EN ISO 3251:2019

• Abstract:

  This document specifies a method for determining the non-volatile-matter content by mass of paints, varnishes, binders for paints and varnishes, polymer dispersions and condensation resins such as phenolic resins (resols, novolak solutions etc.).; The method is also applicable to formulated dispersions containing fillers, pigments and other auxiliaries (e.g. thickeners, film-forming agents).; NOTE 1 The non-volatile-matter content of a product is not an absolute quantity but depends upon the temperature and period of heating used for the determination. Consequently, when using this method, only relative and not true values for non-volatile-matter content are obtained owing to solvent retention, thermal decomposition and evaporation of low molecular mass constituents. The method is therefore primarily intended for testing different batches of the same type of product.; NOTE 2 This method is suitable for synthetic rubber lattices, provided heating for a specific period of time is considered appropriate (ISO 124 specifies heating until the loss in mass of a 2 g test portion following successive periods of heating is less than 0,5 mg).; NOTE 3 In-house methods for determining non-volatile matter often include drying with infrared or microwave radiation. Standardization of such methods is not possible, since they are not generally applicable. Several polymer compositions tend to decompose during such treatment and therefore give incorrect results.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 11-Jun-2019
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Dec-2019
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• ICS: 87.040 - Paints and varnishes
• ICS: 87.060.20 - Binders
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 139 - Paints and varnishes
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 139 - Paints and varnishes
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 12-Jun-2019
• Completion Date: 12-Jun-2019
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 3251:2019 - Paints, varnishes and plastics - Determination of non-volatile-matter content (ISO 3251:2019)

• Replaces: EN ISO 3251:2008 - Paints, varnishes and plastics - Determination of non-volatile-matter content (ISO 3251:2008)
• Effective Date: 08-Jun-2022
• Refers: ISO 123:2001 - Rubber latex — Sampling
• Effective Date: 25-Aug-2026
• Refers: ISO 124:2014 - Latex, rubber — Determination of total solids content
• Effective Date: 25-Aug-2026
• Refers: ISO 15528:2013 - Paints, varnishes and raw materials for paints and varnishes — Sampling
• Effective Date: 09-Feb-2026
• Refers: ISO 1513:2010 - Paints and varnishes — Examination and preparation of test samples
• Effective Date: 09-Feb-2026
• Refers: ISO 4618:2014 - Paints and varnishes — Terms and definitions
• Effective Date: 09-Feb-2026
• Refers: EN ISO 21301-2:2019 - Plastics - Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVAC) moulding and extrusion materials - Part 2: Preparation of test specimens and determination of properties (ISO 21301-2:2019)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 4476:2011 - Aerospace series - Paints and varnishes - Cold curing intermediate coat
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 4687:2021 - Aerospace series - Paints and varnishes - Chromate free (non corrosion inhibiting) two-components room temperature curing primer - Chromate free primer for military application
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 4595:2013 - Aerospace series - Paints and varnishes - Two component cold curing polyurethane finish - Subsonic erosion resistance
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 1504-5:2004 - Products and systems for the protection and repair of concrete structures - Definitions, requirements, quality control and evaluation of conformity - Part 5: Concrete injection
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 16245-2:2013 - Fibre-reinforced plastic composites - Declaration of raw material characteristics - Part 2: Specific requirements for resin, curing systems, additives and modifiers
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 13498:2002 - Thermal insulation products for building applications - Determination of the resistance to penetration of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 4687:2012 - Aerospace series - Paints and varnishes - Chromate free non corrosion inhibiting two components cold curing primer for military application
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN 3840:2007 - Aerospace series - Paints and varnishes - Technical specification
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026

Overview

EN ISO 3251:2019 - Paints, varnishes and plastics: Determination of non-volatile-matter content (ISO 3251:2019) is a standardized gravimetric test method published by CEN/ISO for measuring the non-volatile-matter content (by mass) of paints, varnishes, binders, polymer dispersions and condensation resins. The standard defines apparatus, sampling, heating and weighing procedures to obtain comparable non-volatile matter / solids content results for quality control and batch comparison.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and limitations: Applies to paints, varnishes, polymer dispersions, formulated dispersions (with pigments, fillers, thickeners) and some condensation resins. Results are relative (depend on heating temperature and time) - not absolute, due to solvent retention, thermal decomposition and loss of low-molecular constituents.
• Apparatus: Flat-bottomed metal or glass dishes (nominal 75 mm diameter ±5 mm), analytical balance (readability 0.0001 g), air oven with forced ventilation (temperature control ±2 °C up to 150 °C; ±3.5 °C up to 200 °C), desiccator with silica gel orange.
• Procedure: Sampling per ISO 15528 / ISO 123, preparation (ISO 1513), weighing of dish and sample, controlled heating and re-weighing. Special dish sizing formula is provided for consistent film thickness when using different diameters.
• Special cases: Recommended approach for rubber latices (use lipless dishes with covers); vacuum drying or ISO 124 method for some dispersions; IR/microwave drying is not standardized because it can cause decomposition and inconsistent results.
• Precision and reporting: The standard includes repeatability and reproducibility guidance and specifies required test-report content.

Practical applications

• Routine quality control of paint and varnish production to compare non-volatile (solids) content between batches.
• Verification of binder and polymer dispersion solids for formulation and performance prediction.
• Raw-material acceptance testing for suppliers and manufacturers of coatings, resins and dispersions.
• Regulatory and contract testing where a standardized gravimetric method (EN ISO 3251:2019 / ISO 3251) is required.

Who should use this standard

• Coatings manufacturers, formulation chemists and QC laboratories
• Raw material and pigment suppliers
• Test labs performing comparative solids content measurements
• Certification bodies and procurement teams specifying solids/solvent content requirements

Related standards

• ISO 4618 (terms and definitions for paints and varnishes)
• ISO 15528 (sampling of paints and varnishes)
• ISO 123 and ISO 124 (latex/rubber sampling and solids determination)
• ISO 1513 (sample preparation)
• ISO 3233 and ISO 8130‑7 (related methods for volume solids and powder resins)

Keywords: EN ISO 3251:2019, ISO 3251, non-volatile-matter, non-volatile matter, paints and varnishes, polymer dispersions, solids content, test method, CEN.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2019
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO 3251:2008
Barve, laki in plastične mase - Določevanje nehlapnih snovi (ISO 3251:2019)
Paints, varnishes and plastics - Determination of non-volatile-matter content (ISO
3251:2019)
Beschichtungsstoffe und Kunststoffe - Bestimmung des Gehaltes an nichtflüchtigen
Anteilen (ISO 3251:2019)
Peintures, vernis et plastiques - Détermination de l'extrait sec (ISO 3251:2019)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 3251:2019
ICS:
83.080.01 Polimerni materiali na Plastics in general
splošno
87.040 Barve in laki Paints and varnishes
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 3251
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
June 2019
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 83.080.01; 87.040; 87.060.20 Supersedes EN ISO 3251:2008
English Version
Paints, varnishes and plastics - Determination of non-
volatile-matter content (ISO 3251:2019)
Peintures, vernis et plastiques - Détermination de la Beschichtungsstoffe und Kunststoffe - Bestimmung des
matière non volatile (ISO 3251:2019) Gehaltes an nichtflüchtigen Anteilen (ISO 3251:2019)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 13 May 2019.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2019 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 3251:2019 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 3251:2019) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 35 "Paints and
varnishes" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 139 “Paints and varnishes” the
secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by December 2019, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by December 2019.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO 3251:2008.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 3251:2019 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 3251:2019 without any modification.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 3251
Fifth edition
2019-05
Paints, varnishes and plastics —
Determination of non-volatile-matter
content
Peintures, vernis et plastiques — Détermination de la matière non
volatile
Reference number
ISO 3251:2019(E)
©
ISO 2019
ISO 3251:2019(E)
© ISO 2019
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

ISO 3251:2019(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Apparatus . 1
5 Sampling . 2
6 Procedure. 3
6.1 Number of determinations . 3
6.2 Preparation and weighing of dish . 3
6.3 Weighing of samples . 3
6.4 Heating . 3
6.5 Weighing after heating . 4
7 Supplementary test conditions . 4
8 Expression of results . 4
9 Precision . 4
9.1 Repeatability limit r . 4
9.2 Reproducibility limit R . 5
10 Test report . 5
Annex A (informative) Common test parameters . 6
Bibliography . 8
ISO 3251:2019(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see
www .iso .org/iso/foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 35, Paints and varnishes, Subcommittee
SC 9, General test methods for paints and varnishes.
This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition (ISO 3251:2008), which has been technically
revised. The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— a general reference to ISO 4618 on terms and definitions has been added to Clause 3;
— the example of the desiccant in 4.5 has been changed to silica gel orange because the use of cobalt
chloride as indicator is no longer allowed;
— the precision data of polymer dispersions has been corrected: the figures given in the 2008 edition
were ± data which now have been converted correctly into percentages;
— the common test parameters for coating powders (powder resins) have been deleted from Table A.1
because ISO 8130-7 can be used instead;
— common test parameters for waterborne coating materials have been added to Table A.1.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/members .html.
iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

ISO 3251:2019(E)
Introduction
For the method to be usable for unplasticized polymer dispersions and rubber lattices, the non-volatile
residue (which consists essentially of the polymeric material and of small quantities of auxiliaries such
as emulsifiers, protective colloids, stabilizers, solvents added as film-forming agents and – especially
for rubber latex concentrate – preserving agents) has to be chemically stable under the test conditions.
For plasticized samples, the residue, by definition, normally includes the plasticizer.
ISO 3233 (all parts) specifies test methods for determining the volume of non-volatile matter in paints,
varnishes and related products.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 3251:2019(E)
Paints, varnishes and plastics — Determination of non-
volatile-matter content
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for determining the non-volatile-matter content by mass of paints,
varnishes, binders
...