Designation: D6900 − 10 (Reapproved 2015)

Standard Test Method for

Wet Adhesion of Latex Paints to a Gloss Alkyd Enamel
Substrate1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6900; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 4. Summary of Test Method

1.1 This method covers a procedure for measuring by 4.1 Test paints, with optional control paint, are drawn down
scrubbing the adhesion of latex paints to glossy alkyd enamel using a 7-mil clearance Dow applicator (~11 m2/L) across a
substrates after exposure to wet conditions. cured alkyd gloss enamel previously drawn down on a black or
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the white plastic panel.
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information 4.2 The drawdown films are allowed to dry under standard-
only. ized conditions. Then, eighteen cuts are made to form a 6 by 10
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the cut block, creating sixty 6.4 mm (0.25 in) squares, in the center
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the of each film with a razor blade.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 4.3 The panels are then soaked for 30 min in ambient tap
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. water. The panel is mounted in a washability tester and 20 mL
of water are applied. The panel is then scrubbed for up to 500
2. Referenced Documents cycles or until all of the squares within each block are
completely removed.
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
D523 Test Method for Specular Gloss 5. Significance and Use
D714 Test Method for Evaluating Degree of Blistering of
Paints 5.1 After application to either interior or exterior surfaces,
D2486 Test Methods for Scrub Resistance of Wall Paints latex paints may be subjected to conditions of high humidity,
D3924 Specification for Environment for Conditioning and condensation, or precipitation. This may sometimes lead to a
Testing Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related Materials loss of adhesion to the substrate over which they have been
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to applied. This method is a quantitative measure of the adhesion
Determine the Precision of a Test Method of latex paints to glossy substrates under such conditions.
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
ASTM Test Methods 6. Apparatus
6.1 Constant temperature/humidity room in accordance with
3. Terminology
Specification D3924 [23 6 2°C (73.5 6 3.5°F) and 50 6 5 %
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: relative humidity].
3.1.1 wet adhesion, n—the ability of a coating to resist
removal by scrubbing from the surface beneath it after expo- 6.2 Drawdown Plate.
sure to wet conditions and abrasion. 6.3 Straight Line Washability Tester and Accessories, per
Test Methods D2486.

1
6.4 Nylon Bristle Brush and Accessories (nominal weight
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint
and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of 455 g), having nylon brush bristles in 5/4 pattern extending 19
Subcommittee D01.42 on Architectural Coatings. mm (3⁄4 in.) from block (as per Test Methods D2486).
Current edition approved June 1, 2015. Published June 2015. Originally
approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D6900 – 10. 6.5 Dow Film Applicator, having 7-mil (0.18-mm) clearance
DOI:10.1520/D6900-10R15. by 5.2-in. (132-mm) width. applicator blade.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM 6.6 Single-edge Razor Blade, in safety holder.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. 6.7 Metal Straight Edge, (or appropriate guide).

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 D6900 − 10 (2015)
NOTE 2—Since humidity and temperature both markedly influence the
rate at which paint dries, a constant temperature/humidity room is strongly
recommended in order to achieve reproducible results using this method.
8.2.3 Condition, break in and rinse the scrub brush as
specified in Test Methods D2486.
8.2.4 Using a metal straightedge or suitable guide, make
eighteen razor blade cuts, spaced 6.4 mm (0.25 in.) apart
forming a 6 by 10 array with a razor blade in the center of each
paint (See Fig. 1). Each cut should be made in one steady
motion with sufficient pressure to cut, but not tear the latex
paint film. (Warning—Avoid cutting completely through the
alkyd enamel into the plastic substrate.)
8.2.5 Submerge each panel face-up for 30 min in a flat
FIG. 1 Illustration container of ambient tap water, being careful not to bend the
substrate.
7. Reagents and Materials 8.2.6 Remove the panel from the water and quickly examine
the panel for blistering, per Test Method D714 (optional).
7.1 A ready-mix deep-tint alkyd gloss enamel with a 60° Immediately secure the panel in the washability tester using the
gloss of at least 65 as measured in accordance with Test gasketed frame accessory, ensuring that the array is in the path
Method D523 (or alkyd as agreed upon by the purchaser and of the brush. Place 20 mL of water in the path of the brush and
supplier). start the machine.
7.2 Plastic test panels as used in Test Methods D2486.3 8.2.7 Observe each test paint to determine its point of
adhesive failure. Record the number of cycles when 100 %
8. Procedure adhesive failure occurs or the percent adhesive failure at 500
8.1 Preparation of the Alkyd Substrate Panels—Attach the cycles. If the test paint is not removed within 500 cycles, the
plastic panel to the drawdown plate and drawdown the alkyd test is terminated. Since the array is larger than the brush for
gloss enamel lengthwise using a 7-mil clearance Dow appli- ease of placement, only rate the path of the brush.
cator. The time for application should be fairly slow—3 to 4 s
from end to end. The drawdown must be free of ridges, 9. Report
holidays, specks, or other imperfections, which may affect 9.1 Record any blistering, per Test Method D714 (optional).
adhesion. 9.2 The number of cycles for 100 % adhesive failure or
8.1.1 Allow the alkyd gloss enamel to air-dry in a horizontal percent adhesive failure after 500 cycles.
position. Allow to cure typically for a minimum of three weeks.
Panels are to be used between three to six weeks from the date 9.3 The wet film thickness of the gloss alkyd enamel and
of preparation. Wet adhesion with some latex paints may be latex test paints if different than those specified in this test
dramatically reduced if the alkyd is allowed to cure for more method.
than six weeks. 9.4 The drying time and conditions used, if different than
8.2 Application and Evaluation of Test Paints: those specified in this test method.
8.2.1 Attach the cured alkyd enamel-coated plastic panel to 9.5 Report alkyd used in 7.1.
the drawdown plate and simultaneously drawdown test paint
9.6 Report any variation from the test method.
and an optional control paint side-by-side using the 7-mil
clearance Dow applicator. The time for application should be 10. Precision and Bias4
fairly slow—1 to 2 s from edge to edge. Each drawdown is
made perpendicular to the length of the panel and positioned so 10.1 The precision of this test method is based on an
that the drawdowns are contiguous (See Fig. 1). interlaboratory study of Test Method D6900, Standard Test
Method for Wet Adhesion of Latex Paints to a Gloss Alkyd
NOTE 1—Typically a control paint of known wet adhesion is recom- Enamel Substrate, conducted in 2007. Results in this study
mended for use in the method to limit the variability of results from test
to test. were obtained from five laboratories, testing six different
paints. Every “test result” reported represents an individual
8.2.2 Condition the panels for one week in the constant determination. Each participating laboratory reported four
temperature/humidity room as specified in Specification replicate test results for every material. Except for the inclusion
D3924 or under other conditions agreed upon by buyer and of only five laboratories, Practice E691 was followed for the
seller. Shorter conditioning times may be used if more stringent design and analysis of the data; the details are given in ASTM
measures of wet adhesion are needed, as in the case of Research Report RR:D01-1148.
determining a coating’s “early” wet adhesion.

3 4
This test method was qualified by a round robin using Leneta P-121-10N dull Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may
black plastic panels 61⁄2 by 17 in. by 10 mils (165 by 432 by 0.25 mm) in size, be obtained by requesting Research Report RR:D01-1148. Contact ASTM Customer
obtainable from the Leneta Co., 15 Whitney Rd, Mahwah, NJ 07430. Service at service@astm.org.

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 D6900 − 10 (2015)
TABLE 1 24 Hour (% failure)
Repeatability Reproducibility
Standard Standard Repeatability Reproducibility
A
Average Deviation Deviation Limit Limit
Panel Paint x̄ sr SR r R

A 0 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.7

B 0 0.4 0.4 1.0 1.1
C 100 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Green Alkyd
D 0 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.2
E 7 0.4 12.3 1.0 34.4
F 100 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

A 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

B 0 0.4 0.4 1.0 1.1
C 100 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Red Alkyd
D 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
E 19 24.6 36.6 68.9 102.5
F 100 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
A
The average of the laboratories’ calculated averages.

TABLE 2 7 Day (% failure)

Repeatability Reproducibility
Standard Standard Repeatability Reproducibility
AverageA Deviation Deviation Limit Limit
Panel Paint x̄ sr SR r R
A 0 0.0 0.5 0.0 1.4
B 1 0.0 1.0 0.0 2.8
C 100 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Green Alkyd
D 0 0.3 0.7 0.7 1.9
E 0 0.4 0.8 1.0 2.3
F 100 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

A 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

B 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
C 98 5.0 5.6 14.0 15.7
Red Alkyd
D 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
E 0 0.4 0.4 1.0 1.1
F 100 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
A
The average of the laboratories’ calculated averages.

10.1.1 Repeatability Limit (r)—Two test results obtained tained in this ILS must not be treated as exact mathematical
within one laboratory shall be judged not equivalent if they quantities which are applicable to all circumstances and uses.
differ by more than the “r” value for that material; “r” is the The limited number of materials tested and laboratories report-
interval representing the critical difference between two test ing results guarantees that there will be times when differences
results for the same material, obtained by the same operator greater than predicted by the ILS results will arise, sometimes
using the same equipment on the same day in the same with considerably greater or smaller frequency than the 95 %
laboratory. probability limit would imply. The repeatability limit and the
10.1.1.1 Repeatability limits are listed in Table 1 and Table reproducibility limit should be considered as general guides,
2. and the associated probability of 95 % as only a rough
10.1.2 Reproducibility Limit (R)—Two test results shall be indicator of what can be expected.
judged not equivalent if they differ by more than the “R” value
for that material; “R” is the interval representing the critical 10.2 Bias—At the time of the study, there was no accepted
difference between two test results for the same material, reference material suitable for determining the bias for this test
obtained by different operators using different equipment in method, therefore, no statement on bias is being made.
different laboratories.
10.3 The precision statement was determined through sta-
10.1.2.1 Reproducibility limits are listed in Table 1 and
tistical examination of 208 results, from four laboratories, on
Table 2.
six materials, and two substrates. Data from one outlier lab was
10.1.3 The above terms (repeatability limit and reproduc-
excluded from the calculations.
ibility limit) are used as specified in Practice E177.
10.1.4 Any judgment in accordance with statements 10.1.1
and 10.1.2 would normally have an approximate 95 % prob- 11. Keywords
ability of being correct, however the precision statistics ob- 11.1 wet adhesion

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 D6900 − 10 (2015)
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