Tintometer AF650 Lovibond® ASTM Colorimeter

Overview

The Tintometer AF650 Lovibond® ASTM Colorimeter is a precision-engineered, three-field visual color comparator designed specifically for the quantitative determination of color in petroleum products and related hydrocarbon-based liquids. Operating on the principle of visual tristimulus comparison under standardized illumination, the AF650 enables direct side-by-side assessment of sample color against two calibrated glass reference discs—each representing discrete ASTM D1500 color units—within a single optical field. This configuration eliminates parallax error and supports rapid, repeatable visual matching without reliance on electronic sensors or spectral analysis. The instrument employs a stable 12 V / 20 W halogen tungsten lamp conforming to CIE Illuminant C spectral power distribution, ensuring consistent chromatic rendering across diurnal cycles and ambient lighting conditions. Its mechanical architecture—free from software dependencies or digital calibration drift—makes it ideal for routine QC laboratories where regulatory traceability, operational simplicity, and long-term stability are prioritized over spectral flexibility.

Key Features

• Three-field viewing system enabling simultaneous observation of sample and two independently adjustable ASTM color reference discs
• Permanently calibrated, non-fading glass color discs (Disc 1: 0.5–7.5 in 1.0-unit increments; Disc 2: 1.0–8.0 in 1.0-unit increments), delivering metrological continuity across decades of use
• CIE Illuminant C-compliant halogen light source with integrated thermal stabilization, eliminating spectral shift due to voltage fluctuation or lamp aging
• Standardized 33 mm path-length sample cell compatible with ASTM D1500-specified cylindrical glass tubes
• Robust all-metal housing (235 × 245 × 90 mm; 4.9 kg) engineered for benchtop durability in industrial and refinery laboratory environments
• CE-marked design compliant with EU electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and low-voltage directives
• Optional accessory support including certified reference filters, validation kits, and traceable calibration documentation aligned with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The AF650 is validated for use with transparent to translucent petroleum-derived liquids—including lubricating oils, diesel fuel, kerosene, mineral insulating oils, white oils, and paraffinic solvents—provided they meet ASTM D1500’s clarity and viscosity criteria (i.e., free of suspended particulates and exhibiting Newtonian flow behavior at measurement temperature). It does not support opaque, highly viscous, or fluorescent samples. Regulatory alignment extends beyond ASTM D1500 to encompass ISO 2049 (Petroleum products — Determination of colour), IP 196 (Institute of Petroleum standard), DIN 51578 (German standard for petroleum color), BS 5859 (British Standard), JIS K2580 (Japanese Industrial Standard), NF T60-104 (French standard), NBN T52-109 (Belgian standard), and FTM 719-102 (U.S. Department of Defense specification). All disc sets are supplied with NIST-traceable certification documentation upon request, supporting GLP and GMP audit readiness.

Software & Data Management

The AF650 operates as a fully manual, analog comparator with no embedded firmware, display interface, or data logging capability. This design philosophy ensures immunity to software obsolescence, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, or firmware update failures—critical considerations in regulated manufacturing and refinery QA/QC settings. Color assignments are recorded manually in laboratory notebooks or LIMS-integrated worksheets. For laboratories requiring electronic recordkeeping, optional Tintometer ColorSoft™ companion software (sold separately) may be deployed with compatible digital imaging accessories to capture and archive comparative images under controlled illumination; however, such configurations fall outside the scope of ASTM D1500 compliance and are intended solely for internal trending or training purposes. All physical reference materials—including discs, cells, and lamps—are serialized and accompanied by calibration history logs meeting ISO/IEC 17025 clause 6.4.10 requirements for reference material traceability.

Applications

Primary applications include incoming raw material inspection of base oils and distillates, in-process monitoring of hydrotreating and clay-treatment efficacy, final product release testing for diesel and jet fuel per DEF STAN 91-91 or ASTM D975, and technical service support for transformer oil condition assessment per IEEE C57.106. Secondary uses span quality verification of edible white oils (USP/NF grade), cosmetic-grade mineral oils, and pharmaceutical excipients where color serves as an indicator of oxidative degradation or refining completeness. The AF650 is routinely deployed in ISO 17025-accredited testing laboratories, API-certified refinery QC labs, and third-party inspection agencies performing contract testing under API RP 2003 or EN 14214.

FAQ

Does the AF650 require annual recalibration?
No—glass reference discs are physically stable and do not degrade over time; however, periodic verification against NIST-traceable master standards (recommended annually) satisfies ISO/IEC 17025 clause 6.4.8.
Can the AF650 measure Gardner or Saybolt color scales?
No—this instrument is configured exclusively for ASTM D1500 color units; separate Lovibond® models (e.g., Gardiner 3000 series) are required for alternative scales.
Is the halogen lamp user-replaceable?
Yes—the 12 V / 20 W halogen lamp is a standard OEM part (Tintometer P/N LAMP-AF650) with tool-free access and alignment-free installation.
What sample volume is required?
Approximately 15 mL is sufficient to fill the standard 33 mm path-length tube to the calibration mark.
Does the instrument comply with FDA 21 CFR Part 11?
Not applicable—since the AF650 generates no electronic records, it falls outside the scope of Part 11 requirements; manual entries into bound lab notebooks remain fully compliant.