ASTM D4712-87a(1996) - 1.1.2001
 
1. Scope

1.1 This guide covers the selection and use of procedures for testing water-reducible coatings, both pigmented and clear, utilizing synthetic lattices, synthetic resin emulsions, or water-reducible alkyds. The methods included are listed in Table 1. Where more than one standard is listed for the same characteristic, no attempt is made to indicate superiority of one standard over another. Selection of the standards to be followed must be governed by experience and the requirements in each individual case, together with agreement between producer and user.

1.2 This guide covers the testing of liquid coatings as applied by conventional spray, airless spray, electrostatic spray, dip, fancoat, flowcoat, roller coat, and curtain coat.

1.3 This guide includes procedures relating to proper and safe packaging, shipping and receiving, and storage and handling during use and application.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

 
2. Referenced Documents

D610-25

Standard Practice for Evaluating Degree of Rusting on Painted Steel Surfaces

D1731-09(2020)

Standard Practices for Preparation of Hot-Dip Aluminum Surfaces for Painting

D1732-03(2023)

Standard Practices for Preparation of Magnesium Alloy Surfaces for Painting

D1735-21

Standard Practice for Testing Water Resistance of Coatings Using Water Fog Apparatus

D1737-85

Method of Test for Elongation of Attached Organic Coatings with Cylindrical Mandrel Apparatus (Withdrawn 1987)

D1849-95(2019)

Standard Test Method for Package Stability of Paint

D2196-20(2026)

Standard Test Methods for Rheological Properties of Non-Newtonian Materials by Rotational Viscometer

D2201-23

Standard Practice for Preparation of Zinc-Coated and Zinc-Alloy-Coated Steel Panels for Testing Paint and Related Coating Products

D2243-20

Standard Test Method for Freeze-Thaw Resistance of Water-Borne Coatings

D2244-25

Standard Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color Coordinates

D2353-83

Method of Test for Flow Ratings of Organic Coatings Using the Shell Flow Comparator (Withdrawn 1990)

D2354-10(2023)

Standard Test Method for Minimum Film Formation Temperature (MFFT) of Emulsion Vehicles

D2369-24

Standard Test Method for Volatile Content of Coatings

D2454-23

Standard Practice for Determining the Effect of Overbaking on Organic Coatings

D2697-22

Standard Test Method for Volume Nonvolatile Matter in Clear or Pigmented Coatings

D968-25

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

D1005-95(2024)

Standard Test Method for Measurement of Dry-Film Thickness of Organic Coatings Using Micrometers

D1014-25

Standard Practice for Conducting Exterior Exposure Tests of Paints and Coatings on Metal Substrates

D1125-23

Standard Test Methods for Electrical Conductivity and Resistivity of Water

D2092-95(2001)e1

Standard Guide for Preparation of Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) Steel Surfaces for Painting (Withdrawn 2008)

D2197-16(2022)

Standard Test Method for Adhesion of Organic Coatings by Scrape Adhesion

D2246-87

Standard Method of Testing Finishes on Primed Metallic Substrates for Humidity-Thermal Cycle Cracking (Withdrawn 1992)

D2247-25

Standard Practice for Testing Water Resistance of Coatings in 100 % Relative Humidity

D2248-25a

Standard Practice for Detergent Resistance of Organic Finishes (Includes all amendments and changes 5/19/2025).

D2371-19(2025)

Standard Test Method for Pigment Content of Solvent-Reducible Paints

D2574-16(2024)

Standard Test Method for Resistance of Emulsion Paints in the Container to Attack by Microorganisms

D2616-25

Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Visual Color Difference With a Gray Scale

D2691-88

Method for Microscopical Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Coatings on Wood Products (Withdrawn 1992)

D2805-11(2023)

Standard Test Method for Hiding Power of Paints by Reflectometry

D1186-01

Standard Test Methods for Nondestructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Nonmagnetic Coatings Applied to a Ferrous Base (Withdrawn 2006)

D1848-88(1998)

Standard Classification for Reporting Paint Film Failures Characteristic of Exterior Latex Paints (Withdrawn 2003)

D2091-96(2024)

Standard Test Method for Print Resistance of Lacquers

D1475-13(2025)

Standard Test Method for Density of Liquid Coatings, Inks, and Related Products

D1640-03

Standard Test Methods for Drying, Curing, or Film Formation of Organic Coatings at Room Temperature

D1210-05(2022)

Standard Test Method for Fineness of Dispersion of Pigment-Vehicle Systems by Hegman-Type Gage

D1212-91(2025)

Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Wet Film Thickness of Organic Coatings

D1308-20(2025)

Standard Test Method for Effect of Household Chemicals on Clear and Pigmented Coating Systems

D1474-98

Standard Test Methods for Indentation Hardness of Organic Coatings

D1730-09(2020)

Standard Practices for Preparation of Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Surfaces for Painting

D4060-25

Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by the Taber Abraser

D1400-00

Standard Test Method for Nondestructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Nonconductive Coatings Applied to a Nonferrous Metal Base (Withdrawn 2006)

D1535-14(2023)

Standard Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System

D1540-82(1987)

Method of Test for Effect of Staining Agents on Organic Finishes Used in the Transportation Industry (Withdrawn 1992)

D1653-26

Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Organic Coating Films

D1654-24e1

Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Painted or Coated Specimens Subjected to Corrosive Environments (Includes all amendments and changes 7/2/2026).

D1729-22

Standard Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials

D2794-93(2024)

Standard Test Method for Resistance of Organic Coatings to the Effects of Rapid Deformation (Impact)

D2803-09(2020)

Standard Guide for Testing Filiform Corrosion Resistance of Organic Coatings on Metal

D2933-74(1986)

Test Method for Corrosion Resistance of Coated Steel Specimens (Cyclic Method) (Withdrawn 1990)

D3002-07

Standard Guide for Evaluation of Coatings Applied to Plastics (Withdrawn 2016)

D3023-98(2024)

Standard Practice for Determination of Resistance of Factory-Applied Coatings on Wood Products to Stains and Reagents

D3134-15(2024)

Standard Practice for Establishing Color and Gloss Tolerances

D3168-85(2022)

Standard Practice for Qualitative Identification of Polymers in Emulsion Paints

D3170-12

Standard Test Method for Chipping Resistance of Coatings

D3278-21

Standard Test Methods for Flash Point of Liquids by Small Scale Closed-Cup Apparatus

D3281-84(1989)

Test Method for Formability of Attached Organic Coatings with Impact-Wedge Bend Apparatus (Withdrawn 1995)

D3359-23

Standard Test Methods for Rating Adhesion by Tape Test

D3361-01

Standard Practice for Unfiltered Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings

D3793-06

Standard Test Method for Low-Temperature Coalescence of Latex Paint Films by Porosity Measurement (Withdrawn 2012)

D3924-24

Standard Specification for Standard Environment for Conditioning and Testing Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related Materials

D3925-02(2022)

Standard Practice for Sampling Liquid Paints and Related Pigmented Coatings

D3928-00a(2025)

Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Gloss or Sheen Uniformity (Includes all amendments and changes 8/14/2025).

D870-25

Standard Practice for Testing Water Resistance of Coatings Using Water Immersion

D1150-55(1987)

Single and Multi-Panel Forms for Recording Results of Exposure Tests of Paints (Withdrawn 1991)

D1200-23

Standard Test Method for Viscosity by Ford Viscosity Cup

D869-21

Standard Test Method for Evaluating Degree of Settling of Paint

D56-22

Standard Test Method for Flash Point by Tag Closed Cup Tester

D344-11

Standard Test Method for Relative Hiding Power of Paints by the Visual Evaluation of Brushouts

D523-25

Standard Test Method for Specular Gloss

D658-91

Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by Air Blast Abrasive (Withdrawn 1996)

B117-26

Standard Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus

B287-74

Method of Acetic Acid-Salt Spray (Fog) Testing (Withdrawn 1987)

D16-1989

Suggested Procedure for Development of Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans - (To Assist Conformance to Requirements of Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 112)

D93-26

Standard Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester

D185-07(2023)

Standard Test Methods for Coarse Particles in Pigments

D215-91(2002)

Standard Practice for the Chemical Analysis of White Linseed Oil Paints (Withdrawn 2005)

D522-93a(2001)

Standard Test Methods for Mandrel Bend Test of Attached Organic Coatings

D562-10(2023)

Standard Test Method for Consistency of Paints Measuring Krebs Unit (KU) Viscosity Using a Stormer-Type Viscometer

D609-17(2022)

Standard Practice for Preparation of Cold-Rolled Steel Panels for Testing Paint, Varnish, Conversion Coatings, and Related Coating Products

D659-86

Method of Evaluating Degree of Chalking of Exterior Paints (Withdrawn 1989)

D660-93(2019)

Standard Test Method for Evaluating Degree of Checking of Exterior Paints

D661-93(2019)

Standard Test Method for Evaluating Degree of Cracking of Exterior Paints

D662-93(2019)

Standard Test Method for Evaluating Degree of Erosion of Exterior Paints

D714-25

Standard Test Method for Evaluating Degree of Blistering of Paints

D772-24

Standard Test Method for Evaluating Degree of Flaking (Scaling) of Exterior Paints

D822-23

Standard Practice for Filtered Open-Flame Carbon-Arc Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings

D823-18(2022)

Standard Practices for Producing Films of Uniform Thickness of Paint, Coatings and Related Products on Test Panels

D4062-24

Standard Test Method for Leveling of Paints by Draw-Down Method

D4399-05(2023)

Standard Test Method for Measuring Electrical Conductivity of Electrocoat Baths

D4585-07

Standard Practice for Testing Water Resistance of Coatings Using Controlled Condensation

D4587-23

Standard Practice for Fluorescent UV-Condensation Exposures of Paint and Related Coatings

E70-24

Standard Test Method for pH of Aqueous Solutions With the Glass Electrode

4331.1

Test Method