UDC 667’613 : 620’178’1

IS : 101 ( Part 5/Set 1) - 1988

( Second Reprint JUNE 1998 ) (Reaflilmed1993)

Indian Standard ( Reaffirmed 1999 )

METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TEST

FOR PAINTS, VARNISHES A‘ND RELATED PRODUCTS

PART 5 MECHANICAL TEST ON PAINT FILMS

Section 1 Hardness Tests

( Third Revision )

:
C 1. Scope - Prescribes the following hardness tests for films formed by paints and allied
products:
a) Pendulum test,
b) Indentation test,
c) Pencil hardness test, and
d) Pressure test.

2. Pendulum Test

2.1 Principle - The resistance of a single coat film or multicoat system of paints, varnishes and
related products is determined to a single blow impact by a pendulum. The method of test is to be
completed by. giving supplementary information as follows:
a) Material and surface preparation of the substrate,
b) Method of application,
c) The thickness and coating, and
d) Duration and conditions of coated panel.

2.2 Apparatus

2.2.1 Pendulum impact tester - As shown in Fig. 1 and 2. The apparatus consists of two
arms, to the ends of which control steel test pieces are attached. The arms are free to swing in a
vertical plane and the test pieces are so fixed that when the arms are released, the test pieces strike
each other at right angles with a single blow, after which they slide over each other before parting.
The apparatus is so arranged that test piece A makes an angle of not more than 180” with the line
of the outer side of the arm which supports it and this arm is fitted with a ratch,et device to ensure
that the test pieces do not makecontact on the return swing of the arms. The mass of the outer arm
of the apparatus is 3’7 f 0’1 kg, the length is 1 OCO4 2 mm and the centre of gravity is 500 + 5 mm
from the centre of the top lush. The mass of the inner arm ( excluding the test piece ) is
4.5 j, 0’1 kg, the length is 870 f 2 mm and the centre of gravity is 560 f 5 mm from the centre of
the lush. The test pieces shall be so arranged that they strike each other midway along their
lengths.
2.2.2 Test pieces - Unless otherwise agreed or specified the test pieces shall be made of
burnished steel tube in the ‘as drawn and tempered’ or ‘normalized’ condition with dimensions as
28 mm internal diameter, 38.0 & 0’5 mm external diameter and 125 mm length.

2.2.3 Preparation and coating oftest pieces - The test pieces shal I be burnished with emery paper
No. 200 ( see IS : 715-1966 Specification for coated abrasives ) and then thoroughly cleaned with
white spirit [ see IS : 1745-1978 Specification for petroleum hydrocarbon solvents ( second revision ) ]
to remove any traces of grease. Then it is coated with the given material to be tested or system under
test by the methods given in relevant material specification. The coated test pieces shall be dried
( or stored and aged ) for the specified time as given in the material specification and shall be
conditioned at 27 f 2°C and relative humidity of 65 f 5 percent for a minimum period of 16 h.
Then the test shall be carried out without much delay. The thickness of coating shall be determined
before test.

Adopted 30 March 1988 Q July 1989, BIS Gr 3

I I

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002
IS : 101 ( Part S/Set 1 ) - 1988

FIG. 1 PICTORIAL VIEW OF APPARATUS FOR RESISTANCE TO IMPACT ( PENDULUM TEST )

1000mm 1370 mn

FIG. 2 APPARATUS FOR RESISTANCE TO IMPACT ( PENDULUM TEST )

 IS : 101 ( Part S/Set 1) - 1988

2.3 Procedure
2.3.1 Attach the test pieces to the arms of the apparatus and fix the arms at the specified incli-
nation from the vertical. Release the arms. Remove the test pieces and examine the points of
impact for the loss of adhesion or removal of the coating.
3. Indentation Test
3.1 Principle - A method known as Buchlolz indentation test is carried out on single coat or
multicoat systems. The length of indentation produced when an indentor of specified size and
shape is applied to the coating under defined conditions is indicative of the residual deformation of
the coating. The result is expressed as the reciprocal of the indentation length and this increases
as the desired property increases.
3.2 Apparatus
3.2.1 Indentation apparatus - It consists essentiafly of a rectangular block of metal, which forms
the body of the instrument, an indentor and two pointed feet, as shown in Fig. 3.

FIG. 3 INDENTATION APPARATUS ( OBLIQUE UNDERSIDE VIEW )

The indentor is a sharp-edged metal wheel of hardened tool steel. The cross-section through
its axis of rotation and its dimensions shall be as shown in Fig. 4, which also shows the shape of
the indentation produced.
SHARP EDGE

All dimensions in millimetres.

FIG. 4 INDENTOR AND ( RIGHT ) SHAPE OF INDENTATION ( ENLARGED )

The complete apparatus weighs 1 000 f 5 g. The indentor and the two feet are so positioned
in the body that when the instrument is placed on a level surface it is stable, its upper surface is
horizontal and the effective load upon the indentor is 500 f 5 g,
3.2.2 Measuring device - A suitable device for measuring the length of indentation consists of a
microscope with 20 x magnification and an eyepiece fitted with a graduated scale capable of read-
ing to 0’1 mm. The area of indentation shall be illuminated by means of a light source so located
that its angle of incidence exceeds 60” as shown in Fig. 5. The microscope shall be positioned
vertically over the illuminated area and focussed to bring the shadow produced by the indentation
( see Fig. 6 ) and the graduated scale together.
Note - The position of the indentation mark can be located by means of a suitable template prepared from a
triangular sheet of transparent plastics film (see Fig. 7 ).
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IS : 101 ( Part 5/Set I ) - 1988

I IGHT /MICROSCOPE

FIG. 5 POSITION OF THE LIGHT SOURCE AND THE MICROSCOPE

INDENTATION
VISIBLE BY
- ITS SHADOW

FIG. 6 SHADOW PRODUCED BY THE INDENTATION

POSITION OF THE FEET

OF THE INSTRUMENT

-POSITION OF THE
INDENTATION

FIG. 7 TEMPLATE TO LOCATE THE POSITION OF INDENTATION

3.3 Test Panels

3.3.1 Materials and dimensions - Unless otherwise specified or agreed, the test panels shall be
of metal or glass.

The test panels shall be flat and free from distortion and the surface shall be free from any
visible ridges or cracks.

The test panels shall be rectangular and, unless otherwise specified, 150 x 100 mm in size
and not less than 1 mm in thickness. The test panels may be cut to size after coating or drying,
provided no distortion occurs.

3.3.2 Preparation and coating of panels - The test panels shall be prepared in accordance with
IS : 101 ( Part l/Set 3 )-I986 ‘Methods of sampling and test for paints, varnishes and related
pcoducts: Part 1 Test on liquid paints ( general and physical ), Section 3 Preparation of panels
( thirdrevision )’ unless otherwise specified, and shall then be coated by the specified method with
the product or system under test to the specified film thiakness limits.
3.3.3 Drying and conditioning of the test panels - The coated test panels shall be dried ( or
stoved and aged ) for the specified time and under the specified conditions and, unless otherwise
specified, shall be conditioned at a temperature of 27 f 2°C and a relative humidity of 65 f 5 per-
cent for a minimum of 16 h. The test procedure shall then be carried out as soon as possible.

3.4 Procedure
3.4.1 Place the test panel, paint film uppermost, on a firm horizontal surface.

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 IS : 101 ( Part 5/Set 1 ) - 1988

3.4.2 Take the apparatus specified in 3.2.1 and place it gently and without any tilting or lateral
movement on to the test panel, leave the indentor in position for 30 & 1 s and remove it carefully.
Note - The feet of the apparatus shall first of all be allowed to make contact with the test panel and then the
indentor shall belowered carefully until it touches the panel. The apparatus shall be lifted off the test panel indentor
first and feet last.

3.4.3 Place the light source and microscope in position as specified in 3.2.2 and measure the
length, in millimetres, of the shadow produced by the indentation 35 & 5 s after removal of the
indentor, unless otherwise specified. Record the results in miliimetres, to the nearest 0'1 mm, as
the indentation length.

3.4.4 Carry out five tests on different parts of the same test panel and calculate the mean value.

3.5 Calculation of Indentation Resistance - Round ofI the mean value to the nearest value in the
first column of Table 1 and use this rounded-off value of the indentation lengths to calculate the
indentation resistance.

TABLE f RELATION BETWEEN INDENTATION LENGTH AND INDENTATION RESISTANCE

Indentation Length Indentation Resistance Indentation Depth Minimum Coating Thick-

mm Pm ness for Which a Measurement
is Valid
Pm
0’8 125 5 15
0’85 118 6 20

0’9 111 7 20
'0'96 105 7 20
1’0 100 8 20

1’05 95 9 20
1’1 91 10 20
1’15 87 11 25
9’2 83 s2 25

1’3 77 14 25

1’4 71 16 30
1’5 67 18 30
1’6 63 21 35
1’7 59 24 35

4. Pencil Hardness Test

4.0 Outline ofthe Method - This method is primarily intended for use in the production shop 2nd
as such test panels are not normally used.

4.1 Apparatus - Range from 2B to 6f-l of high quality drawing pencils in accordance with IS : 1375-
1981 ‘Specification for black lead pencils ( first revision )‘.

4.2 Procedure - The pencils shall be sharpened to a point with a pencil

The softest sharpener. pencil
shall be held normal to the paint film to be tested and the point
pressed sufficiently to make crum-
ble. Without altering the pressure, the pencil is drawn across the paint film for a distance of 6 mm.
This procedure shall be repeated with pencils of higher grades of hardness until the paint film is
scratched or penetrated. The grade of hardness of the pencil used immediately before that which
caused scratching or penetration shall be taken as the hardness of the paint film.

4.2.1 Carry out three tests and record the observations.

5. Pressure Test

5.0 Outline offhe Method - In this test, two painted film after specified drying period, facing each
other and in close contact, are tested under pressure.

5.1 &par&us - A suitable apparatus for carr;/ing out this test is illustrated in Fig. 8.

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 IS : 101 ( Part S/Set 1) - 1988

All dimensions in millimetres.

FIG. 8 APPARATUS FOR PRESSURE TEST ( WEIGHT OF BALL AND MOVING PARTS APPROX )

5.2 Procedure - Apply a coat of the material, on a tinned panel O-315 mm thick ( or 30 SWG )
prepared as. described in IS : 101 ( Part l/Set 3 )-1986 to give a dry film weight commensurate
with the werght per 10 litres of the material as specified in IS : 101 ( Part l/Set 7)-1986 ‘Methods
of sampling and test for paints, varnishes and related products: Part 1 Test on liquid paints ( gene-
ral and physical ), Section 7 Mass per ten litres ( third revision )‘. Allow it to air-dry under
laboratory conditions in a horizontal position for a period as specified in the material specifica-
tion. At the end of the period, cut two test pieces approximately 20 mms, superimpose them so
that the paint films are in close contact, and place on the metal table A. Lower the steel ball B
and plunger C to the centre of the metal test pieces and place a 1.81 kg weight on top of the
plunger. Maintain the pressure on the paint film for 5 minutes. At the end of this period, separate
and examine the test pieces.

5.2.j The metal surface shall not be rendered visible when two test pieces are separated after
the test is carried out as prescribed in 5.2.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This standard is one of a series of Indian Standards on methods of sampling and test for
paints, varnishes and related products. Considerable assistance has been drawn from IS0 1578-1970
‘Paints and varnishes - Scratch test’, prepared by the International Organization. for Standardization
( IS0 ), BS : 3900 E9 ‘Methods of test for paints Part E-9 Buchholz indentation test’, prepared by
the British Standards Institution, London, and SSAU 148 Part 6 ‘Hardness’, prepared bv the British
Standards Institution, London. This standard supersedes clause 15.2 of Is’: 101-1964 ‘Methods of
test for ready mixed paints and enamels ( second revision )‘.

Reprography Unit, BIS, New Delhi, India