ASTM F1434-97(2008)

This practice can be used to evaluate the performance of different fuser oils in a specific model copier or printer.

This practice can be used to evaluate a subject fuser oil in comparison to an acceptable control fuser oil.

This practice can be used to estimate the consumption of a specific fuser oil in a copier or printer.

This practice can be used with recirculating systems to monitor the change in volatile matter content as the test progresses. An excessive increase in volatile matter content can indicate breakdown of the fuser oil due to the combined effect of the heat of the fuser unit and the catalytic action of contaminants introduced by toner, paper, and other materials encountered in the machine. The production of excessive amounts of volatile materials may damage delicate electrical components within some copying machines.

This practice can be used with recirculating systems to monitor the change in viscosity as the test progresses. An excessive increase in the viscosity of a fuser oil can indicate that it is beginning to form a gel due to the effect of oxygen, contaminants, and high temperatures encountered in the machine.

This practice can be used with recirculating systems to monitor the change in surface tension as the test progresses. An increase in surface tension indicates loss of the release properties of the fuser oil and may lead to print offsetting and other adverse effects.

This practice can be used to evaluate the rate of fuser oil-related buildup on the fuser roll. A rubbery material that consists of gelled fuser oil, paper dust, toner, and other contaminants may build up on the fuser roll as the fuser oil degrades. Inspection of the fuser roll at specific intervals provides a qualitative evaluation of this effect.

This practice can be used to determine changes in measured print quality, odor emission, paper jam rate, paper wrap rate, paper crinkle rate, and fuser roller life during the test.

This practice is a single estimate subject to a significant number of variables that are not measured easily. Consequently, a repeated number of tests on more than one machine will yield more reliable conclusions.

This practice may be used with recirculating systems to establish limits for acceptable change in physical properties based on data correlations. Such limits may provide more efficient evaluation of sample fuser oils and prevent damage to the copying machine by avoiding the need to test to failure.

1.1 This practice covers a procedure for estimating the performance of fuser oil in an electrostatic copier or printer.

1.2 This practice describes a procedure for determining fuser oil-related changes in the print quality measured during testing at specific intervals.

1.3 Properties evaluated for all systems include odor emission, paper jam rate, paper wrap rate, paper crinkle rate, and fuser roller life.

1.4 Properties evaluated for recirculating systems include changes in viscosity, volatile matter content, and surface tension.

1.5 This practice describes a procedure for comparing the performance of a subject fuser oil with that of a control fuser oil.

1.6 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific precautionary statement, see 8.3.1.