ASTM D3964-04

Standard Practice for Selection of Coating Specimens for Appearance Measurements

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Many of the specimens that are regularly submitted to measurement depart in some degree from the ideal requirements. For this reason instrumental readings are affected importantly by the manner in which specimens are selected and presented for measurement. Reproducible measurements are facilitated by standardization and control of test conditions.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides a guide to selection of specimens for appearance measurement as well as a discussion of factors to be considered in their preparation for measurement. Standardized selection and presentation procedures will assist in achieving agreement between evaluations carried out in different laboratories as well as helping to achieve better correlations between visual evaluations and instrumental measurements.
Note 1—This standard is not a practice for preparation of test panels of coatings; see Practices D 823.
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-Jun-2004
• ICS: 87.040 - Paints and varnishes
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.26 - Optical Properties

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D3964-80(1998) - Standard Practice for Selection of Coating Specimens for Appearance Measurements
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Replaced By: ASTM D3964-10 - Standard Practice for Selection of Coating Specimens for Appearance Measurements
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D3134-15(2019) - Standard Practice for Establishing Color and Gloss Tolerances
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D7195-21 - Standard Guide for Setting Object Color Specifications
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D4039-09(2023) - Standard Test Method for Reflection Haze of High-Gloss Surfaces
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D4449-15(2021) - Standard Test Method for Visual Evaluation of Gloss Differences Between Surfaces of Similar Appearance
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D5767-18 - Standard Test Method for Instrumental Measurement of Distinctness-of-Image (DOI) Gloss of Coated Surfaces
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D523-14(2018) - Standard Test Method for Specular Gloss
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004
• Referred By: ASTM D8163-18(2023) - Standard Test Method for Determination of Strength of Colorants and Bases for Architectural, Marine, Maintenance, Commercial, and Industrial Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2004

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:D3964–04
Standard Practice for
Selection of Coating Specimens for Appearance
1
Measurements
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3964; 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 presented for measurement. Reproducible measurements are
facilitated by standardization and control of test conditions.
1.1 This practice provides a guide to selection of specimens
for appearance measurement as well as a discussion of factors
5. General Requirements
to be considered in their preparation for measurement. Stan-
5.1 Selection—In making appearance measurements it is
dardized selection and presentation procedures will assist in
important that the specimens selected be representative of the
achieving agreement between evaluations carried out in differ-
material of interest. Once selected, the specimens must be
entlaboratoriesaswellashelpingtoachievebettercorrelations
carefully examined to determine if they are suitable for
between visual evaluations and instrumental measurements.
measurement, and if not, they must be cleaned or otherwise
NOTE 1—This standard is not a practice for preparation of test panels of
prepared. Careful attention to these factors is necessary if the
coatings; see Practices D823.
measurements are to be valid.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.2 Specimen Size—The minimum size is dictated by the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
size of the specimen port of the instrument to be used for
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
measurement. When an instrument provides a choice of speci-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
men port sizes, use the largest port that can be completely
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
covered by the specimen. A large measured area helps to
minimize the effect of any small area nonuniformity and is
2. Referenced Documents
therefore more likely to provide results that agree with the
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
involuntary averaging that takes place when specimens are
D823 Practices for Producing Films of Uniform Thickness
observed visually. In addition, a large specimen also permits
of Paint, Varnish, and Related Products on Test Panels
the operator to make measurements on several areas of the
E284 Terminology of Appearance
specimen when desired, thereby providing further specimen
averaging.
3. Terminology
5.3 Opacity—Fordeterminationofglossorcolor,anopaque
3.1 Definitions:
specimen shall be selected whenever possible. When the
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to
specimen is translucent or transparent, the following practices
Terminology E284.
shall be implemented:
5.3.1 For Gloss Evaluation—The specimen shall preferably
4. Significance and Use
be sufficiently thick that a secondary reflection from the back
4.1 Many of the specimens that are regularly submitted to
or second surface of the specimen cannot enter the receptor
measurement depart in some degree from the ideal require-
optics of the glossmeter. When thin transparent specimens
ments. For this reason instrumental readings are affected
must be measured, adopt one of the following procedures:
importantlybythemannerinwhichspecimensareselectedand
5.3.1.1 Back the specimen with a light-absorbing material
of the same refractive index as the specimen, and in optical
1 contact with it.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint and
5.3.1.2 Use an agreed-upon specimen thickness, including
Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D01.26 on Optical Properties.
coating and substrate, and place a black backing behind the
Current edition approved July 1, 2004. Published July 2004. Originally approved
specimen.
in 1980. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D3964 – 80 (1998). DOI:
5.3.2 For Color Evaluation—Thechoiceofbackingofeven
10.1520/D3964-04.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or slightly translucent specimens will affect their measurement.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Use the most applicable of the backing techniques that follow.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
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D3964–04
In each case it is essential that the backing material and color instrume
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