ASTM D1259-06(2018)

Standard Test Methods for Nonvolatile Content of Resin Solutions

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 The nonvolatile content of resin solutions is useful to coatings producers and users for the determination of the total solids available for film formation and for the estimation of the volatile organic content.
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of nonvolatile content of solutions of resins in volatile organic solvents.  
1.2 Two test methods are included as follows:  
1.2.1 Test Method A—For solutions of non-heat-reactive resins. These solutions contain resins that remain stable and release the solvent under conditions of the test. Examples are ester gums and alkyds.  
1.2.2 Test Method B—For two types of solutions:
1.2.2.1 Solutions of heat-reactive resins. These solutions contain resins that undergo condensation or other reactions under the influence of heat. Examples include the formaldehyde reaction products of urea, melamine, and phenols.
1.2.2.2 Solutions that release solvent slowly. Examples include epoxy resin solutions.  
1.3 Test Methods A and B differ primarily in the drying times and types of oven used.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.6 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.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-May-2018
• ICS: 83.080.10 - Thermosetting materials
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.21 - Chemical Analysis of Paints and Paint Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D1259-06(2012) - Standard Test Methods for Nonvolatile Content of Resin Solutions
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D4209-07(2019) - Standard Practice for Determining Volatile and Nonvolatile Content of Cellulosics, Emulsions, Resin Solutions, Shellac, and Varnishes
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D4142-89(2022) - Standard Guide for Testing Epoxy Resins
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2018
• Referred By: ASTM D4713-12(2020) - Standard Test Methods for Nonvolatile Content of Heatset and Liquid Printing Ink Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2018

Overview

ASTM D1259-06(2018): Standard Test Methods for Nonvolatile Content of Resin Solutions establishes consistent procedures for determining the nonvolatile content (total solids) of resin solutions in volatile organic solvents. As issued by ASTM International, this standard is valuable to coatings manufacturers, formulators, and end users aiming to control quality and assess compliance with regulatory guidelines regarding film-forming materials. It enables accurate quantification of solids available for coating performance and aids in estimating volatile organic content (VOC), contributing to safety and environmental standards in the coatings industry.

Key Topics

• Nonvolatile Content Determination: Provides methods to calculate the percentage of solids remaining after solvent evaporation, essential for evaluating resin solution quality and formulation.
• Test Method A: Used for non-heat-reactive resin solutions, such as ester gums and alkyds. This method employs either a gravity-convection or forced-ventilation oven at 105°C for 30 minutes.
• Test Method B: Designed for heat-reactive resins (e.g., urea, melamine, phenol-formaldehyde) and solutions that release solvent slowly, like epoxy resins. Utilizes a forced-ventilation oven at 105°C for 2 hours.
• Sample Handling and Apparatus: Details procedures for sample preparation, weighing, application to foil, drying, and final gravimetric analysis to ensure precision and reproducibility.
• Precision and Reproducibility: Reports specific criteria on repeatability and reproducibility at a 95% confidence level, providing benchmarks for laboratory and analyst performance.

Applications

• Quality Control in Coatings Manufacturing: Accurate assessment of nonvolatile content helps manufacturers ensure product consistency, optimize formulations, and validate production batches.
• Regulatory Compliance: Assists facilities in calculating volatile organic compound (VOC) content for environmental reporting and compliance with regional and international regulations.
• Product Development and R&D: Provides reliable data for modifying or formulating new resin-based products, supporting innovation while maintaining adherence to standardized test methods.
• Performance Evaluation: Knowing the solids content directly informs the expected film properties, application thickness, drying behavior, and final appearance of coated surfaces.
• Supplier and End-User Communication: Establishes a standardized language and metric for discussing and verifying resin solution characteristics among producers, buyers, and regulators.

Related Standards

Organizations may use ASTM D1259-06(2018) together with other standards to enhance testing and documentation in coatings, adhesives, and resin applications:

• ASTM D1644: Standard Test Methods for Nonvolatile Content of Varnishes
• ASTM D2369: Standard Test Method for Volatile Content of Coatings
• ISO 3251: Paints, varnishes, and plastics - Determination of non-volatile matter
• ASTM D3723: Standard Test Method for Determination of Solids and Water in Emulsion Polymers by Oven Evaporation

These standards, when used in conjunction, contribute to comprehensive quality assurance and regulatory documentation across the coatings and chemicals industries.

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Keywords: ASTM D1259, nonvolatile content, resin solutions, solvent-based resins, coatings industry, total solids, volatile organic content, test methods, quality control, heat-reactive resins, epoxy resins, alkyds, ester gum.

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.
Designation: D1259 − 06 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Test Methods for
Nonvolatile Content of Resin Solutions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1259; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope of aluminum or tin foil. The coated foil sheets are separated
and then dried. The weight of residue is determined and the
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of nonvola-
nonvolatile content is calculated. The test method is unique in
tile content of solutions of resins in volatile organic solvents.
that it provides for drying of a very thin film of resin, thus
1.2 Two test methods are included as follows:
minimizing chances for volatiles to be trapped and held during
1.2.1 Test Method A—For solutions of non-heat-reactive
the heating operation.
resins. These solutions contain resins that remain stable and
2.2 Either a gravity-convection or a forced-ventilation oven
release the solvent under conditions of the test. Examples are
and a 30-min heating period at 105°C are used in Test Method
ester gums and alkyds.
A.
1.2.2 Test Method B—For two types of solutions:
1.2.2.1 Solutions of heat-reactive resins. These solutions 2.3 A forced-ventilation oven and a 2-h heating period at
contain resins that undergo condensation or other reactions
105°C are used in Test Method B.
under the influence of heat. Examples include the formalde-
3. Significance and Use
hyde reaction products of urea, melamine, and phenols.
1.2.2.2 Solutions that release solvent slowly. Examples
3.1 The nonvolatile content of resin solutions is useful to
include epoxy resin solutions.
coatings producers and users for the determination of the total
solids available for film formation and for the estimation of the
1.3 Test Methods A and B differ primarily in the drying
volatile organic content.
times and types of oven used.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
TEST METHOD A—NON-HEAT-REACTIVE RESIN
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
SOLUTIONS
only.
4. Apparatus
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.1 Ovens:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.1.1 Gravity-convection type, maintained at 105 6 2°C,
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- with vents open.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 4.1.2 Forced-ventilation type, maintained at 105 6 2°C. For
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor- ovens with adjustable air flow rate, set the control damper at
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 50 %.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4.2 Aluminum or Tin Foil, from 38 to 50 µm (0.0015 to
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
0.0020 in.) in thickness. Either one piece 150 by 300 mm (6 by
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
12 in.), or two 150 by 150-mm (6 by 6-in.) pieces may be used.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
The foil must be perfectly smooth; if it becomes wrinkled
during the initial handling, roll smooth as directed in 5.2.
2. Summary of Test Methods
4.3 PlateGlass—Twopiecesabout5mm( ⁄16in.)thick;one
2.1 In both test methods, a weighed specimen of resin
1 1
piece140by140mm(5 ⁄2by5 ⁄2in.)andonepiece180by180
solution is spread under pressure between two weighed sheets
mm (7 by 7 in.).
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on
4.4 Device for Weighing Specimens —Apparatus that will
Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and are the direct
prevent loss of volatile matter during the weighing operation
responsibility of Subcommittee D01.21 on Chemical Analysis of Paints and Paint
such as any of the following, or equivalent:
Materials.
Current edition approved June 1, 2018. Published June 2018. Originally
approved in 1953. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D1259 – 06 (2012).
DOI: 10.1520/D1259-06R18. The bulb pipet is available from most scientific supply houses.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D1259 − 06 (2018)
4.4.1 Syringe, Luer, 2 or 5-mL capacity, into a thin film, about 75 mm (3 in.) in diameter. The pressure
4.4.2 Weighing Buret, Smith, 10-mL capacity, or that must be exerted depends on the viscosity of the sample. In
4.4.3 Bulb Pipet, dropping, with 50-mL Erlenmeyer flask. case a specimen of low viscosity should extend beyond the
edge of the foil, repeat the determination, allowing a few
4.5 Roller, for Smoothing Foil—Use a ground and polished
minutes for a portion of the solvent to evaporate from the
cylinder, preferably stainless steel, approximately 7 in. (180
weighed specimen before covering and pressing it.
mm) long and 2 in. (50 mm) in diameter.
5.3 After pressing, open the foil to its full length and place
4.6 Foil Trays, two types as follows:
it in the foil tray. Place the tray in either a gravity-convection
4.6.1 Trays measuring 165 by 300 mm (6 ⁄2 by 12 in.) , for
or a forced-ventilation oven at 105 6 2°C for 30 min.
use with (6 by 12-in.) foil, constructed from No. 22-gauge
0.6–mmaluminumsheetinaccordancewithdimensionsshown 5.4 Remove the tray from the oven and then carefully
in Fig. 1. Several trays may be stacked in the oven to permit remove the foil sheet from the tray. Return the dried film
running several specimens simultaneously. surfaces to the face-to-face position. While the foil is still
1 1
4.6.2 Trays measuring 165 by 165 mm (6 ⁄2 by 6 ⁄2 in.), for warm, fold the edges together to enclose completely the dried
usewith(6by6-in.)f
...