ASTM D2825-21e1

Standard Terminology Relating to Polishes and Related Materials

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2021
• ICS: 01.040.25 - Manufacturing engineering (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 25.100.70 - Abrasives
• Technical Committee: D21 - Polishes
• Drafting Committee: D21.91 - Terminology and Editorial Review

Relations

• Refers: ASTM D2047-17 - Standard Test Method for Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces as Measured by the James Machine
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2017
• Refers: ASTM D4103-17 - Standard Practice for Preparation of Substrate Surfaces for Coefficient of Friction Testing
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2017
• Refers: ASTM D4103-90(2016) - Standard Practice for Preparation of Substrate Surfaces for Coefficient of Friction Testing
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2016
• Refers: ASTM D2047-11 - Standard Test Method for Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces as Measured by the James Machine
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2011
• Refers: ASTM D4103-90(2009) - Standard Practice for Preparation of Substrate Surfaces for Coefficient of Friction Testing
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2009
• Refers: ASTM D2047-04 - Standard Test Method for Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces as Measured by the James Machine
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2004
• Refers: ASTM D2047-99 - Standard Test Method for Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish-Coated Floor Surfaces as Measured by the James Machine
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1999
• Refers: ASTM D4103-90(2002) - Standard Practice for Preparation of Substrate Surfaces for Coefficient of Friction Testing
• Effective Date: 29-Jun-1990

Overview

ASTM D2825-21e1: Standard Terminology Relating to Polishes and Related Materials standardizes terminology used in the evaluation, formulation, and application of polishes and related products. This standard, developed by ASTM Committee D21 on Polishes, is essential for ensuring consistent communication and understanding among manufacturers, laboratories, regulatory agencies, and end users in the polishes industry. By defining key terms, ASTM D2825-21e1 supports product development, quality assurance, testing, and regulatory compliance across a wide range of polish types and surfaces.

Key Topics

ASTM D2825-21e1 covers the following critical terminology areas:

• Floor Polish: Definitions such as buffable, dry bright polish, self-polishing-type floor polish, and water-emulsion floor polish ensure clarity in product classification. Terms like build-up, burnishing, gloss retention, leveling, mar, recoatability, service life, scuff, slip resistance, soil retention, and wear relate to product performance and appearance over time.
• Automotive Polish: Key terms include automotive polish, powdering, and smear resistance, which differentiate polishes by application and performance on vehicles.
• Furniture Polish: Terms such as bloom, bronzing, healing, islanding, mottling, tack, wicking, staining power, and powdering describe phenomena relevant to the maintenance and appearance of furniture finishes.
• Shoe Polish: Crucial concepts such as abrasion resistance, color stability, flexibility, hiding, powdering, scuff marks, shoe finish, and wet crock address the functional performance of polishes used on leather and other shoe materials.
• General Surface Coatings: Broad terms like coating, gloss, distinctness of image, film clarity, haze, slip resistance, specular gloss, soil, stain, streaking, volatile solvent, and water beading are defined for use in multiple polish categories.

Applications

ASTM D2825-21e1 is highly valuable across multiple industries:

• Manufacturing: Companies producing floor, furniture, automotive, and shoe polishes rely on standardized terminology to develop new formulations, match customer requirements, and communicate features and benefits accurately.
• Testing Laboratories: Consistent definitions support accurate measurement and reporting of polish properties, such as gloss, slip resistance, abrasion resistance, and soil retention.
• Quality Control: Adoption of ASTM terminology helps ensure alignment between product specifications, customer expectations, and contract terms during audits and inspections.
• Regulatory Compliance: Regulatory agencies and certification bodies use standardized language to evaluate product claims and support harmonization with safety and performance standards.
• Facility Maintenance and Janitorial Services: Clear distinctions between polish types and performance criteria aid in product selection, application best practices, and maintenance planning.
• Research and Development: Standardized terms enable reliable comparison of new materials, surface treatments, and performance enhancements in laboratory and field settings.

Related Standards

ASTM D2825-21e1 references and complements several other standards, including:

• ASTM D2047 - Test Method for Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces (James Machine)
• ASTM D4103 - Practice for Preparation of Substrate Surfaces for Coefficient of Friction Testing

Additional related ASTM and ISO standards may cover testing procedures, performance benchmarks, and best practices for polishes and coatings.

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By standardizing definitions and performance criteria, ASTM D2825-21e1 supports quality, safety, and efficiency in the global market for polishes and related materials. This standard empowers stakeholders to make well-informed decisions in product selection, application, and compliance-ultimately contributing to the durability, appearance, and safety of finished surfaces.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
´1
Designation: D2825 − 21
Standard Terminology Relating to
Polishes and Related Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2825; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
ε NOTE—Definitions of terms are specific to Committee D21 standards, and were added editorially in December 2021.
1. Referenced Documents depth of gloss—the optical phenomenon of relative depth
2 perceived when viewing reflective surfaces.
1.1 ASTM Standards:
D2047 Test Method for Static Coefficient of Friction of
detergent resistance—the degree to which a polish film
Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces as Measured by the
exhibits no apparent deterioration when spotted or cleaned
James Machine
with a solution of a nonabrasive, nonammoniacal detergent.
D4103 Practice for Preparation of Substrate Surfaces for
distinctness of image—degree of clarity exhibited by images
Coefficient of Friction Testing
reflected from a surface.
2. Terminology
drag—physical resistance to mechanical spreading of a liquid
GENERAL
polish.
buffable—the ability to improve the gloss or general
dry bright polish—a polish that dries to a gloss without
appearance, or both, of a polish film by a mechanical action.
buffing.
build-up—the condition resulting from a lack of self-
ease of use—a subjective assessment of polish application
sensitivity in an existing polish, whereby new film deposits
properties, which includes variable elements of polish appli-
over old, with little or no self-cleaning action.
cation drag, dry time, time between coat applications, gloss
build on multicoat applications, dry time before exposure to
burnishing—the enhancement of the existing polish appear-
traffic, polish, soil resistance, ease of cleaning, and ease of
ance is accomplished by dry mechanical abrasion using a
removal.
suitable machine and accessories.
film clarity—characteristic of a deposited film, which permits
cleaning—removal of visible marks, dust, and other extrane-
an unobstructed view of the color and inherent design of the
ous materials from the surface.
substrate.
coagulum—an agglomerate of particles grouped together by
gloss retention—maintenance of the gloss of a film under
relatively weak mechanical or chemical affinities; usually
normal use conditions.
designates the densest phase of a separated emulsion.
haze—film whose clarity is impaired with varying degrees of
coating, n—a layer of any substance intentionally applied to a
opacity; this denigration of film clarity is sometimes only
surface to modify its functional or decorative characteristics
evident with multi-coat applications of polish.
such as a polish.
leveling—the property of a freshly spread polish to dry to a
creaming—the separation of a layer of an emulsion into
uniform and streak-free appearance.
separate, and discrete layers, with the less dense component
of the emulsions migrating to the uppermost layer.
mar—mutilation of polish film, reparable only by recoating.
nonvolatiles—materials remaining after the loss of volatile
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D21 on
Polishes and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D21.91 on Terminology
components.
and Editorial Review.
Current edition approved March 1, 2021. Published March 2021. Originally
polish—a temporary coating that enhances the appearance and
approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as D2825 – 17. DOI:
may protect the substrate to which it is applied.
10.1520/D2825-21E01.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
recoatability—the application characteristics of a polish and
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
the appearance of the film after successive coatings to a
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. surface.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D2825 − 21
soil—solid foreign matter, resulting from traffic embedded in rubber heel marking—the mechanical transfer of coloring
or adhered on the surface. matter from rubber heels to surfaces.
speed relating to rotary disc floor machines—low speed: up
scratch—damage resulting from the movement of a hard
to 800 r/min, high speed: more then 800 but less than 1500
pointed object.
r/min, and ultra high speed: 1500 r/min or more.
scuff—disfigurement of polish film resulting from the abrading
NOTE 1—Effectiveness of the floor machine depends upon machine
or scraping action repairable without recoating.
weight and pad diameter as well as r/min.
self-polishing-type floor polish—a floor polish that dries to a
spreading—the action of flowing out over a surface during
shine.
application.
service life—the period of time required under use conditions
stain—discoloration by foreign matter.
to change the appearance of a surface treated with a floor
streaking—nonuniform deposition of a polish film.
polish sufficiently to require retreatment.
volatile solvent—a nonaqueous liquid that evaporates readily
slip resistance—frictional force opposing movement of an
at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.
object across a surface, usually with reference to the sole or
heel of a shoe on a floor.
water beading—surface property that causes the formation of
discrete water droplets on the dried polish surface.
soil retention—the property of holding foreign matter in or on
water spotting—change in appearance of surface resulting the surface after a cleaning process.
solely from the action of cool water.
specular gloss—the ratio of reflected to incident light, times
wetting—the property of a polish to uniformly and completely
1000, for specified apertures of illumination and reception
contact the solid surface to which it is applied; this property
when the axis of reception coincides with the mirror image
is a function of the surface tension of the liquid polish and
of the axis of illumination.
the surface energy of the substrate, which may be dried
spray buffing—the restorative maintenance of a previously
polish film.
polished floor, by the action of a suitable floor polishing
FLOOR POLISH
machine immediately following the mist-spraying of an
appropiate product onto the surface whereby the wet appli-
alkali soluble resin—low molecular weight, acid functional
cation is buffed to dryness.
natural resins, modified natural resins, or synthetic copoly-
mers characterized by forming a true solution in water when
streaking—the apparent mark (or marks) that remains in the
basified to p
...