What temperature should the oven be set to when drying samples according to C117?

The appropriate temperature for drying samples according to ASTM C117 is 110 °C, with an allowable variation of plus or minus 5 degrees. This specification ensures that moisture is adequately removed from the samples without risking damage to the material being tested. The precise temperature is crucial for achieving consistent and reliable results in moisture content analysis.

Setting the oven to 110 °C allows for efficient drying while preventing degradation or alteration of certain soil properties that could occur at higher temperatures. Using a temperature significantly lower, such as 100 °C, may not effectively remove all moisture, potentially leading to inaccurate measurements. Conversely, excessively high temperatures, such as 120 °C, could alter the characteristics of the sample, thus skewing test results. Therefore, the specified temperature of 110 °C, within the defined range, strikes a necessary balance for effective soil sample drying practices according to the standards outlined in ASTM C117.