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8.1.2 Temperatures
The temperature parameters control the test result, speed, and repeatability.
If the moisture of the sample material is
known, as determined by a reference
method, the MAX
®
4000's temperature
can be adjusted until test results
correlate with the established moisture
concentration. If the moisture is not
known, prepare a moisture versus
temperature curve to decide the proper
test temperature for a particular
sample.
An appropriate curve can be prepared by running multiple tests of the sample material at
temperatures increasing in five-degree increments.
The starting temperature is usually the standard or reference method temperature for the
particular sample. Results for each increasing temperature will usually rise to a plateau
where several temperature increases do not change the results significantly. Beyond this
plateau, results can rise dramatically. A sample tested at these increased temperatures
may show burning or charring.
Results along the plateau usually correlate well with the standard or reference method
results. Repeated testing should be done at temperatures in this range. Several tests are
performed using the same sample size and test parameters. Results from these repeated
tests are tabulated to calculate the mean, or average, and the standard deviation (S.D.).
Analysis of the mean and standard deviation, and their comparison with reference
method results, determines if the proper test temperature has been used. If mean values
do not compare well, or if the standard deviation is too large, test at another temperature
along the plateau. Higher temperatures generally result in faster test times and less
repeatability.
