ASTM D2134-19

Standard Test Method for Determining the Hardness of Organic Coatings with a Sward-Type Hardness Rocker

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 Sward-type hardness rocker instruments have been used by the coatings industry for more than a half a century as a nondestructive test instrument to measure cure and ultimate surface hardness of organic coatings (see Refs. (1) through (2)).4 This test method is useful within laboratories to quickly screen and measure the surface hardness of candidate coatings.
Note 1: In previous task group work designed to establish an ASTM method for measuring hardness of organic coatings with Sward-type hardness rocker instruments, round-robin test results continually showed poor interlaboratory reproducibility. This lack of interlaboratory agreement could have resulted from dimensional variations among instruments, with the contact rocker rings as the most likely offender in that regard. There are several producers of Sward-type hardness rockers making instruments that differ among themselves in net weight and ring radius. Some of them exceed the measurements and net weight called for in this test method.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the relative degree of surface hardness of organic coatings using a specific apparatus used in the coatings industry.  
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 test method does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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.  
1.4 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: 30-Nov-2019
• ICS: 25.220.60 - Organic coatings
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.23 - Physical Properties of Applied Paint Films

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D2134-93(2012) - Standard Test Method for Determining the Hardness of Organic Coatings with a Sward-Type Hardness Rocker
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2019
• Refers: ASTM D1005-95(2020) - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Dry-Film Thickness of Organic Coatings Using Micrometers
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2020
• Refers: ASTM D823-17 - Standard Practices for Producing Films of Uniform Thickness of Paint, Varnish, and Related Products on Test Panels
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• 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 E177-14 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-May-2014
• Refers: ASTM E177-13 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Refers: ASTM E691-13 - Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• Effective Date: 01-May-2013
• Refers: ASTM D823-95(2012) - Standard Practices for Producing Films of Uniform Thickness of Paint, Varnish, and Related Products on Test Panels
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2012
• Refers: ASTM E691-11 - Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2011
• 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 E177-10 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2010
• Refers: ASTM E177-08 - Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM E691-08 - Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Refers: ASTM D1005-95(2007) - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Dry-Film Thickness of Organic Coatings Using Micrometers
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2007
• Refers: ASTM D4138-07a - Standard Practices for Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Protective Coating Systems by Destructive, Cross-Sectioning Means
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2007

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: D2134 − 19
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Hardness of Organic Coatings with a
1
Sward-Type Hardness Rocker
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2134; 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.
3
1. Scope* Nonferrous Metal Base (Withdrawn 2006)
D3924 Specification for Standard Environment for Condi-
1.1 Thistestmethodcoversthedeterminationoftherelative
tioning and Testing Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related
degree of surface hardness of organic coatings using a specific
Materials
apparatus used in the coatings industry.
D4138 Practices for Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
Protective Coating Systems by Destructive, Cross-
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
Sectioning Means
only.
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
1.3 This test method does not purport to address all of the
ASTM Test Methods
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3. Significance and Use
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.1 Sward-type hardness rocker instruments have been used
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
by the coatings industry for more than a half a century as a
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
nondestructive test instrument to measure cure and ultimate
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
surface hardness of organic coatings (see Refs. (1) through
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical 4
(2)). This test method is useful within laboratories to quickly
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
screen and measure the surface hardness of candidate coatings.
NOTE 1—In previous task group work designed to establish an ASTM
2. Referenced Documents
method for measuring hardness of organic coatings with Sward-type
2 hardness rocker instruments, round-robin test results continually showed
2.1 ASTM Standards:
poor interlaboratory reproducibility. This lack of interlaboratory agree-
D823 Practices for Producing Films of Uniform Thickness
ment could have resulted from dimensional variations among instruments,
of Paint, Coatings and Related Products on Test Panels
with the contact rocker rings as the most likely offender in that regard.
D1005 Test Method for Measurement of Dry-Film Thick- There are several producers of Sward-type hardness rockers making
instruments that differ among themselves in net weight and ring radius.
ness of Organic Coatings Using Micrometers
Some of them exceed the measurements and net weight called for in this
D1186 Test Methods for Nondestructive Measurement of
test method.
Dry Film Thickness of Nonmagnetic Coatings Applied to
3
a Ferrous Base (Withdrawn 2006)
4. Apparatus
D1400 TestMethodforNondestructiveMeasurementofDry
4.1 Hardness Tester—The hardness tester shall consist of
Film Thickness of Nonconductive Coatings Applied to a
two flat, chromium-plated bronze rings with uniformly round
outside edges. These rings are separated and held in position
with a weighted lower member and three horizontal light-
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint
weight spacer bars with the topmost one supporting a weight
and Related Coatings, Materials, andApplications and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D01.23 on Physical Properties of Applied Paint Films.
adjustable in height. A rack across the center section supports
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2019. Published January 2020. Originally
two bubble tube-type levels that are used to measure the
approved in 1962. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D2134 – 93 (2012).
amplitude of the oscillations of the hardness tester. The rate of
DOI: 10.1520/D2134-19.
2
change in amplitude is used as a measure of hardness or
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.
3 4
The last approved version of this historical standard i
...

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: D2134 − 93 (Reapproved 2012) D2134 − 19
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Hardness of Organic Coatings with a
1
Sward-Type Hardness Rocker
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2134; 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 Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the relative degree of surface hardness of organic coatings using a specific
apparatus widely used in the coatings industry.
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 test method does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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.
1.4 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:
D823 Practices for Producing Films of Uniform Thickness of Paint, Coatings and Related Products on Test Panels
D1005 Test Method for Measurement of Dry-Film Thickness of Organic Coatings Using Micrometers
D1186 Test Methods for Nondestructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Nonmagnetic Coatings Applied to a Ferrous
3
Base (Withdrawn 2006)
D1400 Test Method for Nondestructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Nonconductive Coatings Applied to a
3
Nonferrous Metal Base (Withdrawn 2006)
D3924 Specification for Standard Environment for Conditioning and Testing Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related Materials
D4138 Practices for Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Protective Coating Systems by Destructive, Cross-Sectioning
Means
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
3. Significance and Use
3.1 Sward-type hardness rocker instruments have been used by the coatings industry for more than a half a century as a
4
nondestructive test instrument to measure cure and ultimate surface hardness of organic coatings (see Refs. (1) through (2)). An
accepted standard test method for the use of such an instrument is long overdue.This test method is useful within laboratories to
quickly screen and measure the surface hardness of candidate coatings.
3.2 In previous task group work designed to establish an ASTM method for measuring hardness of organic coatings with
Sward-type hardness rocker instruments, round-robin test results continually showed poor interlaboratory reproducibility. This lack
of interlaboratory agreement could have resulted from dimensional variations among instruments, with the contact rocker rings as
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 D01.23 on Physical Properties of Applied Paint Films.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2012Dec. 1, 2019. Published November 2012January 2020. Originally approved in 1962. Last previous edition approved in 20072012
as D2134 – 93 (2007).(2012). DOI: 10.1520/D2134-93R12.10.1520/D2134-19.
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’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
4
Boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of this test method.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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D2134 − 19
the most likely offender in that regard. There are several producers of Sward-type hardness rockers making instruments that
...