ASTM D154-85(1996)

Standard Guide for Testing Varnishes

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
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.33 - Polymers and Resins

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D154-85(2001) - Standard Guide for Testing Varnishes
• Effective Date: 31-May-1985
• Referred By: ASTM D2205-20 - Standard Guide for Selection of Tests for Traffic Paints
• Effective Date: 31-May-1985
• 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

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 154 – 85 (Reapproved 1996)
Standard Guide for
Testing Varnishes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 154; 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 D 1310 Test Method for Flash Point and Fire Point of
Liquids by Tag Open-Cup Apparatus
1.1 This guide covers the selection and use of procedures
D 1469 Test Method for Total Rosin Acids Content of
for testing varnishes. Some test methods are included, but most
Coating Vehicles
sections refer to specific ASTM test methods.
D 1475 Test Method for Density of Paint, Varnish, Lacquer,
1.2 Varnishes may be applied under such diverse conditions
and Related Products
to so many different surfaces and their dried films may be
D 1542 Test Method for Qualitative Detection of Rosin in
subjected to so many kinds of wear and exposure, that it is not
Varnishes
possible to assure desired performance from a single selection
D 1544 Test Method for Color of Transparent Liquids
of test methods and numerical results. Those skilled in varnish
(Gardner Color Scale)
technology may find partial assurance of obtaining desired
D 1545 Test Method for Viscosity of Transparent Liquids
qualities in various types of varnishes through careful selection
by Bubble Time Method
of the methods covered and intelligent interpretation of results.
D 1546 Test Method for Performance Tests of Clear Floor
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Sealers
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D 1639 Test Method for Acid Value of Organic Coating
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Materials
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
D 1640 Test Methods for Drying, Curing, or Film Forma-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tion of Organic Coatings at Room Temperature
2. Referenced Documents
D 1641 Test Method for Exterior Durability of Varnishes
D 1644 Test Methods for Nonvolatile Content of Varnishes
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 1647 Test Method for Resistance of Dried Films of
D 56 Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Tester
Varnishes to Water and Alkali
D 93 Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens
D 1729 Practice for Visual Evaluation of Color Differences
Closed Cup Tester
of Opaque Materials
D 445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent
D 2090 Test Method for Clarity and Cleanness of Paint and
and Opaque Liquids (and the Calculation of Dynamic
Ink Liquids
Viscosity)
D 2244 Test Method for Calculation of Color Differences
D 479 Test Method for Reactivity of Paint Liquids
from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates
D 523 Test Method for Specular Gloss
D 2369 Test Method for Volatile Content of Coatings
D 658 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic
D 2805 Test Method for Hiding Power of Paints by Reflec-
Coatings by Air Blast Abrasive
tometry
D 968 Test Methods for Abrasion Resistance of Organic
D 3278 Test Method for Flash Point of Liquids by Small
Coatings by Falling Abrasive
Scale Closed Cup Apparatus
D 1200 Test Method for Viscosity by Ford Viscosity Cup
D 3964 Practice for Selection of Coating Specimens for
D 1209 Test Method for Color of Clear Liquids (Platinum-
Appearance Measurements
Cobalt Scale)
D 4039 Test Method for Reflection Haze of High-Gloss
Surfaces
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-1 on Paint and
D 4060 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic
Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
Coatings by the Taber Abraser
Subcommittee D01.33 on Polymers and Resins.
Current edition approved May 31, 1985. Published July 1985. Originally
published as D 154 – 23. Last previous edition D 154 – 76.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.01.
Discontinued; see 1983 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01.
4 6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.03.
5 7
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.04. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.02.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 154
TABLE 1 List of Test Methods
E 308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by
Using the CIE System ASTM
Test Method Section
Designation
LIQUID VARNISH PROPERTIES
Liquid Varnish Properties:
Appearance 3 D 2090
Color (Gardner) 4.1 D 1544
3. Appearance
Color, Platinum-Cobalt Scale 4.2 D 1209
3.1 Appearance of the liquid varnish is important both for
Color, tristimulus 4.3 E 308
Viscosity: 5
aesthetic reasons and because it indicates whether the dried
Bubble time (Gardner-Holdt) 5.2 D 1545
film is likely to have a satisfactory appearance. Examine the
Ford cup efflux 5.3 D 1200
liquid varnish for foreign matter, sediment or skins in accor-
Kinematic, high precision 5.4 D 445
Specific gravity 6 D 1475
dance with Test Method D 2090.
Volatile content 7 D 2369
Nonvolatile matter 8 D 1644
4. Color
Flash point: 9
Tag closed-cup D 56
4.1 Most varnishes are predominantly yellow, but the color
Pensky Martens D 93
of the liquid varnish is only a preliminary indication of the
Tag open-cup D 1310
color of the dried varnish film. The initial color may bleach or Setaflash closed tester D 3278
Skinning 10
may darken depending upon the conditions of exposure.
Acid value 11 D 1639
Determine approximately and quickly the liquid color of small
Reactivity of paint liquids 12 D 479
specimens in Gardner-Holdt tubes by comparison with the Rosin content, quantitative 13 D 1469
Rosin content, qualitative (Lieber-
Gardner Color Standards in accordance with Test Method
man-Storch and Halphen-Hicks) 13 D 1542
D 1544.
4.2 Measure the color of extremely pale varnishes by using Drying and Curing Properties:
Drying time 14 D 1640
larger specimens in 100-mL cylinders, 300 mm deep, in
Print free time 15 D 1640
accordance with Test Method D 1209.
4.3 A more precise measure of color, in terms of tristimulus Dry Varnish Properties:
Gloss: 16
values, may be made on small specimens in 10-mm cells with
Specular gloss D 523
parallel walls in accordance with Practice E 308.
Reflective haze D 4039
Resistance of dried films to water
and alkali 17 D 1647
5. Viscosity
Abrasion resistance:
5.1 The viscosity of a varnish or clear vehicle is a property
Carborundum air blast 18
Falling abrasive D 658
important in ease of application; varnishes for brush applica-
Taber abraser D 968
tion are typically 1 to 2 St whereas varnishes with viscosities
Exterior durability D 4060
as high as 100 St may sometimes be added to lithography
Color of dried film 19 D 1641
20.1 D 2244
coatings or used as mixing vehicles for producing enamels.
20.2 D 1729
Viscosity is commonly measured at 77°F (25°C).
5.2 For the rapid, approximate measurement of the viscosity
Clear floor sealers 21 D 1546
of transparent varnishes, determine the bubble time by Test
Method D 1545. Report the viscosity either in stokes or in
Gardner-Holdt letter designations as described in Table 1 of
upon the method of application, the time required to vaporize
Test Method D 1545.
the volatile, and the conditions of the atmosphere surrounding
5.3 For a rapid, approximate measurement of the viscosity
the application, it is recommended that Test Method D 2369 be
of translucent varnishes, determine the Ford cup efflux time in
used to determine the volatile content of a varnish.
accordance with Test Method D 1200.
5.4 For the precise measurement of viscosity, use capillary
8. Nonvolatile Matter
viscometers as described in Test Method D 445.
8.1 Nonvolatile content is an indication of the amount of
6. Specific Gravity
permanent film-forming material contained in a varnish. The
6.1 Specific gravity of a varnish is the ratio of the weight of normal drying of a varnish film may involve varying amounts
a given volume of the varnish at a given temperature to the of absorption of oxygen from the air, loss of volatile solvents,
weight of an equal volume of distilled water at the same and continuing decomposition of the dried film. The net result
temperature. Determine specific gravity or density at 77°F of this process may differ somewhat from a nonvolatile
(25°C) or other agreed temperature in accordance with Test determination at a temperature higher than the normal drying
Method D 1475 which allows use of either a pycnometer or a conditions.
weight per gallon cup. 8.2 With due regard to the composition of the varnish,
determine the nonvolatile matter in accordance
...