Paint & Coating Evaluation Testing

The use of paints, varnishes, and coatings has seen an unprecedented increase in recent decades, courtesy of the technological advances made in the realm of paints and coatings products. The tremendous increase in the use of such products has been due to their widespread applications, from cars, houses, various electrical and electronic items, various infrastructural units, military equipments, to almost every usable item. The materials on which paints and coatings can be applied include metals, plastics, civil materials etc.

The main advantage offered by paints and coatings is the fact that they prolong the useful service life of the items that they are applied on, besides ameliorating the aesthetic appeal of the item. They do so by providing protection to the items against corrosion, abrasion, extreme temperatures, harmful chemicals, moisture, UV rays and all the detrimental conditions that the items are exposed to. Various tests that have been formulated by a number of national and international standards check for the performance characteristics like stability, durability, and resistance to failure tests. Besides, there are a number of noted Environmental Regulations related to the composition of such products. For example, paints contain the harmful Volatile organic compounds which have to be tested.

Spectro Analytical Labs Pvt. Ltd. is very much competent to conduct standardized and customized tests on various types of Paints & Coatings, aided by its well trained staff and the latest equipments at its disposal.

SPECTRO Lab helps Answer Difficult Questions Such as

  • bulletWhy is my coatings product losing adhesion?
  • bulletWhat is causing blisters or bubbles to form in my applied coating?
  • bulletHow stain-resistant is my paint product?

Physical Testing Capabilities of SPECTRO Include

  • bulletApplication Properties
  • bulletLiquid Coating Properties
  • bulletFilm Appearance
  • bulletCoatings Performance

SPECTRO has also developed expertise in testing of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) by EPA Test Method 24. We have successfully measured VOCs in paints and coatings for both manufacturers and end users.

Testing for Aesthetic Appeal

  • bulletReflectance
  • bulletYellowing of other discoloration
  • bulletHiding power
  • bulletDry film thickness (DFT)
  • bulletDry hiding (from porosity)
  • bulletGloss (20, 60, 85 degrees)
  • bulletOpacity, intrinsic (contrast ratio, scattering coefficient)
  • bulletOpacity, applied (brush, roll, spray)
Performance of Coatings

Many manufacturers have turned to SPECTRO to learn how their products will perform over time and under different environmental conditions. SPECTRO has developed expertise in examining a wide range of Film performance properties including:

  • bulletHardness
  • bulletFlexibility
  • bulletAdhesion
  • bulletImpact resistance
  • bulletChemical resistance
  • bulletCorrosion resistance
  • bulletStain resistance
  • bulletWash ability
  • bulletDegree of cure
  • bulletCritical Pigment Volume Concentration (CPVC)
Some of the Paint and Protective Coating Tests Conducted at SPECTRO
  • bulletAll the traditional mechanical and adhesion tests ASTM D638, ASTM D790, ASTM D968, ASTM D2240, ASTM D2794, ASTM D3359, ASTM D3363, ASTM D4060, ASTM D4541
  • bulletSalt contamination tests
  • bulletAtmospheric and immersion testing for corrosion protection ASTM B117, CCT,CASS and others
  • bulletUnique custom test protocols to determine quality of unusual coatings
  • bulletFailure analysis and root cause determination
  • bulletUV Testing
  • bulletSurface Analysis, FTIR
  • bulletElectrochemical testing to quantify the protection of various kinds of coatings
  • bulletASTM standard coating/paint tests ASTM D92, ASTM D93, ASTM D523, ASTM D562, ASTM D1200, ASTM D1210, ASTM D1475, ASTM D1640, ASTM D1653, ASTM D1849, ASTM D2244, ASTM D2369, ASTM D2371, ASTM D2486, ASTM D2697, ASTM D2805, ASTM D3723, ASTM D4400
  • bulletFailure analysis of coatings