water borne coatings specification standard

8/10/2019 Water Borne Coatings Specification Standard

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TABLE 1 List of Standards in Sectional Order

Property(or related test)

Section ASTM Standard Federal Test MethodStandard 141D

Sampling 6.2 D 3925Liquid Paint Properties

Skinning 7.1 D 154 3021Condition in container 7.2 3011Coarse particles and foreign matter 7.3 D 185Density or Weight per gallon 7.4 D 1475Fineness of dispersion 7.5 D 1210Flash point 7.6 D 56, D 93, D 3278Odor 7.7 D 1296Absorption 7.8 4421Colorant acceptance 7.9Dilution stability 7.10 4203Package stability 7.11Heat stability 7.11.1 D 1849Settling 7.11.2 D 869

Coating Application and Film FormationApplication properties 8.1 4541Brush application 8.1.1 D 5068Brush drag 8.1.1.1 D 4958Roller application 8.1.2 D 5069Roller spatter 8.1.2.1 D 4707Spray application 8.1.3 2131Touch-up uniformity 8.2 D 3928Rhelological properties 8.3Consistency (Low-shear viscosity) 8.3.1 D 562Rheological properties of non-Newtonian liquids 8.3.2 D 2196, D 4287Sag resistance 8.3.3 D 4400 4494Levelling properties 8.3.4 D 4062Drying properties 8.4 D 1640 4061

Appearance of Dry FilmColor difference 9.1Color appearance 9.1.1Color differences by visual comparison 9.1.2 D 1729Color differences using instrumental measurements 9.1.3 D 2244Directional reectance 9.2 E 1347Gloss 9.3Gloss, 60° 9.3.1 D 523Sheen (85° gloss) 9.3.2 D 523Hiding power 9.4 D 344, D 2805Yellowness index 9.5 E 313 6131

Properties of Dry FilmInterior and Exterior Coatings 10.1

Abrasion resistance 10.1.1 D 968, D 4060 6192Adhesion 10.1.2 D 2197, D 3359, D 5179Flexibility 10.1.4 D 522, D 2370 6221 A

Resistance to household chemicals 10.1.5 D 1308Interior Coatings 10.2

Color change of white enamels 10.2.1 6132Washability and cleansability 10.2.2Washability 10.2.2.1 D 2486, D 4213Cleansability 10.2.2.2 D 3450, D 4828 6141 B

Exterior Coatings 10.3Blister resistance 10.3.1 D 4585Exposure resistance 10.3.2 D 1006, D 1014Chalking 10.3.2.2 D 4214Checking 10.3.2.3 D 660Cracking 10.3.2.4 D 661Erosion 10.3.2.5 D 662Flaking 10.3.2.6 D 772

Mildew resistance 10.3.3 D 3456 C

Fume resistance 10.3.4Coating Analysis

Chemical analysis 11.1 D 215Volatile content 11.2 D 2369Nonvolatile volume content 11.3 D 2697, D 6093Water content 11.4 D 3792, D 4017Pigment content 11.5 D 2371 4021Pigment analysis 11.6 D 215 7261Nonvolatile vehicle content 11.7 D 215Vehicle separation 11.8 D 2372Nonvolatile vehicle identication 11.9 D 2621, D 2245A Equivalent only to Method B of Test Methods D 522.B Except for scrub medium.C 6271 is not equivalent.

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Coatings by Falling AbrasiveD 1006 Practice for Conducting Exterior Exposure Tests of

Paints on WoodD 1014 Practice for Conducting Exterior Exposure Tests of

Paints on SteelD 1038 Terminology Relating to Veneer and Plywood

D 1208 Test Methods for Common Properties of CertainPigments

D 1210 Test Method for Fineness of Dispersion of Pigment-Vehicle Systems by Hegman-Type Gage

D 1296 Test Method for Odor of Volatile Solvents andDiluents

TABLE 2 Alphabetical List of Properties

Property(or related test)

Section ASTM Standard Federal Test MethodStandard 141D

Abrasion Resistance 10.1.1 D 968, D 4060, D 6037 6192Absorption 7.8 4421Adhesion 10.1.2 D 2197, D 3359Analysis, chemical 11.1 D 215Application properties 8.1 4541Blister resistance 10.3.1 D 4585Brush application 8.1.1 D 5068Brush drag 8.1.1.1 D 4958Chalking 10.3.2.2 D 4214Checking 10.3.2.3 D 660Cleansability 10.2.2.2 D 3450, D 4828 6141 A

Coarse particles and foreign matter 7.3 D 185Colorant acceptance 7.9Color appearance 9.1.1 ...Color change 10.2.1 ... 6132Color differences by visual comparison 9.1.2 D 1729Color differences using instrumental measurements 9.1.3 D 2244Condition in container 7.2 3021Consistency 8.3.1 D 562Cracking 10.3.2.4 D 661Density or weight per gal 7.4 D 1475Dilution stability 7.10 4203Drying properties 8.4 D 1640, D 5895Erosion 10.3.2.5 D 662Exposure resistance 10.3.2 D 1006, D 1014Fineness of Dispersion 7.5 D 1210Flaking 10.3.2.6 D 772Flash point 7.6 D 56, D 93, D 3278Flexibility 10.1.4 D 522, D 2370 6221 B

Fume resistance 10.3.4Gloss 9.3Gloss, 60° 9.3.1 D 523Heat stability 7.11.1 D 1849Hiding power 9.4 D 344, D 2805Levelling properties 8.3.4 D 4062Mildew resistance 10.3.3 D 3456 C

Nonvolatile vehicle content 11.7 D 215 4053Nonvolatile vehicle identication 11.9 D 2621, D 2245Nonvolatile volume content 11.3 D 2697, D 6093Odor 7.7 D 1296Package stability 7.11 D 1849Pigment analysis 11.6 D 215 7261Pigment content 11.5 D 2371 4021Reectance, directional 9.2 E 1347Resistance to household chemicals 10.1.5 D 1308Rheological properties of non-Newtonian liquids 8.3.2 D 2196, D 4287Roller application 8.1.2 2112Roller spatter 8.1.2.1 D 4707Sag resistance 8.3.3 D 4400 4494Sampling 6.2 D 3925Settling 7.11.2 D 869Sheen (85°gloss) 9.3.2 D 523Skinning 7.1 D 154 3021Spray application 8.1.3 2131Touch-up uniformity 8.2 D 3928Vehicle separation 11.8 D 2372Volatile content 11.2 D 2369Washability 10.2.2.1 D 2486, D 4213Water content 11.4 D 1208, D 3792 D 4017 4081

Yellowness index 9.5 E 313 6131A Except for scrub medium.B Equivalent only to Method B of D 522.C 6271 is not equivalent.

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D 1308 Test Method for Effect of Household Chemicals onClear and Pigmented Organic Finishes

D 1475 Test Method for Density of Liquid Coatings, Inks,and Related Products

D 1554 Terminology Relating to Wood-Base Fiber andParticle Panel Materials

D 1640 Test Methods for Drying, Curing or Film Formation

of Organic Coatings at Room TemperatureD 1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color

Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque MaterialsD 1849 Test Method for Package Stability of PaintD 2196 Test Methods for Rheological Properties of Non-

Newtonian Materials by Rotational (Brookeld Type)Viscometer

D 2197 Test Method for Adhesion of Organic Coatings byScrape Adhesion

D 2244 Practice for Calculation of Color-Tolerances andColor Differences from Instrumentally Measured ColorCoordinates

D 2245 Test Method for Identication of Oils and Oil Acids

in Solvent-Reducible PaintsD 2369 Test Method for Volatile Content of CoatingsD 2370 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Organic

CoatingsD 2371 Test Method for Pigment Content of Solvent-

Reducible PaintsD 2372 Practice for Separation of Vehicle from Solvent-

Reducible PaintsD 2486 Test Methods for Scrub Resistance of Wall PaintsD 2621 Test Method for Infrared Identication of Vehicle

Solids from Solvent-Reducible PaintsD 2697 Test Method for Volume Nonvolatile Matter in

Clear or Pigmented CoatingsD 2698 Test Method for Determination of the Pigment

Content of Solvent-Reducible Paints by High Speed Cen-trifuging

D 2805 Test Method for Hiding Power of Paints by Reec-tometry

D 3273 Test Method for Resistance to Growth of Mold onthe Surface of Interior Coatings in an EnvironmentalChamber

D 3278 Test Methods for Flash Point of Liquids by SmallScale Closed-Cup Apparatus

D 3359 Test Methods for Measuring Adhesion by Tape TestD 3450 Test Method for Washability Properties of Interior

Architectural CoatingsD 3456 Practice for Determining by Exterior Exposure

Tests the Susceptibility of Paint Films to MicrobiologicalAttack

D 3730 Guide for Testing High-Performance Interior Archi-tectural Wall Coatings

D 3925 Practice for Sampling Liquid Paints and RelatedPigmented Coatings

D 3928 Test Method for Evaluation of Gloss or SheenUniformity

D 3960 Practice for Determining Volatile Organic Com-pound (VOC) Content of Paint and Related Coatings

D 3792 Test Method for Water Contnet of Caotings byDirect Injection into a Gas Chromatograph

D 4017 Test Method for Water in Paints and Paint Materialsby Karl Fischer Method

D 4060 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of OrganicCoating by the Taber Abraser

D 4062 Test Method for Leveling of Paints by Draw-Down

MethodD 4213 Test Method for Scrub Resistance of Paints byAbrasion Weight Loss

D 4214 Test Methods for Evaluating Degree of Chalking of Exterior Paint Films

D 4287 Test Method for High- Shear Viscosity Using aCone/Plate Viscometer

D 4400 Test Methods for Sag Resistance of Paints Using aMultinotch Applicator

D 4541 Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of CoatingsUsing Portable Adhesion Testers

D 4585 Practice for Testing Water Resistance of CoatingsUsing Controlled Condensation

D 4707 Test Method for Measuring Paint Spatter ResistanceDuring Roller Application

D 4828 Test Method for Practical Washability of OrganicCoatings

D 4946 Test Method for Blocking Resistance of Architec-tural Paints

D 4958 Test Method for Comparison of the Brush Drag of Latex Paints

D 5068 Practice for Preparation of Paint Brushes for Evalu-ation

D 5069 Practice for Preparation of Paint-Roller Covers forEvaluation

D 5179 Test Method for Measuring Adhesion of OrganicCoatings to Plastic Substrates by Direct Tensile Testing

D 5895 Test Method for Evaluating Drying of OrganicFilms Using Mechanical Recorders

D 6037 Test Methods for Dry Abrasion Mar Resistance of High Gloss Coatings

D 6093 Test Method for Percent Volume Nonvolatile Matterin Clear or Pigmented Coatings Using a Helium GasPycnometer

E 105 Practice for Probability Sampling of MaterialsE 313 Practice for Calculating Yellowness and Whiteness

Indices from Instrumentally Measured Color CoordinatesE 1347 Test Method for Color and Color-Difference Mea-

surement by Tristimulus (Filter) Colorimetry2.2 U.S. Federal Standard:

Federal Test Method Standard No. 141D4

2131 Application of Sprayed Films3011 Condition in Container4203 Reducibility and Dilution Stability4421 Absorption Test4541 Working Properties and Appearance of Dried Film6132 Accelerated Yellowness2.3 Other Document:

4 Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, DODSSP, Bldg. 4,Section D, 700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5098

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Paint/Coatings Dictionary of the Federation of Societies forCoatings Technology 5

3. Terminology3.1 For denitions of terms in this guide refer to Terminol-

ogy D 16, D 1038, and D 1554 and to the FSCT Paint/CoatingsDictionary.

4. Conditions Affecting Solvent-Reducible Coatings4.1 Interior and Exterior Coatings :4.1.1 Substrate Type —The substrate to be painted can affect

not only the application properties of a coating, such as glossand uniformity, but is also a factor in determining the type of coating to use. For instance, low-gloss wall nishes do nothave the abrasion resistance required on oors, whereasnishes intended only for interior service probably do not haveadequate resistance to weather factors. Other factors are thetype and quality of metal, wood or wood composite (plywood,particle board or hardboard), the type, quality and alkalinity of concrete, plaster and joint cement systems, and the type andcondition of any previous coatings.

4.1.2 Substrate Conditions —Conditions such as porosity,hardness or, in the case of unpainted concrete, alkalinitydetermine the kind of coating that can be applied. Thecondition of previously painted substrates, such as degree of chalk, presence of grease, dirt, and mold, lm adhesion andporosity, all inuence the performance of coatings. Smoothnessof the substrate affects the spreading rate, nal appearance, andtexture.

4.1.3 Preparation of previously painted substrates includingdetergent cleaning, solvent cleaning, and sanding.

4.1.4 Type and quality of primer or undercoat and time of drying before topcoating.

4.1.5 Environmental conditions such as temperature andhumidity at the time of coating application and during drying.

4.2 Exterior Finishes :4.2.1 Substrate Weathering —Weathering of wood before

painting will probably adversely affect the performance of exterior coatings. Some weathering of masonry surfaces mayhave benecial effects on the performance.

4.2.2 Substrate Aspects of the Building — If constructiondefects or defects due to age are such that excessive moisturefrom the inside or the outside makes its way through thesubstrate or if the substrate is in direct contact with dampground, blistering, aking or peeling may result.

4.2.3 Environmental conditions after application, both gen-eral for the area and specic, such as under eaves, behind

shrubbery, northside and southside exposure.

5. Selection of Tests5.1 Because the conditions to which a coating is subjected

vary with ( a ) the surface type: wall, oor, ceiling, and ( b) theservice environment: exterior or interior, specialized types of solvent-borne coatings have been developed for the differentlocations. The recommended test methods presented in Table 1

and Table 2 cover practically all the properties of solvent-reducible coatings but all of them are not required with eachtype. Coatings intended for exterior use only or both exteriorand interior use require certain properties not relevant to thosefor interior use only. Selection of the methods to be followedmust be governed by experience and the requirements in eachindividual case, together with agreement between the pur-

chaser and the seller.5.2 The purchaser should rst determine the properties acoating should have and then select only those test methodsthat measure or evaluate those properties. After selecting thedesired tests, the purchaser should then decide which proper-ties are the most important and establish the requirements orspecications accordingly. Since coating properties frequentlytend to oppose each other, such as low sheen versus goodcleansability, some properties may need to be less emphasizedif others are to be accentuated. This balance of properties mustbe considered when selecting the tests and establishing therequirements. The signicance of the tests and the normalrange of values are presented in the different sections, in mostcases.

5.3 This guide does not indicate relative importance of thevarious tests nor does it recommend specic test valuesbecause properties very important to one purchaser may be lessso to another.

6. Sampling6.1 Prior to sampling, the condition of the container should

be checked since damage to it may cause evaporation, skin-ning, or other undesirable effects on the coating.

6.2 Sample in accordance with Practice D 3925. Determinethe density in pounds per kilograms/litre (gallon) in accordancewith Test Method D 1475. Continue sampling and determiningdensity until successive results agree within 45 g (0.1 lb) or as

agreed upon between the purchaser and seller. Then takesamples for testing.

6.3 Specify the amount required for a representative sample,the package sizes, and an identication code. A 4-L (or 1-U.S.gal) sample is usually sufficient for the recommended tests, butfor guidance in selecting a sampling plan consult PracticeE 105.

7. Liquid Coating Properties7.1 Skinning —Coatings that contain a binder that dries by

oxidation may be subject to skin formation in a partially-lledcan. Since skins are insoluble in the material, they must beremoved before use. The referenced test in a partially-lled

container indicates the tendency of the material to skin. Atypical minimum time for skinning in accordance with thismethod is 48 h. Examine the original sample for skins, both onand below the surface. Using a well-mixed skin-free portion of the sample, perform a skinning test in accordance with GuideD 154.

7.2 Condition in Container —Thickening, pigment settling,and separation are undesirable and objectionable if materialthat has been stored cannot be readily reconditioned and madesuitable for application with a reasonable amount of stirring.The referenced method covers procedures for determiningchanges in properties after storage and lists characteristics that

5 Available from the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, 492Norristown Rd., Blue Bell, PA 19422.

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are undesirable and objectionable in a stored paint. Determinecondition in the container in accordance with Method 3011 of Federal Test Method Standard No. 141D. (See also 7.11,Package Stability.)

7.3 Coarse Particles and Foreign Matter —Liquid coatingsmust be free of coarse particles and foreign matter to be able toform uniform lms of good appearance, a typical maximum

being 0.5 weight % of the total material. The referencedmethod with a 325-mesh (45-µm) screen gives the percent of these particles. Determine content of coarse particles andforeign matter in accordance with Test Methods D 185.

7.4 Density or Weight per Gallon —The density measured inpounds per kilograms per litre = g/mL (gallon) is used toensure product uniformity from batch to batch, provides acheck against the theoretical weight calculated from theformula, and is useful for determining the similarity of twosamples. The referenced method gives a procedure for mea-suring the density of the coating at a specied temperature.Most interior paints have densities of about 1.2 to 1.4 kg/L (10to 12 lb/gal). Determine density in accordance with Test

Method D 1475, using a calibrated weight per gallon cup.7.5 Fineness of Dispersion —Generally, the more nely a

pigment is dispersed, the more efficiently it is being utilized.One method for measuring the degree of dispersion (commonlyreferred to as “neness of grind.”) is to draw the liquid coatingdown a calibrated tapered groove varying in depth from 100 to0 µm (0–8 Hegman units) (4 to 0 mils) . The depth at whichcontinuous groupings of particles or agglomerates, or both,protrude through the surface of the wet lm is taken as theneness of dispersion value. Higher readings in Hegman unitsor lower readings in mils or micrometres indicate ner disper-sion. Low sheen nishes may have a dispersion value of 50 µmor 4 Hegman (2 mils) while gloss enamels might be near zero(8 Hegman) indicating that the pigment agglomerates are toosmall to be detected by the referenced method. Determineneness of dispersion in accordance with Test Method D 1210.

7.6 Flash Point —Organic solvents used in these coatingshave characteristic temperatures at which they support com-bustion. This temperature is known as the ash point and isoften used for danger classication in shipping by commoncarrier. It is also used to determine conditions of storage tomeet re regulations and the safety requirements of the U.S.Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Determine ashpoint in accordance with Test Methods D 56, D 93, Part B, orD 3278.

7.7 Odor —Some solvent combinations produce obnoxiousodors, particularly when painting indoors with inadequateventilation and at elevated temperatures. Interior solvent-bornecoatings usually contain low-odor or odorless mineral spirits.Nevertheless, they should be evaluated to ensure that they areacceptable. Although not specically designed for liquid coat-ings Test Method D 1296 may be used with the solvent-reducible type.

7.8 Absorption —On porous surfaces, binder penetration canresult in pigment volume concentration changes as the lmdries. This may cause appearance to vary. The referencedmethod provides a rough measure of the wetting and penetrat-ing properties of the binder on a porous surface. Determine the

absorption in accordance with Method 4421 of Federal TestMethod Standard No.141D.

7.9 Colorant Acceptance —Tintability of white bases withcolorants of standardized tinting strength is a trade require-ment. If tinting colors are not adequately compatible with tintbases, lighter, darker, or nonuniform shades of colors areproduced. There is no accepted ASTM test method at present.

Test methods may be agreed upon between the purchaser andseller.7.10 Dilution Stability —Dilution with a specied thinner

shows whether the materials are compatible and whether thereduced coating is stable. Consequently the suggested diluentshould be readily incorporated into the coating without exces-sive stirring or shaking. The referenced method evaluates thestability of the material that has been reduced by a givenamount or to a specied viscosity. Determine dilution stabilityin accordance with Method 4203 of Federal Test MethodStandard No. 141D.

7.11 Package Stability —Since coatings are normally notused immediately after manufacture, they must remain stablein the can for some time. At normal temperatures mostsolvent-borne coatings can be stored for over a year with littlechange in properties. However, exposure in uninsulated ware-houses, or during shipping to high temperatures in the summer,may cause unacceptable changes in these products. Anotherunsatisfactory condition that may occur during storage isexcessive settling.

7.11.1 Heat Stability — Exposure to high temperatures canbe used to test for the stability of a packaged coating thatfrequently encounters such conditions in service, or as anaccelerated test to predict stability at normal temperatures.Although indications of long term package stability can usuallybe obtained in several days or weeks at an elevated temperaturesuch as 50 °C (125 °F) or 60 °C (140 °F), occasionally theresults of the accelerated test do not agree with those atprolonged normal storage conditions. In the referenced methodthe changes in consistency and certain other properties of theaccelerated aged material are compared to those occurring in acontrol kept at normal temperatures for a longer period. Whentesting for heat stability, as such, changes in viscosity, ow,gloss, foam resistance, color uniformity, and wet adhesion areusually checked. Determine heat stability in accordance withTest Method D 1849.

7.11.2 Settling —Modern coatings are generally resistant tohard settling, but do at times show separation and soft settling.The referenced method covers the degree of pigment suspen-sion in and ease of remixing of a shelf-aged specimen to a

homogeneous condition suitable for the intended use. Deter-mine settling in accordance with Test Method D 869.

8. Coating Application and Film Formation8.1 Application Properties —Application or working prop-

erties of a paint are generally compared to a standard ordescribed by requirements in the product specication. Deter-mine working properties in accordance with Method 4541 of Federal Test Method Standard No. 141D.

8.1.1 Brush Application —Brushed lms should be smoothand free of seeds and on vertical surfaces should show nosagging, color streaking, or excessive brush marks. Brush drag

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should not be excessive although some degree of drag may bedesirable for adequate lm thickness application. Wall nishesare tested on vertical surfaces and oor coatings on horizontalsurfaces, although evaluation of the latter on vertical surfacesmay be necessary to determine performance on stair risers,railings, posts, etc. Practice D 5068 covers a means for thedetermination of the brushing properties of a coating.

8.1.1.1 Brush Drag —As the brush drag (resistance encoun-tered when applying a coating by brush) increases, any naturaltendency of the painter to overspread the paint is reduced. Allother factors being constant, increased brush drag results ingreater lm thickness with consequent improvements in hidingand durability. Conversely, increasing brush drag too much cancause difficulties in spreading the material easily and uni-formly, leading to excessive sagging and prolonged dryingtime. The referenced method covers the determination of relative brush drag of a series of coatings applied by brush bythe same operator. It has been established that the subjectiveratings thus obtained correlate well with high shear viscosity’sobtained instrumentally using Test Method D 4287 (see 8.3.2),

provided the paints differ in viscosity by at least 0.3 poise (0.03Pa.s). Determine brush drag ratings in accordance with TestMethod D 4958.”

8.1.2 Roller Application —Both wall and oor coatings arefrequently applied by roller. This type of application tends toproduce some stipple pattern. Practice D 5069 covers theevaluation of a material’s characteristics when applied byroller.

8.1.2.1 Some coatings spatter more than others when ap-plied by roller. The degree to which a paint spatters when rollerapplied can be determined by the density of the spatter. In thereferenced method a specially designed notched spool is rolledthrough a lm of the test material that has been applied to aplastic panel. Any spatter generated falls upon a catch paperand after drying is rated against photographic standards. Thisprocedure eliminates the inuence of the roller cover, thusdetermining the spattering characteristics of the paint alone.Determine spatter resistance in accordance with Test MethodD 4707.

8.1.3 Spray Application —Architectural coatings are some-times applied by spray. Both air and airless spray are used oncommercial work. Determine the spray application propertiesin accordance with Method 2131 of Federal Test MethodStandard No. 141D. Manual application is very subjective andshould be performed only by an individual skilled in the art of using spray equipment.

8.2 Touch-Up Uniformity —Coatings applied to large, atsurfaces may exhibit localized areas of noticeably differentappearance due to variation in lm thickness, different methodsof application or localized damage in service. With a coating of suitable touch-up properties, additional material of the samebatch or lot can be applied only to those localized areas toprovide uniformity of color, gloss, and levelling over the entiresurface. Determine touch-up properties in accordance with TestMethod D 3928.

8.3 Rheological Properties :8.3.1 Consistency (Low-Shear Viscosity) — Consistency is

important, relating to application and ow, and should fall

within a stated range for satisfactory reproduction of a specicformula. While consistency is an important property it does notdetermine the quality of a coating and should be used mainlyto ensure product uniformity. In the referenced method, con-sistency is dened as the load in grams to produce a speciedrate of shear. The load value is frequently converted to Krebsunits (KU) and the Stormer Consistency reported on that basis.

Although the consistency of most solvent-borne house and trimcoatings is about 150 to 300 g/100 revolutions (72 to 95 KU),a much wider range is possible because of the great variationthat may occur in the rheological properties of these paints.Enamels for professional painters are usually formulated at ahigher consistency range than consumer enamels. Typicalranges are 75 to 90 KU for consumer enamels and 90 to 100 forprofessional painter enamels. Two paints of the same consis-tency may have quite different rheological properties duringapplication. Determine the consistency in accordance with TestMethod D 562.

8.3.2 Rheological Properties of Non-Newtonian Materials —Rheological properties are related to application

and ow characteristics of the liquid coating. The referencedmethods cover the determination of rheological properties andare particularly suited for coatings that display thixotropiccharacteristics. However, they measure viscosity under differ-ent shear rates. In Test Method D 4287 the rate is similar to thatoccurring during brush application so that the measuredviscosity is related to brush drag, spreading rate and lm build.Determine rheological properties in accordance with TestMethods D 2196 or D 4287, or both.

8.3.3 Sag Resistance —Some coatings sag and form curtainsbefore the lm sets. Resistance to this type of ow is animportant property particularly for semigloss and gloss enam-els because of the unsightly lm appearance. Measure sagresistance in accordance with Test Methods D 4400.

8.3.4 Levelling Properties —Levelling is an important prop-erty when smooth, uniform surfaces are to be produced, as itaffects hiding and appearance. The referenced method coversthe relative levelling characteristics of liquid coatings. Deter-mine levelling in accordance with Test Method D 4062.

8.4 Drying Properties —The drying time of a coating isimportant in determining when a freshly painted room, oor orstair may be put back in use. Slow drying may result in dirt orinsect pickup resulting in a poor appearance or, if on anexterior surface, rain or dew may cause a nonuniform appear-ance. The drying time of a coating is determined by itscomposition and by atmospheric conditions during drying.Typical drying times for enamels are 1 ⁄ 2 to 2 h set-to-touch and18 h dry hard under normal temperature and humidity condi-tions. Some coatings lose drying speed during storage in thecontainer. Any of the several methods for determining thevarious stages of lm formation in the drying or curing of organic coatings may be used. For example, if two coats arespecied the determination of “dry-to-recoat” time is impor-tant. Determine appropriate drying time(s) in accordance withTest Methods D 1640 or Test Method D 5895.

9. Appearance of Dry Film

9.1 Color Difference :

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9.1.1 The appearance of color is greatly inuenced byseveral factors. A color next to a yellow wall looks differentthan the same color next to a blue wall. The visual appearanceof a colored object illuminated by incandescent light, uores-cent light, and natural light differs because the spectral com-positions of the incident lights vary. Gloss also affects colorappearance, Low and high gloss coatings frequently look

different in color even though instrumentally their colors maybe identical.9.1.2 Color Differences by Visual Comparison —Visual

comparison of colors is fast and often acceptable, althoughnumerical values are not obtained. The referenced methodcovers the spectral, photometric, and geometric characteristicsof light source, illuminating and viewing conditions, sizes of specimens, and general procedures to be used in the visualevaluation of color differences of opaque materials relative totheir standards. Determine color difference in accordance withPractice D 1729.

9.1.3 Color D iff erences Using Instrumental Measurements —The difference in color between a product and

its standard can be measured by instrument. Generally thetolerance is agreed upon by the purchaser and seller and mayalso be required if a product specication is involved. Colormeasuring instruments provide numerical values that can becompared to subsequent measurements. The referencedmethod covers the calculation of instrumental determinationsof small color differences observable in daylight illuminationbetween nonuorescent, nonmetameric, opaque surfaces suchas coated specimens. If metamerism is suspected, visualevaluation (9.1) should be used to verify the results. Calculatein accordance with Practice D 2244 the color differences thathave been measured instrumentally.

9.2 Directional Reectance —This property is a measure of

the appearance of lightness of a coating. It is usually assigneda value in specications for white and pastel shades, a typicalrange being 76 to 92 % for white nishes. In the referencedmethod the directions of illumination and viewing are speciedso as to eliminate the effect of gloss. Determine daylightdirectional reectance in accordance with Test Method E 1347.

9.3 Gloss —This property is a measure of the capability of acoating surface to reect light in a mirror-like (specular)manner, that is, light strikes the surface and is reected at theequal but opposite angle. In the referenced method the numeri-cal gloss units are the ratio of light reected by a specimen tothat reected by the primary standard black glass that isassigned a gloss value of 100. The gloss of some coatings

varies greatly with the angle of incidence so that a completedescription of their gloss would require measurements over awide range of angle. In practice, the gloss of architecturalnishes is adequately characterized by measurements at 60° or85°, or both, from a line perpendicular (normal) to the surface.The 85° angle is a very low (“grazing”) angle (5°) of illuminating and viewing the surface and the gloss at this angleis called“ sheen”. Attempts to standardize the levels of glossassociated with the several descriptive terms have not beenvery successful since the gloss scale is continuous with nodistinct boundaries. Hence, there is some overlap at the ends of some gloss classications in common usage.

9.3.1 Gloss, 60° —Semigloss enamels are particularly sen-sitive to enamel hold-out of primers and undercoats. Low oruneven gloss reading are indicative of this defect. Oil housepaints are typically in a 60° gloss range from 30 to 70 whiletrim enamels are from 70 to 90. Floor enamels generally havea high (90 + ) gloss reading when rst applied but thisdecreases with time and traffic. Interior semigloss enamels

after drying 48 h are typically in the range from 40 to 70 butmeasurements taken shortly after drying should be repeatedafter one week because the gloss can drop considerably in therst few days of drying. Determine the 60° gloss in accordancewith Test Method D 523.

9.3.2 Sheen (85° Gloss) —Although low-gloss paints withgood uniformity of appearance at low angles of viewing oftenhave little sheen while those with good cleansability usuallyhave moderate sheen, this is not always the case so that sheenshould not be used as a measure of other paint properties. Thereferenced method, using the 85° geometry, is useful incharacterizing the low-angle appearance of low-gloss coatings.Nominally, at wall paints have a sheen of 1 to 10 whereasvelvets or eggshells range from 15 to 35. Determine the sheen(85° gloss) in accordance with Test Method D 523.

9.4 Hiding Power —Hiding power is a measure of the abilityof a coating to obscure the substrate and is usually expressed asthe spreading rate for a specied level of opacity. It is,however, dependent on uniformity of lm thickness, which inpractical applications is inuenced by ow, levelling andapplication properties of the coating. Test Method D 2805 isprecise and gives an absolute rather than a comparative result.Paint is applied with an applicator bar to minimize the effectsof ow and levelling, lm thickness is rigorously measured,and lm opacity is determined instrumentally. Test MethodD 344 is a practical test in which paint is applied with a brush,wet-lm thickness is approximately controlled by spreadingrate, and hiding power is evaluated visually by comparisonwith a standard paint, but results are affected by ow andlevelling of the materials. Determine hiding power in accor-dance with Test Methods D 344 or D 2805.

9.5 Yellowness Index —The referenced method is used forwhite or near white specimens to determine color departurefrom white toward yellow when rst applied. Determine theyellowness index in accordance with Practice E 313. (See also10.2.1.)

10. Properties of the Dry Film

10.1 Interior and Exterior Coatings :10.1.1 Abrasion Resistance —Abrasion resistance is a mea-

sure of the ability of a dried lm to withstand wear from foottraffic and marring from objects rolled or pulled across thesurface. In the referenced methods, dry abrasive is applied to acoated panel using the force of gravity or a jet blast forfree-owing abrasive or a weighted wheel for abrasive embed-ded in a resilient rubber matrix. Determine dry abrasionresistance in accordance with Test Methods D 968 or D 4060,or D 6037. (See 10.2.2.1 for wet abrasion resistance.)

NOTE 3—Because of the poor reproducibility of abrasion test methods,testing should be restricted to only one laboratory when numericalabrasion resistance values are to be used. Interlaboratory agreement is

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improved signicantly when rankings are used in place of numericalvalues.

10.1.2 Adhesion —Adhesion, the ability of a lm to resist,removal from the substrate, is an important property of acoating. Determine adhesion in accordance with Test MethodsD 2197, D 3359, or D 5179.

10.1.3 Wet Adhesion — It is essential that a nish adhere

tightly to a given substrate or primer under wet conditions of washing or scrubbing. There is no adequate test methodpublished by ASTM. Determine the wet adhesion of paints bya method acceptable to the purchaser and the seller.

10.1.4 Flexibility —Elongation is a measure of the exibilityof a coating lm. Generally, gloss house paints and trimenamels have no problems in passing a mandrel bend test at 3.2mm ( 1 ⁄ 8 in.). However, interior at and eggshell nishes maypass only a 6.4-mm ( 1 ⁄ 4 -in.) bend. For exterior coatings TestMethod D 2370 is a much more discriminating method. 6

Determine exibility in accordance with Test Methods D 522or elongation with Test Method D 2370.

10.1.5 Resistance to Household Chemicals — An importantproperty of interior coatings is the ability to resist spotting,softening or removal when subjected to household chemicalsor strong cleaners. Determine resistance to these chemicals inaccordance with Test Method D 1308.

10.2 Finishes :10.2.1 Color Change of White Architectural Enamels —

Color permanence is an important characteristic for interiorwhite enamels. Lack of permanence is usually caused byafter-yellowing. Determine resistance to color change in accor-dance with Method 6132 of Federal Test Method Standard No.141D.

10.2.2 Washability and Cleansability — The capability of satisfactorily removing marks without damaging the lm isessential for good performance of interior nishes. A coatingmay be washable, that is, unaffected by the detergent solution,but may not have good cleansability. Frequently the differencebetween the two terms “cleansability” and “washability,” is notclearly understood so that there is confusion as to what is reallybeing tested; for example, the title of Test Method D 3450.Cleansability is evaluated by applying one or more stains andsoils and determining how readily they are removed. Wash-ability is evaluated by determining the resistance of the lm towet erosion either by visual assessment or measured lm loss.In general, the precision of both types of test is poor becauseseveral properties, such as hardness, water and detergentresistance, cohesion and adhesion, are involved and the endpoint, except for the wet abrasion method, is rather indenite.

10.2.2.1 Washability (Also referred to as Scrubbing or Wet Abrasion Resistance) —The scrubbing method, Test MethodsD 2486, developed for interior latex at wall paints can beapplied to coatings of almost any type. In it the coating isapplied to a black plastic panel that, during scrubbing with anylon brush and abrasive cleaning agent, is raised by a narrowshim to concentrate the test area. The number of back-and-forthstrokes (cycles) required to remove the lm over the shim is

determined. Interior at wall paints can vary in scrub resistancefrom less than 100 to more than 1000 cycles. The wet-abrasionmethod, Test Method D 4213, is similar except that a sponge isused in place of the bristle brush while the shim is not used.This method also provides for the use of a nonabrasive mediumwith paints having very low abrasion resistance. The weight orvolume loss per 100 cycles to erode the lm almost to exposure

of the black substrate is the measure of scrub resistance.Evaluate washability, as described just, in accordance with TestMethods D 2486 or D 4213.

10.2.2.2 Cleansability —The older referenced method, TestMethod D 3450, is similar to the wet-abrasion method, TestMethod D 4213, except that the sponge is used with either thenonabrasive or abrasive cleaning agent to remove a carbonblack-oil stain. The ability to remove the stain is expressed asthe ratio (in percent relative) of the reectance of the cleanedarea to that of the area before application of the stain. In TestMethod D 4828, referred to as a “practical” test, numerousstaining and soiling agents found in service and commercialabrasive or nonabrasive cleaners as well as the standardizedcleaning agents can be used. The lms may be cleansedmanually or mechanical but only the latter is suitable forinterlaboratory testing. Evaluate ease of removability in accor-dance with Test Methods D 3450 or D 4828.

10.2.3 Mildew Resistance —Many paints are subject to mi-crobiological discoloration on the surface with time. This isespecially true in warm, moist climates. Determine mildewresistance in accordance with Test Method D 3273.

10.2.4 Blocking Resistance —Blocking or sticking of paintscaused by slower drying gloss coatings can be evaluated inaccordance with Test Method D 4946, which describes anaccelerated procedure for evaluating the face-to-face resistanceof trade sale coatings.

10.3 Exterior Coatings :10.3.1 Blister Resistance —Blister resistance is the ability of

a dry lm on wood to resist the formation of blisters caused bywater from the wood substrate. In practice water can comefrom either the interior of a home or from structural defects thatpermit entry of exterior water behind the wood. Moistureblister resistance can be qualitatively evaluated in a laboratorytest. Determine resistance to moisture blistering in accordancewith Practice D 4585.

10.3.2 Exposure Resistance —If the coating is intended forexterior use, evaluation of the resistance to weathering may berequired. In conducting exterior exposures follow PracticeD 1006 for wood substrates or Practice D 1014 for steel.

10.3.2.1 In establishing exterior performance on wood, usethe panels described in Specication D 358.

10.3.2.2 Degree of Chalking —Determine the rating usingTest Methods D 4214.

10.3.2.3 Degree of Checking —Determine the rating usingTest Method D 660.

10.3.2.4 Degree of Cracking —Determine the rating usingTest Method D 661.

10.3.2.5 Degree of Erosion —Determine the rating usingTest Method D 662.

10.3.2.6 Degree of Flaking —Determine the rating usingTest Method D 772.

6 H. E. Ashton, “Flexibility and its Retention in Clear Coatings Exposed toWeathering,” Journal of Coatings Technology , Vol 511, No. 653, June 1979, p. 41.

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10.3.3 Mildew Resistance —Many paints are subject to mi-crobiological discoloration on the surface with time. This isespecially true in warm, moist climates. Determine mildewresistance in accordance with Practice D 3456.

10.3.4 Fume Resistance —Some paints exhibit a change inappearance (usually color) when exposed to air containingcertain sulfur compounds, notably hydrogen sulde and sulfur

dioxide. This type of atmosphere may be present near indus-trial or other polluted areas and can cause paint to yellow ordarken in as little time as overnight. There are no ASTM orFederal test methods for evaluating this color change, but oneprocedure used by the industry is as follows:

10.3.4.1 Apply a sufficient number of coats of the paint totwo glass plates to hide the surface completely, allow to dry for6 h and expose one in a moist atmosphere of hydrogen suldefor 18 h. Compare the color with the unexposed plate. Thecolor difference should not exceed that between plates thathave been coated with a paint made with titanium dioxidepigment, lead-free zinc oxide, raw or rened linseed oil, andsufficient cobalt added for drying, and similarly treated.

10.3.5 Exterior coatings usually have good color retentionbecause of their good chalking resistance. However, the use of improper binder, pigment volume concentration, or pigmentscan lead to fading. There are no ASTM nor Federal testMethods specically designed for evaluation of fade resis-tance, but change in color on exposure can be measured inaccordance with Practice D 2244 (see 9.1.3).

11. Coating Analysis11.1 Chemical Analysis —If a specication requires certain

raw materials or certain components in a given amount thenanalysis is needed to determine whether the specied compo-nents are present and in what amounts. Analysis is primarily ameasure of uniformity and does not necessarily establish

quality that can also be greatly affected by manufacturingtechniques. No single schematic analysis is comprehensiveenough to cover the wide variety of paint compositions. Selecttest procedures from Practice D 215 and other ASTM methodsthat are pertinent to the components of solvent-borne coatings.

11.2 Volatile Content —The percent of volatile matter is ameasure of the amount of a lm lost as it dries. This quantityis not necessarily indicative of the quality of the coating. It isuseful, however, for determining the similarity of two batches.The referenced method covers the determination of the volatilecontent of solvent- and water-reducible coatings. The quantitydetermined subtracted from 100 % gives the nonvolatile con-tent of the coating. Determine the volatile content in accor-dance with Test Method D 2369.

11.3 Nonvolatile Content (Volume Percent) —The nonvola-tile content by volume is a useful gure in calculating coverageor spreading capacity per gallon (or litre) at a specied dry-lmthickness. Determine nonvolatile content volume percent inaccordance with Test Methods D 2697 or D 6093.

11.4 Water Content —If too much water is incorporated in asolvent-reducible coating it may retard the drying at highrelative humidities. The amount of water in a coating may berequired in the calculation of the volatile organic content(VOC) of coatings. One referenced method covers the deter-mination of water in paint and related materials by distillingwith a volatile solvent. The newer method utilizes the Karl

Fischer reaction. Determine the water content in accordancewith Test Methods D 3792 or D 4017.11.5 Pigment Content —Pigment provides the hiding and

color and inuences many other properties of a coating. Thereferenced method describes the procedure for the quantitativeseparation of the vehicle from the pigment in solvent-reduciblecoatings. It is used to measure the weight percent pigment inthe paint. Determine the percent pigment content in accordancewith Test Method D 2371.

11.6 Pigment Analysis —The analysis of pigment may berequired if the product is covered by a specication or uponagreement between the purchaser and seller. Analyze thepigment in accordance with selected test procedures from

Practice D 215 and other appropriate ASTM methods.11.7 Nonvolatile Vehicle Content —The nonvolatile vehicle

is the lm-forming portion of a coating excluding the pigment.Water, volatile thinner, and pigment are determined and theirsum subtracted from 100 % to give the binder content inaccordance with Practice D 215. The vehicle may be separatedfor further analysis.

11.8 Separation of Vehicle —The recommended proceduredescribes this separation for certain solvent-borne coatings. If desired or required, separate the vehicle in accordance withPractice D 2372.

11.9 Identication of Nonvolatile Vehicle —The type of binder used in a coating has a great inuence on its properties.The referenced method covers the qualitative characterizationor identication by infra-red spectroscopy of separated non-volatile vehicle. It is useful in detecting uniformity, batch tobatch, and the presence of adulterants. Identify the nonvolatilevehicle in accordance with Test Method D 2621. The compo-sition of this vehicle can be further broken down into the typesof oils present. If desired determine the identity of oils inaccordance with Test Method D 2245.

11.10 Volatile Organic Content —The volatile organic com-pound (VOC) content of solvent and waterborne coatings andrelated materials is determined from the quantity of materialreleased from the sample under specic bake conditions andsubtracting exempt volatile compounds and water present.

Contact your local air pollution control agency for regulations.

12. Keywords

12.1 architectural coatings; coatings tests; solvent-bornecoatings; water-borne coatings

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