ASTM D5590-94
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determining the Resistance of Paint Films and Related Coatings to Fungal Defacement by Accelerated Four-Week Agar Plate Assay
Standard Test Method for Determining the Resistance of Paint Films and Related Coatings to Fungal Defacement by Accelerated Four-Week Agar Plate Assay
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers an accelerated method for determining the relative resistance of two or more paints or coating films to fungal growth.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.3 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.
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Designation: D 5590 – 94
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Resistance of Paint Films and Related
Coatings to Fungal Defacement by Accelerated Four-Week
Agar Plate Assay
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5590; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope under the appropriate conditions for growth, and (4) provide a
schedule and guidelines for visual growth ratings. This test
1.1 This test method covers an accelerated method for
method is not designed to include all the necessary procedures
determining the relative resistance of two or more paints or
to maintain the proper microbiological techniques required to
coating films to fungal growth.
provide the most accurate results.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
4. Significance and Use
only.
4.1 Defacement of paint and coating films by fungal growth
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
(mold, mildew) is a common phenomenon, and defacement by
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
algal growth can also occur under certain conditions. It is
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
generally known that differences in the environment, lighting,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
temperature, humidity, substrate pH, and other factors in
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
addition to the coating composition affect the susceptibility of
2. Referenced Documents a given painted surface. This test method attempts to provide a
means to comparatively evaluate different coating formulations
2.1 ASTM Standards:
for their relative performance under a given set of conditions.
D 822 Practice for Conducting Tests on Paint and Related
It does not imply that a coating that resists growth under these
Coatings and Materials Using Filtered Open-Flame
conditions will necessarily resist growth in the actual applica-
Carbon-Arc Light and Water Exposure Apparatus
tion.
D 3273 Test Method for Resistance to Growth of Mold on
the Surface of Interior Coatings in an Environmental
NOTE 1—It is hoped that a ranking of relative performance would be
Chamber
similar to that ranked from outdoor exposures. However, this test method
should not be used as a replacement for exterior exposure (that is, Practice
D 3456 Practice for Determining by Exterior Exposure
D 3456) since many other factors, only a few of which are listed will affect
Tests the Susceptibility of Paint Films to Microbiological
2 those results.
Attack
NOTE 2—Several companies have reported reasonable correlation of
D 4141 Practice for Conducting Accelerated Outdoor Expo-
results from this test with actual use when testing film-forming, pigmented
sure Tests of Coatings
coatings. Round-robin testing of this test method versus exterior exposure
D 4587 Practice for Conducting Tests on Paint and Related
is planned.
Coatings and Materials Using a Fluorescent UV-
4.2 Familiarity with microbiological techniques is required.
Condensation Light- and Water-Exposure Apparatus
This test method should not be used by persons without at least
D 5031 Practice for Conducting Tests on Paints and Related
basic microbiological training.
Coatings and Materials Using Enclosed Carbon-Arc Light
and Water Exposure Apparatus
5. Apparatus and Materials
5.1 Balance, capable of weighing to 0.10 g.
3. Summary of Test Method
5.2 Incubator, or other device capable of maintaining a
3.1 This test method outlines a procedure to (1) prepare a
constant temperature between 25 and 30°C, relative humidity
suitable specimen for testing, (2) inoculate the specimen with
of #85 %.
the proper fungal species, (3) expose the inoculated samples
5.3 Refrigerator.
5.4 Petri Dishes, 100 by 15 mm (3.9 by 0.6 in.).
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-1 on Paint
5.5 Autoclave.
and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
1 3
5.6 Paint Brush, coarse bristle, 12 to 19 mm ( ⁄2 to ⁄4 in.).
Subcommittee D01.28 Biodeterioration.
5.7 Substrate, Filter Paper (Glass fiber, Grade 391, 4.2 cm
Current edition approved Aug. 15, 1994. Published October 1994.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01. (1.65 in.)) or draw-down paper (unlaquered chart paper 216 by
D 5590
280 mm (8.5 by 11 in.), cut into 10 216 by 28-mm (8.5 by 7.3 Prepare a spore suspension of each of the test fungi by
1.1-in. strips). pouring into one subculture of each fungus a sterile 10-mL
5.8 DeVilbiss No. 154 Atomizer or equivalent. portion of water, or of a sterile solution containing 0.05 g/L of
5.9 Sterile Glass Rods, Forceps, 250-mL Glass Erlenmeyer a nontoxic wetting agent such as sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate.
Flasks, Test Tubes, and other routine microbiological equip- Swirl or gently agitate the slant or plate to loosen the spores.
ment. Carefully aspirate the water and spore suspension with a sterile
5.10 Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) or Malt Agar. pasteur pipet (trying to avoid obtaining mycelia).
5.11 Nutrient-Salts Agar. 7.4 Check the collected spore suspension under the micro-
5.12 Nutrient-Salts Solution, (see section 4.11 without scope for mycelial contamination and make a note of the
agar). relative populations of spores versus mycelial forms.
5.13 Counting Chamber (Hemocytometer). 7.5 Dilute the spores suspension with sterile nutrient salts
solution such that the resultant spore suspension contains 0.8 to
6. Reagents and Materials
1.2 by 10 spores/mL as determined with a counting chamber.
6.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals should be
7.6 Repeat this operation for each organism used in the test.
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
The A. pullulans spores should be maintained separately and
all reagents should conform to the specifications of the
used as a separate inoculum for a separate set of plates and
Committee on Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical
samples. Blend equal volumes of the remaining organisms’
Society, where such specifications are available. Other grades
resultant spore suspensions to obtain the mixed spore suspen-
may be used, provided they are first ascertained to be of
sion.
sufficiently high purity to permit use without decreasing the
7.7 The spore suspension may be prepared fresh each day or
accuracy of the determination.
may be held in the refrigerator at 3 to 10°C (37 to 50°F) for not
6.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, references
more than 4 days.
to water are understood to mean distilled water or water of
8. Preparation of Test Specimens
equal or higher purity.
6.3 PDA or Malt Agar plates can be purchased prepared, or
8.1 A set of coatings to be tested should preferably contain
the PDA and Malt Agar powder can be purchased and prepared
a positive and a negative growth control. That is, one that is
according to the instructions using standard microbiological
known to support fungal growth, and one that is known to
techniques and equipment.
inhibit growth completely. A set of Whatman #2 (or equivalent)
filter papers or the draw-down papers without coating may be
7. Preparation of the Fungal Spore Inocula
suitable growth controls.
7.1 Fungal Cultures—Use the following test fungi in pre-
8.2 Make sure to handle the disks or drawdown sections
, ,
5 6 7
paring the inocula:
with sterile tongs or tweezers.
5 6
Fungi ATCC # MYCO #
NOTE 4—Sterilization or aseptic handling of the test material, or both,
Aspergillus niger 6275 .
Penicillium funiculosum 11797 391 avoids bacterial or other contamination that may interfere with the test
Aureobasidium pullulans 9348 .
results.
NOTE 3—Other organisms may be of specific interest for certain
8.3 Coatings to be tested will be applied to 4.2-cm (1.65-in.)
applications or geographical areas. Such other pure cultures, or isolated
glass fiber filter paper disks, or to the 28 by 216-mm (1.1 by
wild strains, may be used as agreed upon by the parties involved. These
8.5-in.) drawdown strips. The samples are prepared for evalu-
organisms were selected based on the historical data from use in Test
ation by brush coating strips of drawdown paperboard, or glass
Method D 3273.
filter disks with each sample in duplicate. Take care to apply a
7.2 Maintain stock cultures of these fungi separately on an
thin, even coating, with the same thickness for all coating
appropriate medium such as potato dextrose agar plates or
samples.
slants. The stock culture may be kept for not more than 4
NOTE 5—One or both sides of the substrate (drawdown strips or filter
months at approximately 3 to 10°C (37 to 50°F). Subculture
paper) may be coated as agreed upon by the parties involved.
individual fungi onto slants or
...
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