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Paint Testing Laboratory

Introduction

Our UK based laboratory conducts a wide range of BS, ISO, ASTM and DIN tests. It is accredited to ISO 17025 by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). A list of all the tests for which we are UKAS accredited is available.

Scrolling down this page will reveal links to over 50 additional pages each of which describes a test that we can undertake. These additional pages summarise the test methods and give details of our sample requirements.

The test methods described on this page can be classified into two categories:-

• Tests carried out on coatings before they are applied to a substrate.
• Tests carried out on coatings after they are applied to a substrate

If you wish us to test architectural coatings, please visit our Paint Performance Testing page. Here you will find suites of tests for the different classes of coatings used on buildings. Cost and time scale information is included.

One area where we have particular expertise is the evaluation of raw materials used in paint or resin manufacture. We normally incorporate the raw material into an appropriate paint or resin and then test the product. A similar product, made using a conventional raw material, serves as a control. Test work of this nature is of particular interest to those who wish to establish whether the surface coatings industry could present a potential marketing opportunity. Details of our services can be found on our Synthesis and Formulation page.

Evaluating surface coatings for their resistance to microbial attack forms an important part of our work and we have particular experience in testing coatings for resistance to in-can spoilage and fungal or algal growth on applied coatings. Our Microbiology Laboratory undertakes tests on a wide range of decorative and industrial coatings and has particular expertise in the development and evaluation of hygienic coatings.

.Our equipment includes:-

• Controlled Atmosphere Rooms and Chambers
• Accelerated Weatherometers
• Monitored Exposure Sites
• Exposure Test Cabinets
• Viscometers
• Equipment to measure
  • Abrasion Resistance
  • Adhesion
  • Cracking
  • Drying Time
  • Film Thickness
  • Hardness
  • Impact Resistance
  • Scrub Resistance
  • Water Permeability

Please contact Peter Collins for further details.

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Tests Carried Out Prior to Application

The tests referred to here relate to the properties of a coating before it is applied to a substrate.

 

Test	Standard
Combustibility	BS 3900-A11
Density	BS EN ISO 2811-1, BS 3900-A19 BS EN ISO 2811-4, BS 3900-A22
Fineness of Grind	BS 3900-C6, ISO 1524, EN 21524
Flash Point	BS EN 456, ISO 3679
Freeze-Thaw Resistance	ASTM D2243
In-Can Properties ( ullage, surface consistency, skin, separation, extraneous matter, settlement and clarity )	BS 3900-A2, ISO 1513
Non-volatile Content	BS EN ISO 3251, BS 3900-B18, ISO 3251
Oil Absorption	BS EN ISO 787-5, BS 3483-B7
Particle Size Distribution	In-house method
pH	In-house method
Surface Tension and Contact Angle	In-house method
Viscosity	ASTM D562, ASTM D2196, BS 3900-A7-1, ISO 2884-1, BS3900-A7-2, BS EN ISO 2884-2, ISO 2884-2 BS EN ISO 2431, BS 3900-A6 DIN 53211, ASTM D1200 ASTM D4212
Volume Solids	ISO 3233, BS 3900-A10

 

Please contact Peter Collins for further details.

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Tests Carried Out After Application

These tests may be carried out on applied films of the coating before, during or after completion of the drying/curing process. In view of the large number of tests that fall within this definition, we have subdivided them into three categories:-

• Corrosion Resistance
• Durability
• Physical Properties

 

Corrosion Resistance

These tests are designed to measure the way that surface coatings protect substrates from corrosion. If you are more concerned with the effect of sunlight, moisture and temperature on the actual surface coating, please refer to our Durability tests.

 

Test	Standard
Cyclic Prohesion	BS 3900-F19, ISO 11997-2, ASTM D5894
Cyclic Salt Spray	BS EN 60068-2-52, IEC 68-2-52
Humidity	BS 3900-F2, BS EN ISO 6270-1, BS 3900-F9 , ASTM D2247
Prohesion	ASTM G 85 Annex A5
Salt Spray	BS 3900-F4, BS3900-F12, ISO 7253, BS EN ISO 9227, ASTM B 117
Sulphur Dioxide	BS 3900-F8, BS EN ISO 3231, ISO 3231, DIN 50018

 

Please contact Peter Collins for further details.

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Durability

These tests are designed to measure the effect of sunlight, moisture and temperature on surface coatings applied to a variety of substrates. If you are more concerned with the way that surface coatings protect substrates from corrosion, please refer to our Corrosion Resistance tests.

 

Test	Standard
Artificial Weathering: Carbon Arc	BS 3900-F3 (obsolete)
Artificial Weathering: Fluorescent Lamp	ASTM G 154, ASTM D 4587, BS EN ISO 11507, BS 3900-F16
Artificial Weathering: Plasma Erosion	In-house method
Artificial Weathering: Xenon Arc	BS EN ISO 11341, ISO 12040
Assessment of Lightfastness	Numerous
Controlled Temperature and Humidity Exposure	Numerous
Natural Weathering	BS EN ISO 2810
Resistance to Temperature Change	ASTM D 1211
Resistance to Liquids / Stain Resistance	BS EN ISO 2812-1, BS EN ISO 2812-2, BS EN ISO 2812-3, BS EN ISO 2812-4

 

Please contact Peter Collins for further details.

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Physical Properties

These tests may be carried out on freshly applied or aged coatings and are often used to assess test panels after durability or corrosion testing.

 

Test	Standard
Abrasion Resistance	BS 3900-E14, ISO 7784-1, BS 3900-E15, ISO 7784-2, ASTM D 4060
Adhesion	BS EN ISO 2409, BS 3900-E6, BS EN 24624, ISO 4624
Application Properties and Appearance	In-house method
Assessment of Blistering	BS 3900-H2, ISO 4628/2
Assessment of Chalking	BS 3900-H6, ISO 4628/6
Assessment of Cracking	BS 3900- H4, ISO 4628/4
Assessment of Flaking	BS 3900-H5, ISO 4628/5
Assessment of Rusting	BS 3900-H3, ISO 4628/3
Chip Resistance	BS AU 148: Part 15
Colour Comparison (Instrumental)	BS 3900-D8, BS 3900-D9, BS 3900-D10, ISO 7724 Parts 1, 2 and 3
Colour Comparison (Visual)	BS EN ISO 3668, BS 3900-D1
Cupping Resistance	BS EN ISO 1520, BS 3900-E4
Drying Time: Surface Dry	BS 3900-C2, ISO 1517
Drying Time: Through Dry and Recoatability	BS 3900-C3, ISO 9117, BS EN 29117, In-house method
Film Thickness	BS EN ISO 2808, BS 3900-C5
Flexibility	BS EN ISO 1519, BS 3900-E1, BS EN ISO 6860, BS 3900-E11, ASTM D 522
Gloss	BS EN ISO 2813, BS 3900-D5
Hardness	BS EN ISO 1518, BS 3900-E2, BS EN ISO 1522, BS 3900-E5, BS EN ISO 2815, BS 3900-E9, BS 3900-E17, ISO 12137-1, BS 3900-E19, ISO 15184, ASTM D 3363.
Impact Resistance	BS 3900-E3, BS EN ISO 6272, BS 3900-E7, BS 3900-E13, ASTM D 2794
Minimum Film-forming Temperature	ASTM D2354
Opacity	BS 3900-D4, BS 3900-D7, BS 3900-D11, ISO 2814, ISO 6504 Parts 1 and 3
Permeability to Water	ASTM D 1653
Resistance to Liquids / Stain Resistance	BS EN ISO 2812-1, BS EN ISO 2812-2, BS EN ISO 2812-3, BS EN ISO 2812-4
Scrub Resistance and Cleanability	BS EN ISO 11998, DIN 53778: Part 2, ASTM D 2486
Spreading Rate	BS 3900-A16, ISO 7254
Surface Energy and Contact Angle	In-house method
Tensile Testing	ASTM D 2370
Wet Adhesion	ASTM D 6900
Wet Edge Time	BS 3900-C1
Whiteness	ASTM E 313
Yellowness	ASTM E 313

 

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