5.1 The apparent density is an important measure of a material characteristic of the powder that is useful to the powder producers and powder users in determining quality and lot to lot consistency.

5.2 This test method is applicable to free-flowing and non-free-flowing metal powders, lubricated powder mixtures and metal compounds.

5.3 The apparent density of a lubricated metal powder mixture may be different when a quantity settles after falling into the die cavity during automated compacting compared with the value obtained from a measurement taken in the laboratory under controlled test conditions.

5.4 This test method simulates the action of the feed shoe on a powder compacting press and gives an apparent density value that closely approximates the apparent density of the powder in the die cavity after the production filling operation.

5.5 Knowledge of this apparent density value for the final lubricated production powder mixture is very helpful to the powder metallurgy (PM) parts fabricator to set the compression ratios for fixed fill die cavity tooling.

5.6 The values of apparent density obtained on metal powders with this test method are approximately 0.2 g/cm³ higher than those obtained using the Hall Funnel, Test Method B212, the Carney Funnel, Test Method B417; or the Scott Volumeter, Test Method B329.

5.7 This test method may be part of a purchase agreement between the powder producer and PM parts producer, or it may be an internal quality control test for either party.