Abrasion Resistance:

This test helps in determining the ability of a coating to resist degradation due to mechanical wear by hard and rough
objects. Abrasion resistance can be enhanced by incorporation of surface modifying additives.
Test Method:

Adhesion:
Adhesion testing in the paint and coating industries is necessary to ensure the paint or coating will adhere properly to
the substrates to which they are applied.
Test Method: IS: 101 (P-5)(SEC-2)1988

Alkali Resistance of Paint:

This test helps in determining the degree to which a paint resists reaction with alkaline materials such as lime, cement,
plaster, soap, etc.; a necessary property for paints in bathrooms, kitchens, laundries.
Test Method: IS: 427-2005, IS: 428-2006

Cass Test:
This test helps in determining the corrosive performance of decorative copper/nickel/chromium or nickel/chromium
coatings on steel, zinc alloys, aluminum alloys, and plastics designed for severe service. It is also applicable to the
testing of anodized aluminum.
Test Method:

Chemical Resistance:
This test helps in determining the ability of a coat to resist chemical deterioration or staining.
Test Method: IS: 13630 (P-8) 2006, EN 105-106

Chip Resistance:
This test helps in determining the resistance of surface coatings (paint, clear coats, metallic plating, etc.) to chipping
caused by the impacts of gravel or other flying objects.
Test Method:

Coating Hardness:
This test helps in determining the hardness of paint coat.
Test Method: IS: 101 (P-5)(SEC-1)1988

Coating Surface roughness /Profile:

The proper and effective preparation of a surface prior to coating is essential. Making sure that the correct roughness
– or profile – has been generated is essential. If the profile is too low, the adhesion of the coating to the surface
will be reduced. Too high and there is the danger that the profile peaks will remain uncoated.
Test Method:
Coating Thickness:
This test helps in determining the thickness of paint plating, coatings and galvanizing on iron steel.
Test Method: IS: 6745-1972

Condensing Humidity:
This test helps in determining the resistance of organic coatings by controlled condensation. Condensation is
produced by exposing the test surface of the sample to a heated, saturated mixture of air and water vapor, while the
reverse side of the sample is cooled to room temperature air.
Test Method: IS: 101 (P-6) (SEC-1)1988

Crosshatch Adherence:
This test helps in determining the adhesion of a large variety of coatings.
Test Method:

Cyclic Corrosion:
This test helps in determining the corrosion degradation of coating systems for steel bridges.
Test Method:

Drying Time:
This test is done to know when a coating is totally dry. When developing a process, it is often important to know the
exact time it takes for the coating to dry or cure. There are many stages to the coating drying time. Once a coating has
been applied, the first stage is that the coating levels off under gravity. Once a coating begins to cure, a thin dry film
appears on the surface. The coating then continues to dry and finally after a period of time, the coating is totally
cured.
Test Method: IS: 101 (P-3) (SEC-4)1986

Failure Analysis:
This test helps in determining when, where, and how the paint or coating failure occurred.
Test Method:

Falling Weight:
The ability of a pipe coating to resist mechanical damage during shipping, handling, and installation will depend upon
its impact resistance. This test method provides a systematic means for screening coating materials with regard to this
property.
Test Method:

Flexibility:
This test helps in determining the ability of a coating system to withstand the stresses of fabrication. Organic coatings
on precoated sheet are subjected to stresses when fabricated into products by roll forming, brake bending, or other
deformation processes. These stresses can exceed the flexibility or adhesive strength of the coating, resulting in
fracture of the coating which exposes the substrate, or in the loss of adhesion of the coating to the substrate.
Test Method:
Free Falling Sand Abrasion:
The abrasive is allowed to fall from a specified height through a guide tube onto the coated panel until the substrate
becomes visible. The amount of abrasive per unit film thickness is reported as the abrasion resistance of the coating
on the panel. Both silica sand or silicon carbide can be used.
Test Method: ASTM D968

FTIR:
FTIR, which can serve as an important “first-line†identification
analysis tooloffor the types and drying
coating
mechanisms via monitoring of the functional groups on the chemical compounds inherent in the formulation.
Test Method:

Gloss (60deg.C):
Gloss measurement is essential instrument where a cosmetic appearance of the coating finish is required. It
measures, guide to control and test right from matt to mirror finish accurately. Multi directing a beam light at a specific
angle to the test surface and measuring the amount of reflection determine gloss. For general gloss measurement the
60º angle is recommended.
Test Method: IS: 13607-1992, IS: 5691-1970

Hardness:
This test method covers a procedure for rapid, inexpensive determination of the film hardness of an organic coating on
a substrate in terms of drawing leads or pencil leads of known hardness. This test covers the determination of the
indentation hardness of organic materials such as dried paint, varnish and lacquer coatings, when applied to an
acceptable plane rigid surface, for example, metal or glass.
Test Method: ASTM D3363 / ASTM D1474

Impact resistance:
Impact performance after painting/printing can be tested with several impact tests, like a puncture test or a falling dart
test.
Test Method: IS: 101 (P-5)(SEC-3)1999

Moisture Content:
This test helps in determining the total water content of paints using a calcium hydride reaction test kit, or water
content between 2 and 85 % water.
Test Method:

Peel:
This test is used to measure resistance to cracking (flexibility) and adhesion of attached organic coatings on
substrates of sheet metal or rubber-type materials.
Test Method:

Penetration Resistance:
The penetration resistance is of special importance to architectural finshes. The ability to maintain a uniform
appearance (color and gloss) on substrates with varying porosity can be evaluated by applying the paint over a test
chart which has a coated and uncoated area. Thus, the penetration resistance is tested under severe conditions. The
penetration resistance is visually evaluated and can also be objectively evaluated by measuring color and gloss.
Test Method:

Salt Spray:
The salt spray test is a standardized test method used to check corrosion resistance of coated samples.
Test Method: IS: 2074-1992, IS: 13183-1991, IS: 13607-1992

Scratch Resistance:
The scratch resistance can be established e.g. in the Taber abrasion test, where the amount of haze is established
after a number of abrasive cycles. The scratch resistance can also be determined quantitatively by measuring the
weight loss after a number of sanding cycles. The pen test determines the indentation caused by a sharp pencil
applied with a defined force.
Test Method: ISO 1518

Scrubbing Resistance
This test helps in determining the resistance of paints to erosion caused by scrubbing. Although scrub resistance tests
are intended primarily for interior coatings, they are sometimes used with exterior coatings as an additional measure
of film performance.
Test Method:

Spark Testing:
One of the most important properties of a thin film coating is the adhesion (interfacial forces between two surfaces)
between the coating and the substrate. The most common method of accurate measurement of thin film coating
adhesion is the scratch tester.
Test Method:

XENON Arc:
This test helps in determining the ability of a paint or coating to resist deterioration of its physical and optical properties
caused by exposure to light, heat, and water can be very significant for many applications. This practice is intended to
induce property changes associated with end use conditions, including the effects of sunlight, moisture, and heat. The
exposure used in this practice is not intended to simulate the deterioration caused by localized weather phenomena
such as atmospheric pollution, biological attack, and salt water exposure.
Test Method: ASTM D6695 - 08

Volatile Content:
This test helps in determining the weight percent volatile content of solvent-reducible and water-reducible coatings.
Test Method: ASTM D2369, IS: 101 (P-2) (SEC-2)1986

Water Content:
The amount of water that paint coat could absorb is measured by the water content test.
Test Method: IS: 101 (P-2) (SEC-1)1988

Water Resistance:
Water can cause the degradation of coatings, so knowledge of how a coating resists water is helpful for assessing
how it will perform in actual service.
Test Method: IS: 101 (P7SC-1)1989, IS: 13183-1991, IS: 5691-1970