: * D6659 Standard practice for sampling and preparation of wet-blue for physical and chemical tests * D6657 Standard test method for pH of wet-blue * D6658 Standard test method for volatile matter (moisture) in wet-blue by oven drying * D6656 Standard test method for determination of chromic oxide in wet-blue (perchloric acid oxidation) ASTM committee D31 is also developing and revising several additional methods for approval over the next few months. These include methods for solvent extractable (oil and grease), hide substance (from Kjeldahl nitrogen determination), total ash, chromic oxide content of ashed wet-blue, unfixed (leachable) chromium content, total chromium determination by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), hydrothermal dimensional stability (area loss and shrinkage temperature), calcium content, fungicide identity and content, sampling cured hides, determining moisture, ash and brine saturation values for cured hides, and gelatin film test for determination of microbiological activity in cured hides.