ASTM D7234-12

Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Adhesion Strength of Coatings on Concrete Using Portable Pull-Off Adhesion Testers

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The pull-off adhesion strength and mode of failure of a coating from a concrete substrate are important performance properties that are used in specifications. This test method serves as a means for uniformly preparing and testing coated surfaces, and evaluating and reporting the results.  
5.2 Variations in strength results obtained using different instruments, different substrates, or different loading fixtures with the same coating are possible. Therefore, it is recommended that the specific test instrument and loading fixture be mutually agreed upon between the interested parties.  
5.3 This test method should not be used to determine surface strength of uncoated concrete. Test Method C1583 is suitable for that determination.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers procedures for evaluating the pull-off adhesion strength of a coating on concrete. The test determines the greatest perpendicular force (in tension) that a surface area can bear before a plug of material is detached. Failure will occur along the weakest plane within the system comprised of the test fixture, adhesive, coating system, and substrate, and will be exposed by the fracture surface.  
1.2 This test method uses a class of apparatus known as portable pull-off adhesion testers.2 They are capable of applying a concentric load and counter load to a single surface so that coatings can be tested even though only one side is accessible. Measurements are limited by the strength of adhesion bonds between the loading fixture, coating system and the substrate or the cohesive strengths of the adhesive, coating layers, and substrate.  
1.3 Pull-off adhesion strength measurements depend upon both material and instrumental parameters. There are different instruments used that comply with this test method. The specific instrument used should be identified when reporting results. This test is destructive and spot repairs may be necessary.  
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2012
• ICS: 91.080.40 - Concrete structures
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.46 - Industrial Protective Coatings

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D7234-05 - Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Adhesion Strength of Coatings on Concrete Using Portable Pull-Off Adhesion Testers
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D4541-22 - Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion Testers
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D6237-19 - Standard Guide for Painting Inspectors (Concrete and Masonry Substrates)
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D5498-12a(2018) - Standard Guide for Developing a Training Program for Personnel Performing Coating and Lining Work Inspection for Nuclear Facilities
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D5064-16a(2021) - Standard Practice for Conducting a Patch Test to Assess Coating Compatibility
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D7832/D7832M-14(2021) - Standard Guide for Performance Attributes of Waterproofing Membranes Applied to Below-Grade Walls / Vertical Surfaces (Enclosing Interior Spaces)
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM F3010-18 - Standard Practice for Two-Component Resin Based Membrane-Forming Moisture Mitigation Systems for Use Under Resilient Floor Coverings
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM E3223/E3223M-20 - Standard Guide for Specifying and Testing Field-Constructed Exterior Building Wall System Mockups in New Construction
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D5139-19 - Standard Specification for Sample Preparation for Qualification Testing of Coatings to be Used in Nuclear Power Plants
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D4796-17(2022) - Standard Test Method for Bond Strength of Thermoplastic Pavement Marking Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM C1486-18(2023) - Standard Practice for Testing Chemical-Resistant Broadcast and Slurry-Broadcast Resin Monolithic Floor Surfacings
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D5163-16(2021) - Standard Guide for Establishing a Program for Condition Assessment of Coating Service Level I Coating Systems in Nuclear Power Plants
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D6943-15(2019) - Standard Practice for Immersion Testing of Industrial Protective Coatings and Linings
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D5179-16(2021) - Standard Test Method for Measuring Adhesion of Organic Coatings in the Laboratory by Direct Tensile Method
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012
• Referred By: ASTM D5144-08(2021) - Standard Guide for Use of Protective Coating Standards in Nuclear Power Plants
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2012

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: D7234 − 12
Standard Test Method for
Pull-Off Adhesion Strength of Coatings on Concrete Using
1
Portable Pull-Off Adhesion Testers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7234; 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.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
3
1.1 This test method covers procedures for evaluating the 2.1 ASTM Standards:
C1583 Test Method for Tensile Strength of Concrete Sur-
pull-off adhesion strength of a coating on concrete. The test
determines the greatest perpendicular force (in tension) that a faces and the Bond Strength or Tensile Strength of
Concrete Repair and Overlay Materials by Direct Tension
surface area can bear before a plug of material is detached.
Failure will occur along the weakest plane within the system (Pull-off Method)
D16 TerminologyforPaint,RelatedCoatings,Materials,and
comprised of the test fixture, adhesive, coating system, and
substrate, and will be exposed by the fracture surface. Applications
D2651 GuideforPreparationofMetalSurfacesforAdhesive
1.2 This test method uses a class of apparatus known as
2 Bonding
portable pull-off adhesion testers. They are capable of apply-
D3933 Guide for Preparation of Aluminum Surfaces for
ing a concentric load and counter load to a single surface so
Structural Adhesives Bonding (Phosphoric Acid Anodiz-
that coatings can be tested even though only one side is
ing)
accessible. Measurements are limited by the strength of adhe-
D4541 Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of Coatings Using
sion bonds between the loading fixture, coating system and the
Portable Adhesion Testers
substrate or the cohesive strengths of the adhesive, coating
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
layers, and substrate.
ASTM Test Methods
1.3 Pull-off adhesion strength measurements depend upon
E178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
both material and instrumental parameters. There are different
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
instruments used that comply with this test method. The
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
specific instrument used should be identified when reporting
3. Terminology
results. This test is destructive and spot repairs may be
necessary.
3.1 The terms and definitions in Terminology D16 apply to
this test method.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information 3.2 Definitions:
only.
3.2.1 adhesive, n—(with respect to this test method) adhe-
sive refers to the material that bonds the bottom of the loading
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
fixture to the top surface of the coating to be tested.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 3.2.2 loading fixture, n—(alsoreferredtoasdolliesorstuds)
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- a metal structure that is flat on one end for bonding to the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. coating surface and shaped on the other end for attachment to
the adhesion tester and is used to determine the pull-off
adhesion strength of coatings.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint
3.2.3 portable pull-off adhesion testers, n—instruments that
and Related Coatings, Materials, andApplications and is the direct responsibility of
are capable of applying a concentric load and counter load to
Subcommittee D01.46 on Industrial Protective Coatings.
Current edition approved July 1, 2012. Published October 2012. Originally
3
approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D7234 – 05. DOI: For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
10.1520/D7234-12. contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
2
The term adhesion tester may be somewhat of a misnomer, but its adoption by Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
two manufacturers and at least two patents indicates continued usage. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D7234 − 12
asinglesurfacesothatcoatingscanbetestedeventhoughonly possible so that a torsion free, co-axial (opposing pull of the
one side is accessible. grip and push of the base along the same axis) force results
between them.
4. Summary of Test Method 6.1.5 Force Indicator and Calibration Information, for
determining the a
...

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: D7234 − 05 D7234 − 12
Standard Test Method for
Pull-Off Adhesion Strength of Coatings on Concrete Using
1
Portable Pull-Off Adhesion Testers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7234; 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.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers procedures for evaluating the pull-off adhesion strength of a coating on concrete. The test
determines the greatest perpendicular force (in tension) that a surface area can bear before a plug of material is detached. Failure
will occur along the weakest plane within the system comprised of the test fixture, adhesive, coating system, and substrate, and
will be exposed by the fracture surface.
2
1.2 This test method uses a class of apparatus known as portable pull-off adhesion testers. They are capable of applying a
concentric load and counter load to a single surface so that coatings can be tested even though only one side is accessible.
Measurements are limited by the strength of adhesion bonds between the loading fixture, coating system and the substrate or the
cohesive strengths of the adhesive, coating layers, and substrate.
1.3 Pull-off adhesion strength measurements depend upon both material and instrumental parameters. There are different
instruments used that comply with this test method. The specific instrument used should be identified when reporting results. This
test is destructive and spot repairs may be necessary.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C1583 Test Method for Tensile Strength of Concrete Surfaces and the Bond Strength or Tensile Strength of Concrete Repair and
Overlay Materials by Direct Tension (Pull-off Method)
D16 Terminology for Paint, Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
D2651 Guide for Preparation of Metal Surfaces for Adhesive Bonding
D3933 Guide for Preparation of Aluminum Surfaces for Structural Adhesives Bonding (Phosphoric Acid Anodizing)
D4541 Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion Testers
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
3. Terminology
3.1 The terms and definitions in Terminology D16 apply to this test method.
3.2 Definitions:
3.2.1 adhesive, n—(with respect to this test method) adhesive refers to the material that bonds the bottom of the loading fixture
to the top surface of the coating to be tested.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D01.46 on Industrial Protective Coatingss.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2005July 1, 2012. Published February 2006October 2012. Originally approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D7234
– 05. DOI: 10.1520/D7234-05.10.1520/D7234-12.
2
The term adhesion tester may be somewhat of a misnomer, but its adoption by two manufacturers and at least two patents indicates continued usage.
3
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’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 ----------------------
D7234 − 12
3.2.2 loading fixture, n—(also referred to as dollies or studs) a metal structure that is flat on one end for bonding to the coating
surface and shaped on the other end for attachment to the adhesion tester and is used to determine the pull-off adhesion strength
of coatingscoatings.
3.2.3 portable pull-off adhesion testers, n—instruments that are capable of applying a con
...