Standard Test Methods for Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test

This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3359; 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

1.1 These test methods cover procedures for assessing the adhesion of coating films to metallic substrates by applying and removing pressure-sensitive tape over cuts made in the film.

1.2 Test Method A is primarily intended for use at job sites while Test Method B is more suitable for use in the laboratory.Also, Test Method B is not considered suitable for films thicker than 5 mils (125μm).

NOTE 1—Subject to agreement between the purchaser and the seller,Test Method B can be used for thicker films if wider spaced cuts are employed.

1.3 These test methods are used to establish whether the adhesion of a coating to a substrate is at a generally adequate level. They do not distinguish between higher levels of adhesion for which more sophisticated methods of measurement are required.

NOTE 2—It should be recognized that differences in adherability of the coating surface can affect the results obtained with coatings having the same inherent adhesion.

1.4 In multicoat systems adhesion failure may occur between coats so that the adhesion of the coating system to the substrate is not determined.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address the safety concerns, if any, 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

2.1 ASTM Standards:

• D 609 Practice for Preparation of Cold-Rolled Steel Panels for Testing Paint, Varnish, Conversion Coatings, and Related Coating Products2
• D 823 Practices for Producing Films of Uniform Thickness of Paint, Varnish, and Related Products on Test Panels.
• D 1000 Test Method For Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive-Coated Tapes Used for Electrical and Electronic Applications.
• D 1730 Practices for Preparation of Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Surfaces for Painting4
• D 2092 Guide for Preparation of Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) Steel Surfaces for Painting5
• D 2370 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Organic Coatings2
• D 3330 Test Method for Peel Adhesion of Pressure-Sensitive Tape 6
• D 3924 Specification for Standard Environment for Conditioning and Testing Paint, Varnish, Lacquer, and Related Materials
• D 4060 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by the Taber Abraser

3. Summary of Test Methods

3.1 Test Method A—An X-cut is made through the film to the substrate, pressure-sensitive tape is applied over the cut and then removed, and adhesion is assessed qualitatively on the 0 to 5 scale.

3.2 Test Method B—A lattice pattern with either six or eleven cuts in each direction is made in the film to the substrate, pressure-sensitive tape is applied over the lattice and then removed, and adhesion is evaluated by comparison with descriptions and illustrations.

4. Significance and Use

4.1 If a coating is to fulfill its function of protecting or decorating a substrate, it must adhere to it for the expected service life. Because the substrate and its surface preparation (or lack of it) have a drastic effect on the adhesion of coatings, a method to evaluate adhesion of a coating to different substrates or surface treatments, or of different coatings to the same substrate and treatment, is of considerable usefulness in the industry.

4.2 The limitations of all adhesion methods and the specific limitation of this test method to lower levels of adhesion (see 1.3) should be recognized before using it. The intra- and inter-laboratory precision of this test method is similar to other widely-accepted tests for coated substrates (for example, Test Method D 2370 and Test Method D 4060), but this is partly the result of it being insensitive to all but large differences in adhesion. The limited scale of 0 to 5 was selected deliberately to avoid a false impression of being sensitive.