ASTM D0127-19

1.1.1 Test Method A—The dropping point of wax is determined with a mercury in glass thermometer, as stated below in6.3. (Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous substance that can cause serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Use Caution when handling mercury and mercury-containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for additional information. The potential exists that selling mercury or mercury-containing products, or both, is prohibited by local or national law. Users must determine legality of sales in their location.)

1.1.2 Test Method B—The dropping point of wax determined in a dropping point cup in an instrument which detects the drop and measures the temperature electronically, with a platinum thermometer instead of with mercury. Mercury has been recognized as a poison and a health hazard. Removing mercury from laboratories is a way of making the measuring process more inherently safe. The instrumental dropping point method has shown to produce results that are close to those determined by the original Test Method D127, Method A.