Procedure for X-CUT TAPE TEST METHOD-ASTM D3359-02

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Standard Test Methods for Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test

7. Procedure

7.1 Select an area free of blemishes and minor surface imperfections. For tests in the field, ensure that the surface is clean and dry. Extremes in temperature or relative humidity may affect the adhesion of the tape or the coating.

7.1.1 For specimens which have been immersed: After immersion, clean and wipe the surface with an appropriate solvent which will not harm the integrity of the coating. Then dry or prepare the surface, or both, as agreed upon between the purchaser and the seller.

7.2 Make two cuts in the film each about 40 mm (1.5 in.) long that intersect near their middle with a smaller angle of between 30 and 45°. When making the incisions, use the straightedge and cut through the coating to the substrate in one steady motion.

7.3 Inspect the incisions for reflection of light from the metal substrate to establish that the coating film has been penetrated. If the substrate has not been reached make another X in a different location. Do not attempt to deepen a previous cut as this may affect adhesion along the incision.

7.4 Remove two complete laps of the pressure-sensitive tape from the roll and discard. Remove an additional length at a steady (that is, not jerked) rate and cut a piece about 75 mm (3 in.) long.

7.5 Place the center of the tape at the intersection of the cuts with the tape running in the same direction as the smaller angles. Smooth the tape into place by finger in the area of the incisions and then rub firmly with the eraser on the end of a pencil. The color under the transparent tape is a useful indication of when good contact has been made.

7.6 Within 90 6 30 s of application, remove the tape by seizing the free end and pulling it off rapidly (not jerked) back upon itself at as close to an angle of 180° as possible.

7.7 Inspect the X-cut area for removal of coating from the substrate or previous coating and rate the adhesion in accordance with the following scale:

5A No peeling or removal,
4A Trace peeling or removal along incisions or at their intersection,
3A Jagged removal along incisions up to 1.6 mm (1⁄16 in.) on either side,
2A Jagged removal along most of incisions up to 3.2 mm (1⁄8 in.) on either side,
1A Removal from most of the area of the X under the tape, and
0A Removal beyond the area of the X.

7.8 Repeat the test in two other locations on each test panel.For large structures make sufficient tests to ensure that the adhesion evaluation is representative of the whole surface.

7.9 After making several cuts examine the cutting edge and, if necessary, remove any flat spots or wire-edge by abrading lightly on a fine oil stone before using again. Discard cutting tools that develop nicks or other defects that tear the film.

8. Report

8.1 Report the number of tests, their mean and range, and for coating systems, where the failure occurred that is, between first coat and substrate, between first and second coat, etc.

8.2 For field tests report the structure or article tested, the location and the environmental conditions at the time of testing.

8.3 For test panels report the substrate employed, the type of coating, the method of cure, and the environmental conditions at the time of testing.

8.4 If the adhesion strength of the tape has been determined in accordance with Test Methods D 1000 or D 3330, report the results with the adhesion rating(s). If the adhesion strength of the tape has not been determined, report the specific tape used and its manufacturer.

8.5 If the test is performed after immersion, report immersion conditions and method of sample preparation.

9. Precision and Bias

9.1 In an interlaboratory study of this test method in which operators in six laboratories made one adhesion measurement on three panels each of three coatings covering a wide range of adhesion, the within-laboratories standard deviation was found to be 0.33 and the between-laboratories 0.44. Based on these standard deviations, the following criteria should be used for judging the acceptability of results at the 95 % confidence level:

9.1.1 Repeatability—Provided adhesion is uniform over a large surface, results obtained by the same operator should be considered suspect if they differ by more than 1 rating unit for two measurements.

9.1.2 Reproducibility—Two results, each the mean of triplicates, obtained by different operators should be considered suspect if they differ by more than 1.5 rating units.

9.2 Bias cannot be established for these test methods