Performance Testing Capabilities

Test

Salt Spray Testing (ASTM B 117)

Description

Salt Spray testing provides a controlled corrosive environment (5% NaCl solution) which is utilized to produce relative corrosion resistance information for comparison and verification of basic corrosion performance of a substrate, pretreatment process or coating system, or a combination of all on metal specimens. The specimens are evaluated for corrosion, blistering, loss of adhesion at the scribe or other film failure. The evaluations of the parts or panels are conducted using ASTM D 1654 for the scribe rating, ASTM D 610 for Rusting and ASTM D 714 for blistering.

Applications

• Process qualification and routine testing of chemical pretreatment processes
• Process qualification of rust preventatives

Customer Benefits

• Routine verification of chemical pretreatment performance and quality
• Verification of paint performance and quality
• Comparative performance results for a variety of paint and chemical processes
• Comparative performance results for rust preventatives

Test

Humidity Resistance (ASTM D 2247)

Description

Humidity Resistance testing exposes coated specimens to an atmosphere of 100% relative humidity at a temperature of 100°F (38°C), which forms condensation on the specimens and tests the water resistance of the coating. The exposure condition is varied by selecting the duration of the test. Any effects such as color change, blistering, loss of adhesion, softening or embrittlement are observed and reported. The evaluation of the parts or panels is conducted using ASTM D 714 for blistering.

Applications

• Process qualification and routine testing of chemical pretreatment processes
• Process qualification and routine testing of coating systems
• Process qualification of rust preventatives

Customer Benefits

• Routine verification of chemical pretreatment performance and quality
• Verification of paint performance and quality
• Comparative performance results for a variety of paint and chemical processes
• Comparative performance results for rust preventatives

Test

Filiform Corrosion (ASTM D 2803)

Description

Filiform Corrosion testing determines the susceptibility of organic-coated metal substrates to the formation of filiform corrosion which is a special type of corrosion characterized by a threadlike structure and directional growth. The coated metal specimens are scribed and placed in a controlled environment of 70 to 95°F (20 to 35°C) with a corresponding humidity range of 60 to 95% humidity.

Applications

• Process qualification and routine testing of chemical pretreatment processes
• Process qualification and routine testing of coating systems

Customer Benefits

• Routine verification of chemical pretreatment performance and quality
• Verification of paint performance and quality
• Comparative performance results for a variety of paint and chemical processes

Test

Water Immersion (ASTM D 870)

Description

Water Immersion testing is used for evaluating coatings alone or complete coating systems by immersing coated specimens partially or wholly in water. Failure in a water immersion test may be caused by a number of factors including poor coating, contamination of the substrate or inadequate pretreatment. The exposure conditions of the test are varied by water temperature and test duration. Water permeates the coating and any effects such as color change, blistering, loss of adhesion, softening or embrittlement are observed and reported.

Applications

• Process qualification and routine testing of chemical pretreatment processes
• Process qualification and routine testing of coating systems

Customer Benefits

• Routine verification of chemical pretreatment performance and quality
• Verification of paint performance and quality
• Comparative performance results for a variety of paint and chemical processes

Test

Detergent Resistance (ASTM D 2248, Customer Specific Procedures)

Description

Detergent Resistance testing is used for evaluating coatings alone or complete coating systems by immersing coated specimens in a detergent solution. The exposure condition is varied by selecting the duration of the test. Any effects such as color change, blistering, loss of adhesion, softening or embrittlement are observed and reported.

Applications

• Process qualification and routine testing of chemical pretreatment processes
• Process qualification and routine testing of coating systems

Customer Benefits

• Routine verification of chemical pretreatment performance and quality
• Verification of paint performance and quality
• Comparative performance results for a variety of paint and chemical processes

Test

Impact Resistance (ASTM D 2794)

Description

Impact Resistance testing utilizes rapid deforming of a coating film and its substrate by impact of a standard weight for evaluation of the effect of the deformation. The weight is dropped a specific distance that represents impact energy in inch-pounds. The indentation formed due to the impact is evaluated for cracks in the coating to determine paint and pretreatment performance.

Applications

• Process qualification and routine testing of chemical pretreatment processes
• Process qualification and routine testing of coating systems

Customer Benefits

• Routine verification of chemical pretreatment performance and quality
• Verification of paint performance and quality
• Comparative performance results for a variety of paint and chemical processes

Test

MEK Rub (ASTM D 5402)

Description

MEK Rub testing is a solvent rub technique for assessing the solvent resistivity of cured paint films. The cured paint film is rubbed with MEK using double-rubs which is defined as the back-and-forth motion over a test area approximately 2 inches. The paint film is evaluated after a specified number of double-rubs.

Applications

• Determination of the degree of cure of a paint film

Customer Benefits

• Verification of paint performance and quality

Test

Cross-Hatch Adhesion (ASTM D 3359)

Description

Adhesion testing is performed using either an X-cut or a lattice pattern cut through the coating layer in which pressure-sensitive tape is applied and then removed to assess the coating adhesion to the substrate. Adhesion testing is used to evaluate the adhesion of a coating to different substrates or surface treatments, or of different coatings to the same substrate and treatment.

Applications

• Process qualification and routine testing of chemical pretreatment processes
• Process qualification and routine testing of coating systems

Customer Benefits

• Routine verification of chemical pretreatment performance and quality
• Verification of paint performance and quality
• Comparative performance results for a variety of paint and chemical processes

Test

Conical Mandrel Bend (ASTM D 522)

Description

The Conical Mandrel Bend is utilized to determine the resistance to cracking (flexibility) of coatings on substrates. The substrates are bent over a mandrel (conical cylinder) and the attached coatings are elongated in the process. The resistance of the coating to cracking is determined by evaluating the bent area of the panel.

Applications

• Process qualification and routine testing of chemical pretreatment processes
• Process qualification and routine testing of coating systems

Customer Benefits

• Routine verification of chemical pretreatment performance and quality
• Verification of paint performance and quality
• Comparative performance results for a variety of paint and chemical processes

Test

Pencil Hardness (ASTM D 3363)

Description

The Pencil Hardness test is used to determine the film hardness of a coating on a substrate in terms of pencil leads of known hardness. This test method is also used to determine the cure of coatings. The pencils are held firmly against the coating film at a 45° angle and pushed away from the operator in a 6.5 mm stroke. The pencil hardness of the coating is determined by the pencil that will not cut into or gouge the film. The scratch hardness of the coating is determined by the pencil that will not scratch the film.

Applications

• Verification of coating integrity during chemical pretreatment or coating process qualification, routine testing or product comparisons

Customer Benefits

• Verification of paint performance and quality
• Comparative performance results for a variety of paint processes

Test

Paint Film Thickness

Description

Paint Film Thickness is an average measure of the amount of the cured paint film on production parts or test panels. The film is measured using a digital meter that can be programmed to measure the film thickness on multiple substrates. Paint Film Thickness is typically measured in mils which is equivalent to one thousandth of an inch (0.001 in.).

Applications

• Verification of paint specifications for recommended film thickness

Customer Benefits

• Verification of paint film integrity during chemical pretreatment or coating process qualification, routine testing or product comparisons