ASTM Proposes Two New Standards for Corrosion, Temperature and Viscosity

International . ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) announced two new standards for testing: one that addresses the preparation of the test panel and classifies especially for corrosion testing of construction projects, and a standard that will allow to know the relationship between temperature and viscosity.

The ASTM WK 30920 is a guide for the preparation of the corrosion panel test and the evaluation of products for lacquer construction. It is being developed by Subcommittee D01.53 on Lacquered Metals, which is part of ASTM's D01 International Committee on Related Paints and Coatings, Materials and Applications.

Standardization of test panel configurations and evaluations allows for baseline comparisons across a wide range of products including substrates, pretreatments, and coatings. Producers will be able to use the standard, once it has been approved, to develop new products, while users will use it to verify and buy the yields of a product.

"These comparisons lead to a better understanding of product behavior based on the environment, improved shelf life forecasts and reduced product development cycles," said Ted Best, a scientist at Valspar Corp., and a member of D01.53.

The viscosity of paints, inks and many other liquid-related materials varies considerably with temperature. In some cases, viscosity can decrease by 10% with each 1°C increase in temperature. The proposal for a new ASTM standard will provide information on the relationship between temperature and viscosity.

The method of analysis for measuring viscosity in paints or other temperature-related liquid materials, ASTM WK 33642, is developed by Subcommittee D01.24 on The Physical Properties of Liquid Paints and Paint Materials, as part of the ASTM International Committee.

The proposed standard will give instructions on how to prepare a viscosity-temperature curve or table. This will be useful when environmental conditions do not allow the measurement of the exact temperature indicated in a specification or regulation.