Below, we have listed the typical testing methods for paint & coatings evaluations:
- Air Space Analysis
o Desorption w/CS2 from air sampling tubes; GC/MS measurement
- Application Properties (brush, roll, spray)
o atomization (spray)
o coalescent demand
o contact angle (sessile drop, advancing, receding)
o dry speed (dry-to-touch, dry-through, mechanical, laser light scattering)
o flow & leveling (brush, roller, NYPC)
o lapping
o low temperature touch-up vs. room temperature
o low temperature drying and film formation
o roller spatter
o sagging
o spread rate
o touch-up (brush, roll, spray)
o wet film thickness
- Contaminant identification
o Micro FTIR for ID of small particles
- Film Appearance Properties
o color by integrating sphere colorimeter. L*a*b*, L*c*h*, DE
o DFT (dry film thickness)
o digital photomicroscopy (1000x w/12 Mp camera)
o dry hiding (from porosity)
o gloss (20°, 60°, 85°)
o hiding power
o opacity, intrinsic (contrast ratio, scattering coefficient)
o opacity, applied (brush, roll, spray)
o reflectance
o SEM (scanning electron microscopy, up to 3000x)
o yellowing
- Film Performance Properties
o adhesion (cupping, pull-off, tensile, x-hatch)
o abrasion (falling sand, Taber)
o abrasive scrub
o blocking
o blistering
o CPVC (Critical Pigment Volume Concentration) by electrochemical measurement.
o chalking
o chemical resistance
o cracking
o degree of cure (MDSC)
o EIS (measurement of corrosion resistance by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy)
o exposure (Cleveland Condensing Humidity, QUV A&B, Salt Spray/Salt Fog, Prohesion)
o falling dart impact
o flexibility (mandrel bend)
o hardness (Clemen, Tukon/Knoop, pencil, Sward Rocker)
o MEK rubs
o stain resistance
o washability
o water spotting
- Liquid Coating Properties
o color acceptance
o flash point (setaflash, Tag)
o MFFT (minimum film-forming temperature)
o pH
o syneresis
o stability (freeze-thaw, heat, roller)
o surface tension (pendant drop)
o viscosity (Ku, ICI, Brookfield)
o VOC by EPA Test Method 24
- Deformulation: Separation of a paint into pigment, binder, and solvent fractions, resulting in the % total NV, P/B ratio. Full deformulation or look for specific component.
o Identification of the pigment fraction
– qualitative by FTIR
– qualitative by gravimetric
– semi-quantitative elemental analysis by SEM/EDXA w/XRF
– quantitative by X-ray diffraction (with or w/o JCPDS search)
o Identification of the solvent fraction (GC/MS)
– Volatiles analysis (quantitative, qualitative)
– % water (Karl Fischer; GC)
o Identification of the vehicle fraction
– qualitative by FTIR
– qualitative by pyrolysis/GC/MS
– quantitative by chemical/instrumental methods (polyesters, alkyds)
– semi-quantitative by chemical/instrumental methods (acrylics, urethanes)
– % Wt NV
– % Vol NV
– Weight per gallon (density)
– Acid value
– Amine Value
– Epoxide value
– Hydroxyl value
– Iodine value
– Saponification value
– Nitrogen (Kjeldahl)
– Nitrogen (volatile)
– NCO value
– Molecular weight (HPGPC, HPLC)
– Inorganic analysis (AA)
– Polymer composition (pyrolysis GC/MS; FTIR)
– Surface analysis (Attenuated Total Reflectance FTIR)
– Particle Size
– Tg
– Tm
- Formulation:
- Development of paint/coatings formula to customer specifications.
- Architectural paints, coatings, & stains (interior, exterior, porch & deck, roof, wood, cement, aerosols)
- Industrial paints and coatings (OEM, industrial maintenance)