ASTM D4955-89(2016)

Standard Practice for Field Evaluation of Automotive Polish

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This practice is intended to define the range of properties to be tested, the apparatus to be used, and the comparisons of automotive polish performance to be made. Since conditions, products, and apparatus vary, considerable discretion must exist among formulators and marketers in these areas and on what properties or performance characteristics are most significant for their products. This practice is intended to be flexible enough to honor this fact within the description of automotive polish in Section 2.  
3.2 The test methods are subjective and empirical in order to conform to the basic characteristics of the class of products and to allow flexibility in testing. This also conforms to typical consumer experience.  
3.3 The practice also allows for flexibility in choice of environmental characteristics under which the durability testing is done. This allows discretion to be exercised by those testing the products in order to provide greatest significance for the products being tested as they are intended for various marketplace needs.
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

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2016
• ICS: 71.100.99 - Other products of the chemical industry
• Technical Committee: D21 - Polishes
• Drafting Committee: D21.04 - Performance Tests

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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: D4955 − 89 (Reapproved 2016)
Standard Practice for
1
Field Evaluation of Automotive Polish
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4955; 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 3.2 Thetestmethodsaresubjectiveandempiricalinorderto
conformtothebasiccharacteristicsoftheclassofproductsand
1.1 This practice covers the evaluation of the performance
to allow flexibility in testing. This also conforms to typical
propertiesofautomotivepolishes.Thispracticeisapplicableto
consumer experience.
products that are commonly referred to as car/auto wax,
cleaner wax, polish, and the like. This practice is limited to a 3.3 The practice also allows for flexibility in choice of
comparison among test polishes, with a standard polish, or
environmental characteristics under which the durability test-
both, under the conditions of the individual test. The compara- ing is done. This allows discretion to be exercised by those
tive results are indicative of absolute performance only insofar
testingtheproductsinordertoprovidegreatestsignificancefor
as the test conditions are representative of all normal applica- the products being tested as they are intended for various
tion and use conditions.
marketplace needs.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4. Apparatus and Materials
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.1 Sample of Polish to be tested.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.2 Sample of Control Polish—A control polish should be
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
selected for comparison to the test polish. It should be
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
recognized that automotive polishes are formulated to perform
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
different functions. The control polish should be selected with
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
a clear justification in mind, such as, test and control polish
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
should be designed for same function (high durability, ease of
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
application, or other performance features). These factors
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
should be taken into account when interpreting results and
choosing the control polish. All results are reported with the
2. Terminology
clearly identified control comparison.
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
4.3 Test Substrate—Since this test is designed to test auto-
2.1.1 automotive polish—substance which aids in cleaning
motive polish performance under natural and normally occur-
and improving the appearance of automotive finishes.
ring environmental conditions, the substrate chosen shall be
one for which the test polish was intended on a vehicle which
3. Significance and Use
can be subjected to the chosen environmental conditions in a
3.1 This practice is intended to define the range of proper-
manner meeting these criteria.The test surface shall be in good
ties to be tested, the apparatus to be used, and the comparisons
physical condition, not badly cracked, scratched, or otherwise
of automotive polish performance to be made. Since
damaged so as to interfere with evaluation of polish properties.
conditions, products, and apparatus vary, considerable discre-
The test surface for each sample is intended to be one half of
tion must exist among formulators and marketers in these areas
the surface area of the vehicle to be polished. In no case should
and on what properties or performance characteristics are most 2
the area polished for each product be less than 1290 cm (200
significant for their products. This practice is intended to be
2
in. ). The surface is divided as described later in the method.
flexible enough to honor this fact within the description of
(Proceduresevaluatingmorethantwopolishespervehiclemay
automotive polish in Section 2.
be done as a screening technique; however, results are not
sufficiently reproducible to be covered by this method.)
1 NOTE1—Newvehiclepaints(paintswithservicelifelessthanoneyear)
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D21 on Polishes
givepropertiessuchas,waterbeadingandhighgloss,verysimilartothose
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D21.04 on Performance Tests.
being evaluated for the polish. Therefore, evaluation of appearance and
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2016. Published October 2016. Originally
approv
...

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: D4955 − 89 (Reapproved 2008) D4955 − 89 (Reapproved 2016)
Standard Practice for
1
Field Evaluation of Automotive Polish
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4955; 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
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.
2. Terminology
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2.1.1 automotive polish—substance which aids in cleaning and improving the appearance of automotive finishes.
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This practice is intended to define the range of properties to be tested, the apparatus to be used, and the comparisons of
automotive polish performance to be made. Since conditions, products, and apparatus vary, considerable discretion must exist
among formulators and marketers in these areas and on what properties or performance characteristics are most significant for their
products. This practice is intended to be flexible enough to honor this fact within the description of automotive polish in Section
2.
3.2 The test methods are subjective and empirical in order to conform to the basic characteristics of the class of products and
to allow flexibility in testing. This also conforms to typical consumer experience.
3.3 The practice also allows for flexibility in choice of environmental characteristics under which the durability testing is done.
This allows discretion to be exercised by those testing the products in order to provide greatest significance for the products being
tested as they are intended for various marketplace needs.
4. Apparatus and Materials
4.1 Sample of Polish to be tested.
4.2 Sample of Control Polish—A control polish should be selected for comparison to the test polish. It should be recognized
that automotive polishes are formulated to perform different functions. The control polish should be selected with a clear
justification in mind, such as, test and control polish should be designed for same function (high durability, ease of application,
or other performance features). These factors should be taken into account when interpreting results and choosing the control
polish. All results are reported with the clearly identified control comparison.
4.3 Test Substrate—Since this test is designed to test automotive polish performance under natural and normally occurring
environmental conditions, the substrate chosen shall be one for which the test polish was intended on a vehicle which can be
subjected to the chosen environmental conditions in a manner meeting these criteria. The test surface shall be in good physical
condition, not badly cracked, scratched, or otherwise damaged so as to interfere with evaluation of polish properties. The test
surface for each sample is intended to be one half of the surface area of the vehicle to be polished. In no case should the area
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D21 on Polishes and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D21.04 on Performance Tests.
Current edition approved March 1, 2008Oct. 1, 2016. Published April 2008October 2016. Originally approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 20022008 as
D4955D4955 – 89 (2008). - 89(2002). DOI: 10.1520/D4955-89R08.10.1520/D4955-89R16.
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D4955 − 89 (2016)
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polished for each product be less than 1290 cm (200 in. ). The surface is divided as described later in the method. (Procedures
e
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