PAINT AND COATINGS LABORATORY

Paint and Coatings Abrasion Testing -- Falling Sand Tester

Touchstone offers a variety of both standard and custom abrasion testing of paint & coating systems. A description of some of our standard tests follow.

Falling Sand Abrasive Test (ASTM D 968)

"Standard Test Methods for Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by Falling Abrasive"

ASTM D968 measures the resistance of organic coatings to abrasion produced by abrasive falling onto coatings applied to a plane rigid surface, such as a metal or glass panel. 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 used.

Air Blast Abrasion Test (ASTM D658)

"Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by Air Blast Abrasive"

Method ASTM D 658 covers the determination of the resistance of organic coatings to abrasion produced by an air blast of abrasive on coatings applied to a plane, rigid surface, such as a metal or glass panel.

An abrasive propelled by a controlled air stream is allowed to impinge on a coated panel until the substrate beneath the coating becomes visible. The amount of abrasive used per unit film thickness is reported as the abrasion resistance of the coating. Since the abrasive flow is facilitated with an air blast, the abrasion rate is markedly greater than that obtainable with a free-falling abrasive.

Although this method has been retired by ASTM this method still has many applications especially in support of research in abrasive resistance coatings.

Taber Abraser Testing of Organic (Paint) Coatings – ASTM D4060

Test method ASTM D4060 covers the determination of the resistance of organic coatings to abrasion produced by the Taber Abraser on coatings applied to a plane, rigid surface, such as a metal panel.

The organic coating to be tested is applied at uniform thickness to a plane, rigid panel and, after curing, the surface is abraded by rotating the panel under weighted, abrasive wheels.

ASTM D4060 has been useful in evaluating the abrasion resistance of attached coatings. Abrasion resistance can be calculated in three ways: as loss in weight at a specified number of abrasion cycles, as loss in weight per cycle, or as number of cycles required to remove a unit amount of coating thickness.

Reference: ASTM D4060 Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by the Taber Abraser

Index of Paint and Coatings Laboratory

ASTM D 4060 ASTM D 4060