ASTM D5068-04(2019)

Standard Practice for Preparation of Paint Brushes for Evaluation

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Until the paint brush is fully conditioned and wetted with paint, only part of the paint loaded onto the brush can be transferred to the surface being painted. By properly preparing the brush before use, the amount of paint delivered to the surface can be made more uniform and reflect real use.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes the preparation of paint brushes for evaluation.  
1.2 This practice is applicable to paint brushes 50 to 100 mm (2 to 4 in.) in width.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
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: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2019
• ICS: 87.100 - Paint coating equipment
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.61 - Paint Application Tools

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D5068-04(2013) - Standard Practice for Preparation of Paint Brushes for Evaluation
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Refers: ASTM D5301-92(2024) - Standard Practice for Physical Characterization of Paint Brushes
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2024
• Refers: ASTM D5301-92(2016) - Standard Practice for Physical Characterization of Paint Brushes
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2016
• Refers: ASTM D3924-16 - Standard Specification for Standard Environment for Conditioning and Testing Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• Refers: ASTM D5301-92(2012) - Standard Practice for Physical Characterization of Paint Brushes
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2012
• Refers: ASTM D3924-80(2011) - Standard Specification for Standard Environment for Conditioning and Testing Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011
• Refers: ASTM D5301-92(2008) - Standard Practice for Physical Characterization of Paint Brushes
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2008
• Refers: ASTM D3924-80(2005) - Standard Specification for Standard Environment for Conditioning and Testing Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Refers: ASTM D3924-80(1996) - Standard Specification for Standard Environment for Conditioning and Testing Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-1996
• Refers: ASTM D5301-92(2002) - Standard Practice for Physical Characterization of Paint Brushes
• Effective Date: 15-Oct-1992
• Referred By: ASTM D7801-17 - Standard Terminology for Paint Brush Application Tools
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Referred By: ASTM D4958-10(2016) - Standard Test Method for Comparison of the Brush Drag of Latex Paints
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Referred By: ASTM D7072-04(2019) - Standard Practice for Evaluating Accelerated Efflorescence of Latex Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Referred By: ASTM D5146-10(2019) - Standard Guide to Testing Solvent-Borne Architectural Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Referred By: ASTM D7488-11(2016) - Standard Test Method for Open Time of Latex Paints
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019

Overview

ASTM D5068-04(2019): Standard Practice for Preparation of Paint Brushes for Evaluation provides essential guidelines for conditioning and preparing paint brushes prior to performance testing. Developed by ASTM International, this standard practice ensures that brushes are evaluated under consistent, realistic conditions that reflect actual use. By standardizing brush preparation, ASTM D5068-04(2019) enables more accurate and repeatable measurements of paint pick-up and transfer, ultimately improving the comparison of brushes and coatings in laboratory settings.

This standard applies specifically to paint brushes ranging from 50 mm to 100 mm (2 to 4 inches) in width. Its procedures help minimize variability in paint application results, which is critical for both manufacturers and testing laboratories concerned with quality control, product development, and comparative brush performance analysis.

Key Topics

• Brush Conditioning: Procedures to ensure that the paint brush is thoroughly wetted and adequately prepared before evaluations, promoting uniform paint delivery.
• Test Environment: Requirements to control temperature and humidity during testing, ensuring that environmental factors do not impact brush or paint performance.
• Measurement Protocols: Guidelines for accurate measurement of brush weight before and after loading with paint and after paint application to determine pick-up and discharge.
• Uniform Application Techniques: Consistent methods for dipping, draining, and applying paint to brush-out panels to standardize results.
• Break-In Procedures: Repeated paint loading and application cycles until the brush is considered “conditioned,” typically when paint pick-up stabilizes to within defined thresholds.
• Safety and Compliance: User responsibility for adhering to local safety, health, and environmental regulations.

Applications

ASTM D5068-04(2019) is widely used in the following contexts:

• Quality Control Laboratories: Standardizing brush preparation for repeatable comparisons of paint transfer performance and efficiency.
• Product Development: Assisting manufacturers in evaluating new paint brush designs or coatings under consistent, real-world conditions.
• Comparative Testing: Enabling fair, reproducible assessments between different paint brushes or coatings using standardized preparation techniques.
• Research and Standards Compliance: Providing a methodology adopted by industry and referenced in related standards, supporting regulatory and trade requirements.

By following ASTM D5068-04(2019), organizations can ensure that paint brush evaluations accurately reflect end-user experiences, helping to drive continuous improvement in both brush and coating technologies.

Related Standards

For comprehensive brush and coating evaluation, ASTM D5068-04(2019) references and complements several related ASTM standards, including:

• ASTM D5301 – Practice for Physical Characterization of Paint Brushes: Offers methods for assessing the physical properties of paint brushes relevant to their performance.
• ASTM D3924 (Withdrawn 2016) – Standard for Conditioning and Testing of Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related Materials: Provided specifications for standard testing environments, which are still relevant for maintaining controlled conditions during brush evaluations.

Additional international standards may also be relevant for laboratories involved in paint and coating testing to ensure compliance with regulations and best practices.

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Keywords: ASTM D5068-04, paint brush evaluation, paint brush preparation, brush conditioning, laboratory testing, paint transfer efficiency, standardized testing procedures, quality control, paint and coating standards.

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: D5068 − 04 (Reapproved 2019)
Standard Practice for
Preparation of Paint Brushes for Evaluation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5068; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Significance and Use
1.1 This practice describes the preparation of paint brushes 4.1 Until the paint brush is fully conditioned and wetted
for evaluation. with paint, only part of the paint loaded onto the brush can be
transferred to the surface being painted. By properly preparing
1.2 This practice is applicable to paint brushes 50 to 100
the brush before use, the amount of paint delivered to the
mm (2 to 4 in.) in width.
surface can be made more uniform and reflect real use.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information 5. Apparatus
only.
5.1 Container, to hold paint, for example, a quart can.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.2 Test Brush, 50 to 100 mm (2 to 4 in.) in width.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5.3 Balance, to weigh brush to the nearest 0.1 gram.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
6. Materials
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
6.1 Test Paint.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
6.2 Brush-Out Panels, or other typical panels to be used.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
6.3 Masking Tape, to secure the panel to a flat surface.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
7. Procedure
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
7.1 All tests are to be conducted in an atmosphere having a
temperature of 23 6 2°C (73.5 6 3.5°F) and a relative
2. Referenced Documents
humidity of 50 6 5% (see Specification D3924).
2.1 ASTM Standards:
7.2 Record weight of the test brush before loading (W1)
D3924Specification for Standard Environment for Condi-
using the example format as a guide (see Table 1). Place brush
tioning and Testing Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related
out panel on scale and tare.
Materials (Withdrawn 2016)
D5301 Practice for Physical Characterization of Paint
7.3 Dip the brush into the specified paint to one-half the
Brushes
length of the filament.
3. Summary of Practice NOTE 1—It is very important to assure that the depth that the brush
filamentsaredippedintothepaintisconsistentfrombrushouttobrushout.
3.1 Using a paint chosen for the evaluation, the brush to be
Toaidindeterminingthedepthtodipthefilaments,atonguedepressoror
tested is repeatedly loaded with paint and brushed over a
other guide for the specified length can be taped to the brush ferrule.
specified area in a specified application time.
7.4 Hold the brush at the specified depth in the paint for
10 s. Remove and hold the brush vertically for 30 s allowing
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint and
any excess paint to drain back into the paint can.
Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
7.5 Secure the brush-out panel with masking tape to a flat,
Subcommittee D01.61 on Paint Application Tools.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2019. Published October 2019. Originally
smooth, horizontal surface.
approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D5068–04 (2013).
7.6 After the drain period, immediately place brush on a
DOI: 10.1520/D5068-04R19.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
tared brush-out panel and weigh. Record the brush weight
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. Any smooth type panel can be used. A Leneta 8H-BW Chart, available from
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on TheLenetaCo.,15WhitneyRoad,Mahaw,N.J.07430hasbeenusedinroundrobin
www.astm.org. testing for this purpose.
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