ASTM D154-85(2001)

Standard Guide for Testing Varnishes

ABSTRACT
This guide covers the proper selection and use of procedures for testing varnishes. Properties of liquid varnishes that may be tested are as follows: appearance; color (Gardner, tristimulus, and Platinum-Cobalt scale); viscosity (Gardner-Holdt bubble time, Ford cup efflux, and high precision kinematic viscosity); specific gravity; volatile content; nonvolatile matter; flash point (tag closed-cup, Pensky Martens, tag open-cup, and Setaflash closed tester); skinning; acid value; reactivity of paint liquids; quantitative rosin content; and qualitative rosin content (Lieberman-Storch and Halphen-Hicks). Drying and curing properties that may be tested are drying and print free time. Finally, properties of dry varnish that may be tested are as follows: gloss (specular gloss and reflective haze); resistance of dried films to water and alkali; abrasion resistance by carborundum air blast, falling abrasive, and Taber abraser; exterior durability; color of dried film; and clear floor sealers.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the selection and use of procedures for testing varnishes. Some test methods are included but most sections refer to specific ASTM test methods.  
1.2 Varnishes may be applied under such diverse conditions to so many different surfaces, and their dried films may be subjected to so many kinds of wear and exposure, that it is not possible to assure desired performance from a single selection of test methods and numerical results. Those skilled in varnish technology may find partial assurance of obtaining desired qualities in various types of varnishes through careful selection of the methods covered and intelligent interpretation of results.  
1.3 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems 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-May-1985
• ICS: 87.040 - Paints and varnishes
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.33 - Polymers and Resins

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D154-85(1996) - Standard Guide for Testing Varnishes
• Effective Date: 31-May-1985
• Replaced By: ASTM D154-85(2009) - Standard Guide for Testing Varnishes (Withdrawn 2018)
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D6763-16(2022) - Standard Guide for Testing Exterior Wood Stains and Clear Water Repellents
• Effective Date: 31-May-1985
• Referred By: ASTM D1725-12(2019) - Standard Practice for Preparing Resin Solutions for Viscosity Measurement by Bubble Time Method
• Effective Date: 31-May-1985
• Referred By: ASTM D5165-12(2020) - Standard Practice for Laboratory Preparation of Gelled Vehicles Using a Resin Kettle
• Effective Date: 31-May-1985
• Referred By: ASTM G195-22 - Standard Guide for Conducting Wear Tests Using a Rotary Platform Abraser
• Effective Date: 31-May-1985
• Referred By: ASTM D5146-10(2019) - Standard Guide to Testing Solvent-Borne Architectural Coatings
• Effective Date: 31-May-1985
• Referred By: ASTM D3730-17(2022) - Standard Guide for Testing High-Performance Interior Architectural Wall Coatings
• Effective Date: 31-May-1985
• Referred By: ASTM D2205-20 - Standard Guide for Selection of Tests for Traffic Paints
• Effective Date: 31-May-1985

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:D154–85(Reapproved2001)
Standard Guide for
Testing Varnishes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D154; 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 D1209 Test Method for Color of Clear Liquids (Platinum-
Cobalt Scale)
1.1 This guide covers the selection and use of procedures
D1310 Test Method for Flash Point and Fire Point of
for testing varnishes. Some test methods are included, but most
Liquids by Tag Open-Cup Apparatus
sections refer to specific ASTM test methods.
D1469 Test Method for Total Rosin Acids Content of
1.2 Varnishes may be applied under such diverse conditions
Coating Vehicles
to so many different surfaces and their dried films may be
D1475 Test Method For Density of Liquid Coatings, Inks,
subjected to so many kinds of wear and exposure, that it is not
and Related Products
possible to assure desired performance from a single selection
D1542 Test Method for Qualitative Detection of Rosin in
of test methods and numerical results. Those skilled in varnish
Varnishes
technology may find partial assurance of obtaining desired
D1544 Test Method for Color of Transparent Liquids
qualities in various types of varnishes through careful selection
(Gardner Color Scale)
of the methods covered and intelligent interpretation of results.
D1545 Test Method forViscosity ofTransparent Liquids by
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Bubble Time Method
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D1546 Practice for Testing the Performance of Clear Floor
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Sealers
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
D1639 Test Method for Acid Value of Organic Coating
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Materials
2. Referenced Documents
D1640 TestMethodsforDrying,Curing,orFilmFormation
of Organic Coatings at Room Temperature
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1641 Practice for Conducting Outdoor Exposure Tests of
D56 Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Cup Tester
Varnishes
D93 Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens
D1644 Test Methods for Nonvolatile Content of Varnishes
Closed Cup Tester
D1647 Test Methods for Resistance of Dried Films of
D445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent
Varnishes to Water and Alkali
and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscos-
D1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color
ity)
Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
D479 Test Method for Reactivity of Paint Liquids
D2090 Test Method for Clarity and Cleanness of Paint and
D523 Test Method for Specular Gloss
Ink Liquids
D658 Test Method of Abrasion Resistance of Organic
D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and
Coatings by Air Blast Abrasive
Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color
D968 Test Methods for Abrasion Resistance of Organic
Coordinates
Coatings by Falling Abrasive
D2369 Test Method for Volatile Content of Coatings
D1200 Test Method for Viscosity by Ford Viscosity Cup
D2805 Test Method for Hiding Power of Paints by Reflec-
tometry
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint and
D3278 Test Methods for Flash Point of Liquids by Small
Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
Scale Closed-Cup Apparatus
Subcommittee D01.33 on Polymers and Resins.
D3964 Practice for Selection of Coating Specimens for
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 2001. Published July 1985. Originally
published as D154 – 23. Last previous edition D154 – 76. DOI: 10.1520/D0154-
Appearance Measurements
85R01.
D4039 Test Method for Reflection Haze of High-Gloss
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Surfaces
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.
Withdrawn.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D154–85 (2001)
D4060 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic atmosphereintheareawherethecoatingisapplied.Depending
Coatings by the Taber Abraser upon the method of application, the time required to vaporize
E308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by the volatile, and the conditions of the atmosphere surrounding
Using the CIE System the application, it is recommended that Test Method D2369 be
used to determine the volatile content of a varnish.
LIQUID VARNISH PROPERTIES
8. Nonvolatile Matter
3. Appearance
8.1 Nonvolatile content is an indication of the amount of
3.1 Appearance of the liquid varnish is important both for
permanent film-forming material contained in a varnish. The
aesthetic reasons and because it indicates whether the dried
normal drying of a varnish film may involve varying amounts
film is likely to have a satisfactory appearance. Examine the
of absorption of oxygen from the air, loss of volatile solvents,
liquid varnish for foreign matter, sediment or skins in accor-
and continuing decomposition of the dried film. The net result
dance with Test Method D2090.
of this process may differ somewhat from a nonvolatile
4. Color
determination at a temperature higher than the normal drying
4.1 Most varnishes are predominantly yellow, but the color conditions.
8.2 With due regard to the composition of the varnish,
of the liquid varnish is only a preliminary indication of the
color of the dried varnish film. The initial color may bleach or determine the nonvolatile matter in accordance with either
Method A (3 h at 220°F (105°C)) or Method B (10 min at
may darken depending upon the conditions of exposure.
Determine approximately and quickly the liquid color of small 300°F (149°C)) of Test Methods D1644.
8.3 As noted in Test Method D2369, nonvolatile matter can
specimens in Gardner-Holdt tubes by comparison with the
Gardner Color Standards in accordance with Test Method also be calculated by subtracting the volatile content from 100.
D1544.
4.2 Measure the color of extremely pale varnishes by using 9. Flash Point
larger specimens in 100-mL cylinders, 300 mm deep, in
9.1 Determinetheflashpointofvarnisheshavingaviscosity
accordance with Test Method D1209.
of less than 9.5 cSt at 77°F (25°C) (45 SUS at 100°F) by Test
4.3 Amore precise measure of color, in terms of tristimulus
Method D56, and of varnishes having a viscosity of more than
values, may be made on small specimens in 10-mm cells with
9.5 cSt at 77°F by Test Methods D93. Alternatively, use Test
parallel walls in accordance with Practice E308.
Method D3278, which gives comparable results to Test Meth-
ods D56, D93, and Test Method D1310.
5. Viscosity
NOTE 1—Due to various U.S. Government and State regulations, it is
5.1 The viscosity of a varnish or clear vehicle is a property
now necessary to check with appropriate departments to determine which
important in ease of application; varnishes for brush applica-
ASTM Test Method is applicable.
tion are typically 1 to 2 St whereas varnishes with viscosities
as high as 100 St may sometimes be added to lithography
10. Skinning
coatings or used as mixing vehicles for producing enamels.
10.1 Varnishes, which dry by oxidation, may form a skin in
Viscosity is commonly measured at 77°F (25°C).
a partially filled can or in a filled can that is stored for a long
5.2 Fortherapid,approximatemeasurementoftheviscosity
time. Since skins are insoluble in the varnish, they must be
of transparent varnishes, determine the bubble time by Test
removed before use if a satisfactory film is to be obtained. Use
Method D1545. Report the viscosity either in stokes or in
thefollowingtesttodetermineifavarnishhasanobjectionable
Gardner-Holdt letter designations as described in Table 1 of
tendency to early skin formation:
Test Method D1545.
10.1.1 Container—A wide-mouth jar with a capacity of 8
5.3 F
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