ASTM D1544-04(2018)

Standard Test Method for Color of Transparent Liquids (Gardner Color Scale)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This test method applies to drying oils, varnishes, fatty acids, polymerized fatty acids, and resin solutions. Its application to other materials has not been tested.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the color of transparent liquids by means of comparison with arbitrarily numbered glass standards.  
1.2 Users of this method should have normal color vision.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 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.  
1.5 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: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2018
• ICS: 17.180.20 - Colours and measurement of light
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.26 - Optical Properties

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D1544 − 04 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Test Method for
1
Color of Transparent Liquids (Gardner Color Scale)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1544; 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 3. Significance and Use
3.1 This test method applies to drying oils, varnishes, fatty
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the color of
acids, polymerized fatty acids, and resin solutions. Its applica-
transparent liquids by means of comparison with arbitrarily
tion to other materials has not been tested.
numbered glass standards.
1.2 Users of this method should have normal color vision. 4. Apparatus
4.1 Glass Standards, 18, numbered separately, and having
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
the color characteristics given in Table 1. The color shall be
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
produced by the glass components only. Some glass standards
standard.
in use today do not conform to the values reported in Table 1.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
The calibration of glass standards should be verified prior to
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
use; a suitable procedure for their calibration is contained in
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Appendix X1.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
4.2 Glass Tubes, clear, 10.65 mm in inside diameter and
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
about 114 mm in outside length. (Viscosity tubes, as described
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
in Test Method D1545, are satisfactory.)
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4.3 Suitable apparatus for comparing sample and standard.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
The apparatus may be of any design, but should have the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
following characteristics:
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
4.3.1 Illumination—CIE Illuminant C.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4.3.2 Surrounding Field—The field should be black.
4.3.3 Field of View—The specimen and one or more stan-
2. Referenced Documents
dards should subtend a visual angle of about 2° and be in the
2
field of view simultaneously.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.3.4 Separation of Standard and Specimen—There should
D1545 Test Method for Viscosity of Transparent Liquids by
be a perceptible separation between specimen and standard, but
Bubble Time Method
this should be as small as is mechanically possible.
D6166 Test Method for Color of Pine Chemicals and Re-
lated Products (Instrumental Determination of Gardner
5. Procedure
Color)
5.1 Fill a glass tube with the material under test. If the
E308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using
material is perceptibly cloudy, first filter it.
the CIE System
5.2 Compare with glass standards, determining which stan-
dard most closely matches the specimen in brightness and
1
saturation. Ignore hue differences.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of Committee D01 on Paint and
Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D01.26 on Optical Properties.
6. Report
Current edition approved June 1, 2018. Published June 2018. Originally
6.1 Report the color as the number of the standard most
approved in 1958. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D1544 – 04 (2010).
DOI: 10.1520/D1544-04R18.
closely matching the specimen. If more precise measurements
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
are needed, report as either matching a standard or lighter or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
darker. Thus, between colors 5 and 6, the steps will be 5, 5+,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. 6−, and 6.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D1544 − 04 (2018)
TABLE 1 Color Specifications of Reference Standards
the “between” and “within” standard deviations were found to
Gardner be 0.5 and 0.1 color number, respectively. Based on these
A
Chromaticity Coordinates
Luminous Transmittance
Color
standard deviations, the following criteria should be used for
Transmittance Tolerance,
Standar
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D1544 − 04 (Reapproved 2010) D1544 − 04 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Test Method for
1
Color of Transparent Liquids (Gardner Color Scale)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1544; 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
1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the color of transparent liquids by means of comparison with arbitrarily
numbered glass standards.
1.2 Users of this method should have normal color vision.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1545 Test Method for Viscosity of Transparent Liquids by Bubble Time Method
D6166 Test Method for Color of Pine Chemicals and Related Products (Instrumental Determination of Gardner Color)
E308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by Using the CIE System
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This test method applies to drying oils, varnishes, fatty acids, polymerized fatty acids, and resin solutions. Its application
to other materials has not been tested.
4. Apparatus
4.1 Glass Standards, 18, numbered separately, and having the color characteristics given in Table 1. The color shall be produced
by the glass components only. Some glass standards in use today do not conform to the values reported in Table 1. The calibration
of glass standards should be verified prior to use; a suitable procedure for their calibration is contained in Appendix X1.
4.2 Glass Tubes, clear, 10.65 mm in inside diameter and about 114 mm in outside length. (Viscosity tubes, as described in Test
Method D1545, are satisfactory.)
4.3 Suitable apparatus for comparing sample and standard. The apparatus may be of any design, but should have the following
characteristics:
4.3.1 Illumination—CIE Illuminant C.
4.3.2 Surrounding Field—The field should be black.
4.3.3 Field of View—The specimen and one or more standards should subtend a visual angle of about 2° and be in the field of
view simultaneously.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D01.26 on Optical Properties.
Current edition approved June 1, 2010June 1, 2018. Published June 2010June 2018. Originally approved in 1958. Last previous edition approved in 20042010 as
D1544 – 04.D1544 – 04 (2010). DOI: 10.1520/D1544-04R10.10.1520/D1544-04R18.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’sstandard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D1544 − 04 (2018)
TABLE 1 Color Specifications of Reference Standards
Gardner
A
Chromaticity Coordinates
Luminous Transmittance
Color
Transmittance Tolerance,
Standard
Y, % ±
x y
Number
1 0.3177 0.3303 80 7
1 0.3177 0.3303 80 7
2 0.3233 0.3352 79 7
2 0.3233 0.3352 79 7
3 0.3329 0.3452 76 6
3 0.3329 0.3452 76 6
4 0.3437 0.3644 75 5
4 0.3437 0.3644 75 5
5 0.3558 0.3840 74 4
5 0.3558 0.3840 74 4
6 0.3767 0.4061 71 4
6 0.3767 0.4061 71 4
7 0.4044 0.4352 67 4
7 0.4044 0.4352 67 4
8 0.4207 0.4498 64 4
8 0.4207 0.4498 64 4
9 0.4343 0.4640 61 4
9 0.4343 0.4640 61 4
10 0.4503 0.4760 57 4
11 0.4842 0.4818 45 4
12 0.5077 0.4638 36 5
13 0.5392 0.4458 30 6
14 0.5646 0.4270 22 6
15 0.5857 0.408
...