Designation: C146 − 26Standard Test Methods forChemical Analysis of Glass Sand 1This standard is issued under the f i xed designation C146; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 These test methods cover the chemical analysis of glasssands. They are useful for either high-silica sands (99 %+ silica(SiO 2 )) or for high-alumina sands containing as much as 12 %to 13 % alumina (Al 2 O 3 ). Generally nonclassical, these testmethods are rapid and accurate. They include the determina-tion of silica and of total R 2 O 3 (see 11.2.4), and the separatedetermination of total iron as iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), titania (TiO 2 ),chromium oxide (Cr 2 O 3 ), zirconia (ZrO 2 ), and ignition loss.Included are procedures for the alkaline earths and alkalies.High-alumina sands may contain as much as 5 % to 6 % totalalkalies and alkaline earths. It is recommended that the alkaliesbe determined by f l ame photometry and the alkaline earths byabsorption spectrophotometry.1.2 These test methods, if followed in detail, will provideinterlaboratory agreement of results.N OTE 1—For additional information, see Test Methods C169 andPractices E50.1.3 These test methods appear in the following order:Procedures for Referee Analysis: SectionSilica (SiO 2 )—Double Dehydration 10Total R 2 O 3 —Gravimetric 11Fe 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , ZrO 2 , Cr 2 O 3 , by Photometric Methods andAl 2 O 3 by Complexiometric Titration12 – 17Preparation of the Sample for Determination of IronOxide, Titania, Alumina, and Zirconia12Iron Oxide (as Fe 2 O 3 ) by 1,10-Phenanthroline Method 13Titania (TiO 2 ) by the Tiron Method 14Alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) by the CDTA Titration Method 15Zirconia (ZrO 2 ) by the Pyrocatechol Violet Method 16Chromium Oxide (Cr 2 O 3 ) by the 1,5-Diphenylcarbo-hydrazide Method17Procedures for Routine Analysis:Silica (SiO 2 )—Single Dehydration 19Al 2 O 3 , CaO, and MgO—Atomic Absorption Spec-trophotometry20–25Na 2 O and K 2 O—Flame Emission Spectrophotometry 26-27Trace Chemical Species Analysis via ICP-OES and ICP-MS 28Loss on Ignition (LOI) 291.4 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-ization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards, Guides and Recom-mendations issued by the World Trade Organization TechnicalBarriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards: 2C169 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Soda-Limeand Borosilicate GlassC429 Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Raw Materials forGlass ManufactureD1193 Specif i cation for Reagent WaterE11 Specif i cation for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and TestSievesE50 Practices for Apparatus, Reagents, and Safety Consid-erations for Chemical Analysis of Metals, Ores, andRelated MaterialsE60 Practice for Analysis of Metals, Ores, and RelatedMaterials by Spectrophotometry2.2 NIST Document: 3SP260 NIST Special Publication 2602.3 US EPA Test Method: 4EPA Test Method 3052 SW-846 Microwave Assisted AcidDigestion of Siliceous and Organically Based Matrices3. Signif i cance and Use3.1 These test methods can be used to ensure that thechemical composition of the glass sand meets the composi-tional specif i cation required for this raw material.1 These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C14 onGlass and Glass Products and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C14.02on Chemical Properties and Analysis.Current edition approved July 1, 2026. Published July 2026. Originally approvedin 1939. Last previous edition approved in 2021 as C146 – 21. DOI: 10.1520/C0146-26.2 For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at www.astm.org/contact. For Annual Book ofASTM Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summarypage on the ASTM website.3 Available from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100Bureau Dr., Stop 1070, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070, http://www.nist.gov.4 Available from United States Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA), WilliamJefferson Clinton Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20460,http://www.epa.gov.Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United StatesThis international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for theDevelopment of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.1
