Designation: D 5402 – 93

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS

100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Practice for

Assessing the Solvent Resistance of Organic Coatings
Using Solvent Rubs1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5402; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This practice describes a solvent rub technique for 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
assessing the solvent resistance of an organic coating that 3.1.1 double rub—the act of rubbing a cloth in one complete
chemically changes during the curing process. This technique forward and back motion over a coated surface.
can be used in the laboratory, in the field, or in the fabricating
shop. Test Method D 4752 is the preferred method for ethyl 4. Significance and Use
silicate zinc-rich primers. 4.1 Coatings that chemically change during the curing
1.2 This practice does not specify the solvent, number of process, such as epoxies, vinyl esters, polyesters, alkyds and
double rubs, or expected test results. urethanes, become more resistance to solvents as they cure.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the These coatings should reach specific levels of solvent resis-
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the tance prior to being topcoated and prior to placing in service;
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- the levels of solvent resistance necessary vary with the type of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- coating and the intended service. Rubbing with a cloth satu-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Consult the rated with the appropriate solvent is one way to determine
supplier’s Material Safety Data Sheet for specific hazard when a specific level of solvent resistance is reached. However,
information relating to the solvent used. the level of solvent resistance by itself does not indicate full
cure and some coatings become solvent resistant before they
2. Referenced Documents become sufficiently cured for service.
2.1 ASTM Standards: 4.2 The time required to reach a specific level of solvent
D 235 Specification for Mineral Spirits (Petroleum Spirits) resistance can be influenced by temperature, film thickness, air
(Hydrocarbon Dry Cleaning Solvent)2 movement and, for water-borne or water-reactive coatings,
D 523 Test Method for Specular Gloss3 humidity.
D 740 Specification for Methyl Ethyl Ketone2 4.3 The test solvent’s effect upon the coating varies with
D 843 Specification for Nitration Grade Xylene2 coating type and solvent used. The coating manufacturer may
D 1186 Test Methods for Nondestructive Measurement of specify the solvent, the number of double rubs, and the specific
Dry Film Thickness of Nonmagnetic Coatings Applied to test results needed.
a Ferrous Base3
D 1400 Test Method for Nondestructive Measurement of 5. Materials and Equipment
Dry Film Thickness of Nonconductive Coatings Applied to 5.1 Solvent:
a Nonferrous Metal Base3 5.1.1 Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), conforming to Specifi-
D 3363 Test Method for Film Hardness by Pencil Test3 cation D 740, or
D 4138 Test Method for Measurement of Dry Film Thick- 5.1.2 Mineral Spirits, conforming to Specification D 235, or
ness of Protective Coating System by Destructive Means4 5.1.3 Xylene, conforming to Specification D 843, or
D 4752 Test Method for Measuring MEK Resistance of 5.1.4 Other Solvents, as specified by the coating manufac-
Ethyl Silicate (Inorganic) Zinc-Rich Primers by Solvent turer or user.
Rub4 5.2 Cheesecloth, 100 % cotton mesh size grade 28 by 24,
approximately 12 by 12 in. (300 by 300 mm) and contrasting
in color to the coating being evaluated, or other mutually
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM D-1 on Paint and Related agreed upon cloth.
Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcom-
mittee D01.46 on Industrial Protective Coatings.
Current edition approved May 15, 1993. Published July 1993.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.04.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.02.

1
 D 5402
5.3 Proper Safety Equipment, as determined from the sol- fingernail hardness and visual changes in appearance, compar-
vent MSDS, for example, solvent resistant gloves, respirator. ing the rubbed area with an adjacent unrubbed area. Gloss and
hardness will tend to return to initial values as recovery time
6. Procedure increases. If numerical values or ratings are desired, gloss may
6.1 Select areas on the coated surface at least 6-in. (150- be measured in accordance with Test Method D 523 and pencil
mm) long on which to run the tests. Clean the surface with tap hardness with Test Method D 3363. Measure the film thickness
water to remove any loose material and allow to dry. of the rubbed area by the same method used in 6.3. Visually
6.2 Measure the dry-film thickness of the coating in the examine the cloth for indications of coating removal.
selected areas in accordance with Test Methods D 1186,
D 1400 or D 4138. Mark a 6- by 1-in. (150- by 25-mm) 7. Report
rectangular test area on the undamaged cleaned surface using a
7.1 Report, as a minimum, the following information:
pencil or other suitable solvent resistant marker.
7.1.1 Solvent used,
6.3 Fold the cotton cloth into a pad of double thickness and
saturate it to a dripping wet condition with the specified 7.1.2 Number of double rubs,
solvent. Do not allow more than 10 s to elapse before 7.1.3 Film thickness before rubbing and after rubbing, and
preceeding to the next steps. 7.1.4 Results of visual examination of cloth for indication of
6.4 Place the properly protected index finger into the center coating removal.
of the pad while holding excess cloth with the thumb and 7.2 Additional information, such as temperature, humidity,
remaining fingers of the same hand. With the index finger at a weather conditions, elaped time between coating applications
45° angle to the test surface, rub the rectangular test area with and conducting the test can affect test results and should be
moderate pressure first away from the operator and then back reported whenever possible.
towards the operator. One forward and back motion is one 7.3 Appendix X1 contains a “Solvent Double Rub Test”
double rub, and complete at the rate of approximately 1/s. form that may be helpful in reporting test results.
6.5 Continue rubbing the test area for a total of 25 double
rubs. Take care to stay within the rectangular test area. 8. Precision and Bias
6.6 If additional solvent rubs are specified, reposition the
8.1 Precision—The precision is being determined.
finger on an unused clean portion of the cloth and resaturate the
cloth with the selected solvent to a dripping wet condition. Do 8.2 Bias—Since there is no accepted reference material,
not allow more than 10 s to elapse before continuing the double bias cannot be determined.
rub procedure on the marked test area for an additional 25
double rubs. Repeat this step until reaching the specified test 9. Keywords
criteria. 9.1 coating; curing characteristics; double rub method; dry-
6.7 Immediately inspect the middle 5 in. (125 mm) of the ing or curing; paint; recoat time; service time; solvent resis-
rubbed area, disregarding 1⁄2 in. (13 mm) at each end, for tance; solvent rub method

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. SOLVENT DOUBLE RUB TEST

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 D 5402

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