The automatic Abel closed-cup tester measures the flash point, the lowest temperature at which the vapours of a sample ignite upon the application of an ignition source. The tester can also be used to detect the ability of a sample to yield flammable vapours when maintained at an equilibrium temperature by the flash/no flash method.

Working

The temperature of the approximately 70 ml test specimen is increased rapidly at first and then at a slower constant rate as the flash point is approached. At specified intervals a test flame is passed across the cup, to measure the tendency of the test specimen to form a flammable mixture with air under controlled laboratory conditions.