Contents Introduction - 1. Adhesion - 2. Flexibility - 3. Hardness - 4. Abrasion Resistance - 5. Tensile Strength and Elongation - 6. Water and Moisture Resistance - 7. Chemical Resistance - 8. Fire and Heat Resistance - 9. Natural and Artificial Weathering - 10. Biological Deterioration of Paints and Paint Films - 11. Drying Time - 12. Measurements of Film Thickness - 13. Viscosity and Consistency - 14. Density - 15. Hiding Power - 16. Color - 17. Gloss - 18. Evaluation of Interior Latex Paints - 19. Evaluation of Exterior Latex House Paints - 20. Evaluation of Solvent-Based Exterior Paints - 21. Evaluation of Metal Primers and Primer Surfacers - 22. Analysis of Whole Paint - 23. Evaluation of Unpigmented Coatings - 24. Evaluation of Bituminous Coatings - 25. Selection of Paints - 26. A Look At Industrial Finishes - 27. Paint Failures and Defects - Appendix A-Glossary of Terms - Appendix B-ASTM Listings by Chapter - Appendix C-ASTM Listings - Index - Preface - Paints have been part of man's environment for thousands of years. The cave man was probably the first who tested a paint to see if it was dry enough to apply another color when completing his cave paintings. For centuries paints were used for decorative purposes. Only after the industrial revolution were paints employed for the protection of various substrates. The earliest coatings were used for the protection of iron parts which had a tendency to corrode rapidly, especially near the sea. As the manufacturing and shipping industries grew, other problems of protection developed and new and more effective coatings became available. In today's highly industrialized society large amounts of paints and paint systems are found ranging from the simple latex-based, water-thinnable wall paint, used in housing, to the multilayered, polymeric, resin coatings used in waste disposal or nuclear generating stations. All other paints are collectively referred to as coatings and have one thing in common-they are produced against a set of requirements which are commensurate with the performance demanded of the dry paint film, and are applied to the substrate. As an example, an architectural paint is designed to give the interior wall a certain color and provide an aesthetic experience for the viewer. An epoxy-based enamel, used on a mixing tank, is designed to provide a smooth, easily-cleanable surface and to protect the steel members from corrosion. The application and demands are too numerous to mention. This book provides a comprehensive discussion of the physical properties of coatings, how they are measured, and how these factors are used to evaluate quality, inherent performance, and durability of the coating.