Section 10

Testing of Paints for Properties and

Performance
10 Testing of Paints for Properties and Performance
National grid specification number PA9, lists a number of tests, (and required
results), which a paint must be subjected to and comply with before acceptance
as a material suitable for use on a National Grid site.

BS 3900, methods of test for paints, is the British standard which details these
tests, for method of test and equipment. It is subdivided into groups of tests
from group A, tests on liquid paints (excluding chemical tests), through to
group H, which covers defects and rating of. The following tests are to PA9
requirements.

10.1 Tests on paint

Determination of volatile, non-volatile
This test, to BS 3900 part B2, can only be a guide and not 100% accurate, as it
relies on solvent evaporation from a test sample. As soon as the can is opened
the evaporation will start. A typical procedure would be:

 Select a clean, thoroughly dry glass stirring rod and watch glass and weigh
on a sensitive balance to the nearest milligram.
 Place onto the watch glass approximately 2gm of paint and weigh again.
 Place the watch glass with paint into a hot air oven, no naked flame or
element; repeatedly stir to drive away the volatile content.
 Take a final weight of the glass, rod and dry paint and simple calculations
will give volatile/non-volatile ratio by weight.

Flash point determination

As per BS 3900 part A8, using a closed Abel cup (as opposed to the open cup).
Flash point is defined as being the lowest temperature at which solvent vapour
from the product under test in a closed cup, gives rise to an air/vapour mixture
capable of being ignited by an external source of ignition and is a safety factor.
A high flash point material is safer than a low flash point material and would be
determined as follows.

 Add solvent to the Abel cup, replace lid with thermometer and agitator in
place.
 Clamp the Abel cup onto a retort and lower into a water bath.
 Gently heat the water bath, which will in turn heat the solvent under test.
 Every ½°C rise in temperature activates the high frequency spark.
 The flash point temperature is reached when a blue flame flashes over the
solvent. An orange flame signifies that the flash point temperature has been
exceeded and the test should be redone.

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 Agitator
Thermometer

Spark
electrode
Water bath

Retort

Figure 10.1 Abel closed cup.

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10.2 Paint density
Defined as being weight per unit of volume, density is calculated by weighing a
known volume of material and using the formula:

Weight
Density 
Volume

When imperial units were used density could be expressed as being pounds
(lbs) per gallon. However metric units are now standard and the units for
density are grams per cc.

1cc (cubic centimetre (cm3) of water weighs 1 gram.

1 litre (1000cc) of water weighs 1 kilogram.

A density cup with a capacity of 100cc is used for measuring density of paint.
Other names referring to the same cup are:

1 Relative density cup.

2 Specific gravity cup.
3 Weight per litre cup.
4 Weight per gallon cup.
5 Pyknometer.

100cc

Figure 10.2 Density cup with lid chamfered to centre vent on underside.

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 Procedure for use
 Weigh the clean, empty cup and the lid on a metric scale, sensitivity 0.1g.
 Fill the density cup with the paint, to within approximately 2mm of the brim.
 Allow any trapped air bubbles to burst and replace the lid slowly and firmly
until it seats firmly on the shoulder of the brim.
 The chamfer in the lid allows air to be expelled as the lid is replaced, in
addition to paint in excess of the required 100cc volume. If no paint is
expelled more paint can be added.
 Wipe off any excess paint from the vent and weigh the filled cup.
 Deduct the weight of the empty cup from the final weight and divide by 100.
 The answer is the density in grams/cc.

From information given on the materials data sheet and calculated density of
the solvent it is possible, but difficult, to calculate the percentage of any added
solvent, although better and easier ways exist. This piece of equipment
however can be used in calculating if a two pack material has been mixed in the
correct proportions.

Relative density or specific gravity

The density of distilled water is known to be 1gm/cc and the density of any
other material can be calculated as above. Relative density or specific gravity is
in effect comparing the density of another material with that of water using the
formula:

Density of x
SG or RD 
Density of water

Because relative density is comparing and giving a value of times heavier than,
there are no units of value, but the digits will be exactly the same as density.

Example
If five litres of paint weight 7.2kg, what would be the density?

Step 1
Convert units to grams and ccs.

5Lx1000= 5000 cc 7.2kg = 7200g

Step 2
WT 7200gms
Density  
Vol 5000cc

Step 3
Perform calculation = 1.44g/cc

Step 4
Therefore SG or relative density would be 1.44

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 Example for two pack ratio calculation
A two pack epoxy is mixed at a ratio of five parts base to two parts activator,
the given densities of which are pack A 1.25g/cc and pack B 0.97g/cc. What is
the density of the mixed paint?

Five parts base at 1.25g/cc = 6.25g

Two parts activator at 0.97g/cc = 1.94g

Therefore total weight = 8.19g

Total volume for weight = 7cc

8.19
Density of mix = 7 = 1.17g/cc

10.3 Hegman grind gauge

The Hegman grind gauge, also called a fineness of grind gauge, is used to
measure the degree of dispersion of paint. Aggregates are present in all
pigmented paints, but only the largest aggregates are of any concern. With
gloss paint a perfectly smooth surface is required, so any aggregates within the
paint should be substantially below the dimension of the film thickness. The
Hegman grind gauge is a highly polished stainless steel block measuring
approximately 17.5cm x 6.5cm x 1.4cm. Two grooves, (on some gauges a
single groove), are precision machined, producing a taper of 100m deep to
zero m along the length of the gauge. A 10m increment scale is engraved
along the length of the groove, representing the depth at that point. Paint is
added to the deepest point of the scale and drawn along to totally fill the
groove using a specially profiled scraper bar. The specification BS 3900 requires
that within three seconds of this operation the scale should be placed so that
the eye looks almost parallel along the groove, very obliquely, to observe a
point along the groove where, within a 3mm band, five to ten aggregates break
through the surface of the paint. This actually, looking at the stated angle is the
point where the surface will change from gloss, at the deep end, to matt at the
shallow end.

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 0 20 40 60 80
A Cross- A
section
below

10 8 6 4 2

Figure 10.3 Hegman grind gauge.

Matt Gloss

Figure 10.4 Cross-section of a Hegman grind gauge AA.

Along the groove, at some point, the aggregates will rest along the bottom and
protrude through the surface giving a result as below.

Aggregates
Aggregates
on the
protruding
bottom

3mm band

Matt Gloss

Figure 10.5 Aggregates protruding and resting on the bottom.

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10.4 Viscosity
Viscosity is a very important property for paint; it affects the manufacturing
process and application and levelling properties.

Viscosity is defined as being a fluid’s resistance to flow. Therefore a liquid

described as being of a high viscosity is one which has a high resistance to flow,
it will not run easily and conversely, a low viscosity fluid runs very easily.

An increase in temperature (or decrease) can have a severe effect on a fluid’s

viscosity and therefore comparative tests should be done at the same
temperature. As the temperature increases the molecules within the paint gain
more molecular freedom, move more easily and thus reduce viscosity. A typical
recommended temperature is standard laboratory temperature of 20°C 0.5°C.

There are several types of equipment available for measuring viscosity but they
mainly fall into two categories.

Rotational viscometers.
Flow viscometers.

Rotational viscometers
Rotational viscometers rely on a paddle, disc or ball rotating in a liquid to
measure the viscosity. The rotation can be driven by an electric motor, which
gives dynamic viscosity measurements, or by falling weights which gives
kinematic viscosity measurements.

Dynamic viscosity
For dynamic viscosity measurements a rotothinner can be used.

Poises

Figure 10.6 Rotothinner.

The rotothinner, a flat circular disc with four holes drilled transversely through
it, is fixed into the chuck of the rotational viscometer (not unlike a pillar drill)
and lowered into a 250 millilitre can containing the fluid under test. The can is
magnetically attached to a spring loaded conical shaped base. When the disc
enters the can, a micro-switch engages the motor and starts the disc rotating.
When the rotating disc enters into the paint the frictional forces between the
disc and the paint molecules and the can cause the can to rotate, which in turn
tensions a spring in the base. When the two equalise the can will stop rotating
and a reading can be taken from the pointer on the scale on the conical base.

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 The systems international (SI) units for dynamic viscosity are, newton-
second per square metre (N.s/m2) although on many machines the poise is still
used (cgs. unit). A poise has ten subdivision called centi-poise.
Water has a viscosity of approximately one centi-poise. One poise is equal to
one dyne second per cm2.

Kinematic viscosity

Weight

Figure 10.7 Krebs stormer viscometer.

Kinematic viscosity is measured using a Krebs stormer viscometer. The

weight is allowed to fall, which in turn causes the paddle to rotate in the paint.
More weight added results in a higher rotation speed. Weights are added until
the rotation speed is 200rpm as measured either with a stroboscope or digital
display counter. A viscosity unit frequently used for kinematic viscosity is the
stoke and centi stoke. A fluid having a viscosity of one poise and a density of
1g/cc has a viscosity density ratio of one stoke. (Krebs units or poise can also
be used.)

Flow viscometers (flow cups)

There are various types of flow cups eg Zahn and Frikmar, used for hot fluids,
Ford, ISO and DIN used for ambient temperature materials. The ford cup being
the most widely used for industrial paints.

The flow cup is machined from aluminium, has a capacity of 100cc and is fitted
with a stainless steel nozzle at the bottom with various orifice sizes, in
millimetres. For use with industrial paints a 4mm hole size is standard and
known as A Ford flow cup number 4. The cup is mounted on a special stand and
has a lid with a bubble spirit level. The triangular base of the stand has one
fixed foot and two screw adjustable feet, to facilitate the levelling of the stand
and cup.

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 A typical procedure for use would be:

1 Ensure that the equipment and paint temperatures are at 20°C 0.5°C.
2 Level off the equipment using the bubble level and adjustable screw legs.
3 Put the lid to one side when levelling is complete.
4 Place a suitably sized receptacle under the orifice (greater than 100cc).
5 Place a finger over the nozzle orifice and fill with the paint to be tested, up
to the brim, leaving a convex meniscus.
6 Using a straight edge (a ruler) quickly scrape excess material into the
overflow rim on the top of the cup.
7 Simultaneously start a stopwatch (or use sweep second hand) and remove
finger from the nozzle.
8 The paint will run from the orifice in a continual stream. At the first
distinctive break in the stream ie when it drips, stop the watch. The time in
seconds is recorded as the viscosity, at the measured temperature.

Thinners added to paint over and above recommended quantities could also be
determined by viscosity. To do this a sample containing maximum amount
permitted (by manufacturers TDS) is prepared and compared to samples taken
from the operators at the point of application. Using the flow cup, if the
operators sample runs through the cup faster than the reference sample, then
more thinners than allowed has been added. To find the exact percentage
added, small amounts can be added to the reference sample until operator’s
sample and reference sample run through in the same time. Should the
operator’s sample take longer than the reference sample, then there is no
problem. Thixotropic paints cannot be measured using a flow cup.

Ford flow cup, no.4 in stand Flow viscometer in use

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