SSPC-Paint 29

February 24, 2014

SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings

Coating Specification No. 29
Zinc Dust Pigmented Primer, Performance-Based

1. Scope 3. Referenced Standards

1.1 This specification covers highly pigmented primers that 3.1 The latest issue, revision, or amendment of the refer-
contain zinc dust as the major pigment component (minimum enced documents in effect on the date of invitation to bid shall
65% by weight in the dry film) and are defined by their ability govern unless otherwise specified. Those documents marked
to protect ferrous substrates. Individual products meeting with an asterisk (*) are referenced only in the Notes or the
minimum performance requirements of this standard may vary Appendix, which are not requirements of this specification.
in formulation, raw materials, and application characteristics.
SSPC-Paint 20 is a performance standard for inorganic or 3.2 If there is a conflict between the requirements of any
organic zinc-rich coatings that includes options for specifying of the cited referenced documents and this specification, the
higher zinc loading levels in the dry coating film. requirements of this specification shall prevail.

1.2 This specification does not cover weldable precon- 3.3 SSPC STANDARDS AND JOINT STANDARDS:
struction primers such as SSPC-Paint 30.
SSPC-Guide 13 Guide for the Identification
1.3 This coating is intended for application by spray for and Use of Industrial Coating
use by itself or as a primer in a multi-coat system. Material in Computerized
Product Databases
2. Description SSPC-PA 2 Procedure for Determining
Compliance with Coating
2.1 Zinc-rich coatings, both topcoated and untopcoated, Thickness Requirements
have been used successfully in a wide variety of environ- SSPC-PA 15 Material and Preparation
mental zones. For a detailed breakdown of applicability of Require­ments for Steel Test
various types of zinc-rich coatings in different environmental Panels Used to Evaluate the
zones, refer to Table 1 of SSPC-PS Guide 12.00. Consult the Performance of Industrial
coating manufacturer for specific exposure recommendations Coatings
(see Note 12.1). SSPC-PA 16 Method for Evaluating Scribe
Undercutting on Coated
2.2 Zinc-rich coatings are classified by vehicle type as Steel Test Panels Following
follows: Corrosion Testing
Type IA Inorganic – post-cured, water-borne, alkali * SSPC-Paint 20 Zinc-Rich Coating, Type I –
silicates Inorganic and Type II ­– Organic
Type IB Inorganic – self-cured, solvent-borne, alkyl * SSPC-Paint 30 Weld-Through Inorganic Zinc
silicates Primer
Type 1C Inorganic – self-cured, solvent-borne alkyl SSPC-PS Guide 12.00 Guide to Zinc-Rich Coating
silicates Systems
Type IIA Organic - thermoplastic binders SSPC-SP 1 Solvent Cleaning
Type IIB Organic - thermoset binders SSPC-SP 5/NACE No. 1 White Metal Blast Cleaning
SSPC-VIS 2 Guide and Visual Reference
SSPC PS 12.00 contains more information on the above Photographs for Evaluating
classifications. Degree of Rusting on Painted
Steel Surfaces
2.3 If no vehicle type is specified, either ­­Type I – Inorganic
(IOZ), or Type II – Organic (OZ) is acceptable. 3.4 ASTM INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS:1

2.4 COMPONENTS: These zinc dust primers may consist ASTM D185 Test Methods for Coarse Particles
of one, two, or three components. in Pigments, Pastes, and Paints
1
ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. For refer-
enced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, <http://www.astm.org>, or contact ASTM
Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards volume infor-
mation, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.

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ASTM D520 Specification for Zinc Dust Pigment 4. Composition Requirements

ASTM D521 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis
of Zinc Dust (Metallic Zinc Powder) 4.1 PIGMENTATION
* ASTM D562 Test Method for Consistency Measuring
Krebs Unit (KU) Viscosity of Paints 4.1.1 The major pigment component in these coatings is
Using a Stormer-type Viscometer zinc dust of the type described in ASTM D520 (see Note 12.3)
ASTM D714 Test Method for Evaluating Degree and determined in accordance with ASTM D521. The paint
of Blistering of Paints shall contain a minimum of 65% zinc dust pigment by weight
ASTM D823 Standard Practices for Producing in the dry film.
Films of Uniform Thickness of Paint,
Varnish, and Related Products on 4.1.2 Other pigment components may include extenders,
Test Panels (Method D) curing aids, tinting colors, and suspension and pot-life control
ASTM D1141 Standard Practices for Substitute agents.
Ocean Water
* ASTM D1475 Test Method for Density of 4.2 ANALYTICAL TEST DATA: If mutually agreed upon
Liquid Coatings, Inks, and Related by purchaser and supplier, the coating manufacturer shall
Products provide records of chemical and physical analysis of coating
* ASTM D1535 Practice for Specifying Color by batches qualified by independent testing to meet this standard,
the Munsell System including ASTM D520 Type, and percentage of metallic zinc
ASTM D1640 Test Methods for Drying, Curing, loading (see Note 12.3).
or Film Formation of Organic
Coatings at Room Temperature 5. Standard Testing Conditions
ASTM D1654 Test Method for Evaluation of Painted
or Coated Specimens Subjected to 5.1 TEST PANELS: The hot rolled steel test panels shall
Corrosive Environments conform to requirements of SSPC-PA 15, with the exception of
* ASTM D2369 Test Method for Volatile Content of SSPC-PA 15, Section 4.3 (Cure). Unless otherwise specified,
Coatings the minimum cure time for organic zinc rich coatings prior to
* ASTM D2621 Test Method for Infrared testing shall be 7 days, and the minimum cure time for inor-
Identification of Vehicle Solids ganic zinc coatings shall be 30 days.
from Solvent-Reducible Paints
* ASTM D4541 Standard Method for Pull-Off Strength 5.2 DRY FILM THICKNESS: The dry film thickness (DFT)
of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion of the coating on the test panels shall meet the manufac-
Testers turer’s written recommended minimum and shall not exceed
ASTM D5894 Standard Practice for Cyclic Salt the manufacturer’s stated minimum by more than 25 microm-
Fog/UV Exposure of Painted Metal, eters (1 mil). The DFT shall be measured in accordance with
(Alternating Exposures in a Fog/Dry Sections A5.3 through A5.5 of Appendix 5 of SSPC-PA 2.
Cabinet and a UV/Condensation
6. Requirements of Liquid Coating
Cabinet)

3.5 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND The coating shall not have exceeded the manufacturer’s
TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (AASHTO) STANDARD:2 stated shelf life prior to testing.

*AASHTO M300 Inorganic Zinc Rich Primer 6.1 MIXING: The liquid portion of a multi-component
coating shall be mixed and dispersed to produce a product
3.6 AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE that is uniform, stable, free from grit, and in conformance with
(ANSI) STANDARDS:3 the requirements of this specification.

ANSI/ASME B94.50 Basic Nomenclature and Definitions 6.1.1 The pigment portion of a multi-component coating
for Single-Point Cutting Tools (if supplied as a dust) shall be dry and loosely packed prior to
mixing.
3.7 UNITED NATIONS STANDARD4
6.1.2 The ready-mixed coating shall be capable of being
GHS Globally Harmonized System of dispersed under mechanical agitation to a smooth, uniform
Classification and Labelling of
consistency and shall not show any objectionable properties
Chemicals (GHS), 4th Revised Edition.
in the mix.
2
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, 444 North Capitol
Street, NW, Suite 249, Washington DC 20001, 202-624-5800. Standards are available
online at <https://bookstore.transportation.org> 6.1.3 After mixing, all types of coarse particles and skins
3
American National Standards Institute, 1819 L Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC as residue retained on a standard 60 mesh screen shall be no
20036. Standards available online from <http://www.ansi.org>
4
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Transport Division, Palais des Nations, more than 0.5% by weight of the total coating, regardless of
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. Copies of this standard may be obtained from the
United Nations Publications Customer Service, National Book Network, 15200, 15200 NBN type, in accordance with ASTM D185.
Way, Ridge Summit PA 17124 < https://unp.un.org>
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6.2 STORAGE LIFE: Neither the vehicle of the multi- 8.1.3.2 Type II: After the specified exposure time, the
component coating nor the ready-mixed coating shall show average scribe undercutting for Type II coatings shall be no
thickening that is detrimental to performance or application greater than 3.2 mm (1/8 inch) as determined in accordance
properties. The components or coating shall exhibit no curdling, with SSPC-PA 16.
gelling, gassing, or hard caking after being stored unmixed for
a minimum of six months from date of manufacture in a tightly 8.2 ADHESION OF PRIMER FOLLOWING CYCLIC
sealed, unopened container at a temperature of 10 to 32°C CORROSION/UV CABINET TESTING (TYPES I AND II):
(50 to 90°F). Unscribed portions of the triplicate test panels exposed as
described in Section 8.1 shall be tested according to ASTM
6.3 WORKING PROPERTIES: The mixed coating shall D4541 Method E using a Type V adhesion tester. Four pulls
spray easily and show no signs of streaking, running, sagging, shall be performed on each panel. The minimum adhe­sion
or other objectionable features when applied in accordance value of each pull shall be 4.1 MPa (600 psi) for both Type I
with the coating manufacturer’s product data sheet. The film and Type II coatings. A summary of adhesion requirements is
should show no streaking, running, sagging, or other objec- provided in Table 2.
tionable features when applied in accordance with ASTM
D823, Method D, and dried in a vertical position. 10. Labeling

7. Laboratory Physical Tests of Applied Films 10.1 Labeling shall conform to ANSI Z129.1.

7.1 MUDCRACKING: The coating, when applied and aged 10.2 Technical data shall be provided for at least all data
in accordance with Sections 5.1, 5.2, and 5.4 to a 125 microm- elements categorized as “essential” in SSPC-Guide 13.
eter (5 mil) minimum dry film thickness, shall show no signs of
mudcracking visible to the eye unaided by magnification. 11. Disclaimer

7.2 ADHESION OF CURED PRIMER: The coating, when 11.1 While every precaution is taken to ensure that all
applied, dried, and cured in accordance with Section 5, shall information furnished in SSPC standards and specifications is
be tested as described in ASTM D 4541 Method E using a as accurate, complete, and useful as possible, SSPC cannot
Type V adhesion tester. The test shall be performed on three assume responsibility nor incur any obligation resulting from
panels using four pulls per panel. The minimum adhe­sion the use of any materials, coatings, or methods specified herein,
value of each pull shall be 4.1 MPa (600 psi). or of the specification or standard itself.

8. Accelerated Laboratory Weathering Tests 11.2 This specification does not attempt to address prob-
lems concerning safety associated with its use. The user of
8.1 CYCLIC CORROSION/UV EXPOSURE TEST: this specification, as well as the user of all products or prac-
Triplicate panels prepared in accordance with Section tices described herein, is responsible for instituting appropriate
5 shall be exposed in a cyclic corrosion/UV test cabinet health and safety practices and for ensuring compliance with
in accordance with ASTM D 5894. Both Type I and all governmental regulations.
Type II coatings shall be exposed for 5040 hours. A
summary of corrosion testing requirements is provided in 12. Notes
Table 1.
Notes are not requirements of this standard.
8.1.1 Rust Evaluation (Types I and II): After the specified
12.1 USES: This primer covers a range of vehicle types
exposure time, each replicate panel shall have no rusting of
(inorganic/organic, water-borne/solvent-borne, one-pack/two-
the coated portion. Slight rusting in the scribe mark is permis-
pack/three-pack, chemical curing/thermoplastic). A detailed
sible and resulting staining should be ignored. Strips 6 mm (1/4
description of environmental zone conditions is contained
inch) wide along the edges of the panel may be ignored.
in “About SSPC Standards and Guides,” available as a free
8.1.2 Blister Evaluation (Types I and II): After the speci- download from SSPC.5 Consult SSPC-PS Guide 12.00 and
fied exposure time, there shall be no blistering of the coated coating manufacturers for specific uses and exposure limita-
portion. tions. PS Guide 12.00 does not address zinc dust loading.
Caution should be used when zinc-rich coatings contact
8.1.3 Scribe Evaluation Requirements austenitic stainless steel. In case of fire, molten zinc metal may
cause embrittlement of austenitic stainless steel.
8.1.3.1 Type I: After the specified exposure time, the
average scribe undercutting for Type I coatings shall be no 12.2 VOC CONTENT: Federal limits for VOCs in indus-
greater than 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) as determined in accordance trial maintenance coatings were published in 1998 and may
with SSPC-PA 16.
5
URL address is <http://www.sspc.org/media/documents/Technical_Committee_Docu-
ments/1-01_how_to_use.pdf>

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TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF CORROSION TESTING REQUIREMENTS

Rust Rating, Average Scribe

Number of Exposure Blister Rating,
Coating Type Time SSPC-VIS 2/ Undercutting,
Specimens Type ASTM D714
ASTM D610 SSPC-PA 16*

Accelerated 5040 All 10 All 10 maximum 1.6 mm

Type I (IOZ) 3
(ASTM D 5894) Hours (no blistering) (no blistering) (1/16 inch)

maximum 3.2 mm
Accelerated All 10 All 10
Type II (OZ) 3 5040 (1/8 inch)
(ASTM D 5894) (no blistering) (no blistering)
Hours
* Note that due to the cathodic protection of scribe by zinc primers, scribes may be difficult to see.

TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF ADHESION TESTING REQUIREMENTS

Adhesion, Types I and II

Number of (ASTM D 4541, Method E,
Coating Type Cure Time
Specimens Type V tester)
Minimum Value
Cured Panels 3 Type I (IOZ) 30 days minimum
4.1 MPa (600 psi)
(prior to D5894
for each of 4 pulls
exposure) 3 Type II (OZ) 7 days minimum

Accelerated Exposure
Time
Exposed Panels 3 Type I (IOZ) ASTM D 5894 4.1 MPa (600 psi)
(after D5894
5040 hours for each of 4 pulls
exposure) 3 Type II (OZ)

be found at http://www.epa.gov. These limits apply to the 12.5 QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTS: If the user
coating at the time of application after thinning according to chooses, tests may be used to determine the acceptability of a
the manufacturer’s recommendations. Many state and local lot or batch of a qualified coating. The quality assurance tests
governments and/or air quality management areas have are used to determine whether the supplied products are of
more stringent VOC regulations than those in the federal rule. the same type and quality as those originally tested and certi-
Information on the VOC content of each container before fied for acceptance. The selected tests should accurately and
mixing or thinning is found on the container label and in the rapidly measure the physical and chemical characteristics of
manufacturer’s safety data sheet. The coating manufacturer’s the coating necessary to verify that the supplied material is
product data sheet usually provides information on the total substantially the same as the previously accepted material.
VOC content of a coating after mixing and any recommended All of the quality assurance tests must be performed on the
thinning. originally submitted qualification sample. The results of these
tests are used to establish pass/fail criteria for quality assur-
12.3 Zinc dust is known to contain varying amounts ance testing of supplied products.
of heavy metals that may pose worker exposure hazards.
Applicable regulations to ensure worker and environmental 12.5.1 Establishing Quality Assurance Acceptance
protection should be followed. Criteria: Many ASTM test methods contain precision and bias
statements. Specification developers should be cognizant of
12.4 SOURCES FOR OTHER TESTS: Standard tests the fact that these statements exist. Quality assurance test
that may be useful for further qualification are available from criteria should not be more stringent than the interlaboratory
a number of organizations, including ASTM, U.S. Government precision of the test methods used.
Federal and Military Specifications (TT-P; MIL-P, etc.), Federal
Test Method Standards (141), and the Canadian Government 12.5.2 Recommended Quality Assurance Tests:
Specifications Board. However, it should be emphasized that Recommended quality assurance tests include but are not
a well-designed non-standard test may often provide more limited to, infrared analysis (ASTM D 2621), viscosity (ASTM
meaningful information for a given service condition than one D 562), weight per gallon (ASTM D 1475), total solids (ASTM
or more standard tests. Some supplementary performance D 2369), dry time (ASTM D 1640), percent pigment (ASTM D
tests are described in the Appendix. 2371), and color (ASTM D 1535).

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13. Disclaimer after the tape is removed must be cleaned from the panel with
mineral spirits or other suitable methods that will not damage
13.1 This is a consensus standard developed by SSPC: the test coating. Coat and seal all edges and the back side of
The Society for Protective Coatings. While every precaution each panel with a coating or tape that will provide the neces-
is taken to ensure that all information furnished in SSPC stan- sary protection to these surfaces. Once the zinc dust primer
dards and specifications is as accurate, complete, and useful has cured for a minimum of two weeks, the panels are placed
as possible, SSPC cannot assume responsibility nor incur any in a one-liter (one-quart) jar, which is filled with a 5% sodium
obligation resulting from the use of any materials, coatings, or chloride solution. The water is changed weekly.
methods specified herein, or of the specification or standard
itself. A1.3 Rating and Evaluation Criteria: The time at which
visible rust first appears anywhere on the panel is recorded. A
13.2 This standard does not attempt to address prob- coating will have passed the bullet hole test if none of the repli-
lems concerning safety associated with its use. The user of cate panels exhibits visible rust within 21 days for an inorganic
this standard, as well as the user of all products or practices zinc primer or within 14 days for an organic zinc primer.
described herein, is responsible for instituting appropriate
health and safety practices and for ensuring compliance with A1.4 Additional Notes: Experimental results on bullet
all governmental regulations. hole testing of various zinc-rich coatings are given in SSPC
Report 87-02, “Level of Zinc Required in Zinc-Rich Paints.”
NONMANDATORY APPENDIX A: SUPPLEMENTARY A similar bullet hole immersion test is described in AASHTO
PERFORMANCE TESTS M300.

While not required to meet the requirements of this A2 FUEL AND SALT WATER IMMERSION
specification, the following or other performance tests may be
valuable to the purchaser because of the diversity of possible A2.1 Significance of Test: Inorganic zinc-rich coatings
service environments in which these primers may be used. have been used in ballast tanks, which are alternately exposed
Agreement between contracting parties as to these tests to petroleum fuel and seawater ballast.
and results must be established before issuing procurement
documents. A2.2 Description of Test: A test developed by the U.S.
Navy calls for immersion of two blast cleaned and coated
A1 BULLET HOLE TEST panels in the following cycle: one week in 3% salt water; one
week in aromatic synthetic gasoline; and two hours in hot
A1.1 Significance of Test: This test is intended to eval- (80°C, 176°F) synthetic sea water (to simulate cleaning condi-
uate the ability of a primer to sacrifice itself and cathodically tions). Details for making synthetic seawater are furnished in
protect adjacent areas of bare steel. ASTM D 1141.

A1.2 Description of Test: Test panels shall be triplicate A2.3 Evaluation Criteria: After 20 cycles, coatings are
flat mild steel plates, 75 x 150 x 1.6 mm (3 x 6 x 1/16 inches), required to exhibit no pinpoint rusting, no loss of adhesion,
blast cleaned to SSPC-SP 5. A magnet, tape, or other suitable no blisters larger than 1.5 millimeters (1/16 inch) in diameter,
method is to be used to mask a 3.8 cm (1.5 inch) diameter circle and no more than 3% of the surface covered with rust and/or
in the center of the panel. Coating shall be applied according to blisters.
the manufacturer’s specifications, including recommended dry
film thickness. If masking tape is used, any residue remaining

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