ASTM D4955-89(1997)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Field Evaluation of Automotive Polish
Standard Practice for Field Evaluation of Automotive Polish
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the evaluation of the performance properties of automotive polishes. This practice is applicable to products that are commonly referred to as car/auto wax, cleaner wax, polish, and the like. This practice is limited to a comparison among test polishes, with a standard polish, or both, under the conditions of the individual test. The comparative results are indicative of absolute performance only insofar as the test conditions are representative of all normal application and use conditions.
1.2 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
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Standards Content (Sample)
Designation: D 4955 – 89 (Reapproved 1997)
Standard Practice for
1
Field Evaluation of Automotive Polish
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4955; 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 4. Apparatus and Materials
1.1 This practice covers the evaluation of the performance 4.1 Sample of Polish to be tested.
properties of automotive polishes. This practice is applicable to 4.2 Sample of Control Polish—A control polish should be
products that are commonly referred to as car/auto wax, selected for comparison to the test polish. It should be
cleaner wax, polish, and the like. This practice is limited to a recognized that automotive polishes are formulated to perform
comparison among test polishes, with a standard polish, or different functions. The control polish should be selected with
both, under the conditions of the individual test. The compara- a clear justification in mind, such as, test and control polish
tive results are indicative of absolute performance only insofar should be designed for same function (high durability, ease of
as the test conditions are representative of all normal applica- application, or other performance features). These factors
tion and use conditions. should be taken into account when interpreting results and
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the choosing the control polish. All results are reported with the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the clearly identified control comparison.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.3 Test Substrate—Since this test is designed to test auto-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- motive polish performance under natural and normally occur-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. ring environmental conditions, the substrate chosen shall be
one for which the test polish was intended on a vehicle which
2. Terminology
can be subjected to the chosen environmental conditions in a
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: manner meeting these criteria. The test surface shall be in good
2.1.1 automotive polish—substance which aids in cleaning
physical condition, not badly cracked, scratched, or otherwise
and improving the appearance of automotive finishes. damaged so as to interfere with evaluation of polish properties.
The test surface for each sample is intended to be one half of
3. Significance and Use
the surface area of the vehicle to be polished. In no case should
2
3.1 This practice is intended to define the range of proper-
the area polished for each product be less than 1290 cm (200
2
ties to be tested, the apparatus to be used, and the comparisons
in. ). The surface is divided as described later in the method.
of automotive polish performance to be made. Since condi-
(Procedures evaluating more than two polishes per vehicle may
tions, products, and apparatus vary, considerable discretion
be done as a screening technique; however, results are not
must exist among formulators and marketers in these areas and
sufficiently reproducible to be covered by this method.)
on what properties or performance characteristics are most
NOTE 1—New vehicle paints (paints with service life less than one
significant for their products. This practice is intended to be
year) give properties such as, water beading and high gloss, very similar
flexible enough to honor this fact within the description of
to those being evaluated for the polish. Therefore, evaluation of appear-
automotive polish in Section 2.
ance and durability due to the polish formulation are minimized. Some
3.2 The test methods are subjective and empirical in order to paint types, such as metallic paints, may also give atypical results.
conform to the basic characteristics of the class of products and
4.4 Polishing Cloth—The same type and size of polishing
to allow flexibility in testing. This also conforms to typical
cloth shall be used with each sample tested. Separate cloths
consumer experience.
shall be used for each sample. Materials such as washed
3.3 The practice also allows for flexibility in choice of
cheesecloth, rumple cloth, flannel, cotton diaper cloth, and
environmental characteristics under which the durability test-
nonwoven fabrics are suitable for this purpose. Felt or paper
ing is done. This allows discretion to be exercised by those
shall not be used.
testing the products in order to provide greatest significance for
4.5 Automobile Washing Product—The formula given be-
the products being tested as they are intended for various
low is a mild anionic surfactant-based solution sufficient to
marketplace needs.
remove surface soils while having a minimum detrimental
effect on polish properties. When pro
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