ASTM has a collection of over 800 documents on paint specifications.
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifies standards for the physical and chemical properties of paints and coatings applied to bulk materials. These standards improve the safety and durability of surface properties. Manufacturers and end-users use ASTM standards on a voluntary basis to guarantee the quality of their products. ASTM's paint standards consist of more than 800 detailed documents that can be accessed by either purchase or subscription from its website.
Testing
Many ASTM specs do not regulate the actual contents of paints but test their quality. For instance, ASTM D 1014 explains conduct exterior exposure tests of paints and coatings on metal substrates. ASTM D 1135 defines standard test methods for chemical analysis of blue pigments. And ASTM D 126 concerns standard test methods for analysis of yellow, orange and green pigments that contain lead chromate or chromium oxide green. While some of the specifications require technical knowledge, standards such as D 6578 merely define methods for testing the graffiti resistance of a paint.
Measurement Practices
Some ASTM specifications also determine practices for determining measurements of paint substances. For example, ASTM has developed a standard practice for reporting particle size characteristics in pigments (ASTM D 1366). ASTM D 2244 calculates color tolerances and differences of instrumentally measured color types in paint.
Compound Specifications
ASTM also defines standards for compounds used in paint such as isopropyl acetate (D 3131), 2-methodxyethanol (D 3128), acetone (D 16 & D 1614) and basic lead silicochromate pigment (D 1648).
Guides
ASTM also provides guides for identify paint properties. For instance, ASTM D 6165 explains compare, detect, and identify odors of paints. Another guide, D 6237, is designed specifically for painting inspectors who review concrete and masonry substrates (e.g. a construction girder in a skyscraper).
Terminology
Besides just determining the specifications of paint, ASTM defines the actual language to be used when measuring and evaluating compliance. For instance, ASTM D 6440 explains the standard terminology that relates to hydrocarbon resins. Similarly, ASTM D 6488 standardizes the lexicon for print problems. And, more generally, D 7188 defines the terminology for printing inks, materials, and processes.
