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Volume Solids Determination
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Scope and Field of Application
ISO 3233 and BS 3900-A10 are alternative names for the same method which is used to determine the volume of dry coating obtained from a given volume of liquid coating. This is considered to be the most meaningful measure of coverage (the area of surface covered at a specified dry film thickness by unit volume of coating).
Although it might appear possible for a paint manufacturer to calculate volume solids using the masses and densities of the raw materials in a formulation, in practice this may be unreliable. This is because:-
- there can be a loss (or gain) in volume when components are mixed.
- the volume of the dry coating depends on the relative amount of air and binder that fills the voids between the pigment particles. The more air in the voids, the greater the volume of the coating.
There are no pass/fail criteria defined in the Standard. This is a matter of agreement between the parties concerned.
The actual standard is a copyright-protected document and we are not able to provide you with a copy. If required however, you can easily obtain a copy from the British Standards Institution.
Summary of Method
A metal disc is weighed in air and then re-weighed in water.. The disc is then coated with the sample and the coating allowed to dry. The coated disc is weighed in air and then re-weighed in water. It is then possible to calculate:-
- the mass and volume of the uncoated disc
- the mass and volume of the coated disc
- the mass and volume of the dry coating
The density and the non-volatile content of the liquid coating are then determined. This enables the volume of the liquid coating that was deposited on the disc to be calculated.
Since the volume of both the liquid and the dry coating on the disc are known, the volume solids of the coating can be calculated.
Sample Requirements
We require a 1 litre sample.
Accreditation
PRA is accredited to ISO 17025 by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to carry out this test.
Please contact Peter Collins for further details.
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