Designation: D 7087 – 05a

Standard Test Method for

An Imaging Technique to Measure Rust Creepage at Scribe
on Coated Test Panels Subjected to Corrosive
Environments1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 7087; 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 D 6695 Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposures of Paint and

1.1 This test method covers the measurement of rust creep- Related Coatings
age area from a scribe line on painted/coated flat test panels G 85 Practice for Modified Salt Spray (Fog) Testing
after exposure to corrosive environments. This test method has 3. Significance and Use
the advantage of simplicity and ease of use. Expensive equip-
ment is not required, and the results are more accurate than 3.1 This test method provides a means of evaluating and
visual evaluation but not as precise as advanced digital comparing development of corrosion at scribe on painted/
imaging. coated flat test panels after exposure to corrosive environ-
1.2 This test method uses visual imaging software to deter- ments.
mine the area damaged by rust creepage from the scribe. 4. Apparatus
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information 4.1 Transparent Plastic Sheet—Use transparent plastic
only. sheet with thickness approximately 0.085 mm (0.0034 in. or
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.4 mil). The sheet material must be transparent enough for
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the easy tracing and must be sufficiently absorbent to provide good
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- ink adhesion.3
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 4.2 Tracing Pen—A black permanent marker with ultrafine
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. tip approximately 0.5 mm (0.02 in.) in diameter.
4.3 Ruler—Any transparent ruler with 1-mm black divi-
2. Referenced Documents sions. This length shall be shorter than either length or width of
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 glass surface of scanner.
B 117 Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus 4.4 Computer and Scanning System—Any computer and
D 1014 Practice for Conducting Exterior Exposure Tests of compatible scanning system is applicable. A computer with at
Paints and Coatings on Metal Substrates least 32 MB of RAM is recommended.4 A flat bed scanner with
D 1654 Test Method for Evaluation of Painted or Coated 1200 dpi optical, 120032400 dpi hardware resolution is
Specimens Subjected to Corrosive Environments suggested. The scanner must have a feature where it selects the
D 4585 Practice for Testing Water Resistance of Coatings best possible resolution required for scanning. There is no need
Using Controlled Condensation to calibrate or change settings while scanning.
D 4587 Practice for Fluorescent UV-Condensation Expo- 4.5 Image Software—Use any image software capable of
sure of Paint and Related Coatings reading an image file generated from the computer and
D 5894 Practice for Cyclic Salt Fog/UV Exposure of scanning system, calibrating length, and integrating area rap-
Painted Metal, (Alternating Exposures in a Fog/Dry Cabi- idly and accurately.
net and a UV/Condensation Cabinet) 5. Specimen Scribing
5.1 Scribe test specimens in accordance with Test Method
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint D 1654, section on Preliminary Treatment of Test Specimens.
and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of The panels should be scribed in a single straight line.
Subcommittee D01.25 on Evaluation of Weathering Effects.
Current edition approved July 1, 2005. Published July 2005. Originally approved
in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D 7087 – 05.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or The transparent plastic sheet material of one-gallon size zipper freezer bag
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM without surface texture was found acceptable in round robin testing.
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on A PC compatible computer with the Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME,
the ASTM website. Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system is applicable.

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

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 D 7087 – 05a
6. Exposure of Test Specimens of the scribe. Ensure that the plastic does not move during the
6.1 Prior to exposure, measure the width of the scribe. rotation. Make sure the traced lines at both ends of scribe line
Record this information. are connected. The traced line must have uniform intensity and
6.2 Expose test specimens in accordance with any of the good continuity.
following Practices B 117, D 1014, D 4585, D 4587, D 5894, (b) On the plastic sheet, mark points i, j, k, and l on the
D 6695, and G 85, or any other applicable test method, as outside edge of the traced line. A typical trace of creepage area
agreed upon between the producer and the user. The exposure developed around the scribe line (ab) and marking points i, j,
cycle, length of test and evaluation intervals shall be agreed k, and l for area integration are shown in Fig. 1. Note that
upon prior to exposure of specimens. scribe line ab should not be traced. Remove the plastic sheet
from the panel. With the tracing pen, use a ruler to draw lines
7. Procedure – Evaluation of Scribed Specimens cd and ef on the plastic sheet.
7.1 Prepare Specimens for Evaluation—Prepare the scribed NOTE 1—Stain beyond the creepage area should not be traced.
specimens in accordance with Test Method D 1654. NOTE 2—The tracing must be conducted carefully under good light
7.2 Quantification—Quantify the corrosion or loss of paint condition and by an operator with good eyesight.
extending from a scribe mark, that is, manual tracing followed NOTE 3—The intensity and continuity of traced line may be examined
by an imaging analysis. with a magnifying glass or an optical microscope.
7.2.1 Creepage Area Tracing Technique—Trace the rust NOTE 4—For some people, orienting the panel with scribe line hori-
creepage area based on the procedure described in 7.2.1.1 and zontally may be easier. Trace the bottom side of the creepage area first and
7.2.1.2. then trace the topside of creepage area later. Make sure the traced lines at
7.2.1.1 Marking Test Specimen—Place the ruler immedi- both ends of the scribe line are connected.
ately below and parallel to the scribe line ab of the test panel 7.2.2 Trace Scanning—Place the transparent plastic sheet
(refer to Fig. 1 for geometry terms). Use the tracing pen to with the traced creepage or undercutting area with marked
mark points g and h on the test panel so that gh is the center points i, j, k, and l and lines cd and ef onto the glass of the
line that represents 80 % of the scribe line. Mark points i, j, k, flatbed scanner. Place a ruler next to the trace area with the
and l with the pen on the borderline of creepage area such that dimension markings facing the light source. Back the tracing
lines ig and kh are perpendicular to the scribe line (See Fig. 1). and the ruler with a sheet of white paper or cardstock. Scan the
Remove the ruler. image that must include all the traced line and the ruler. Save
7.2.1.2 Area Tracing—Place a single sheet of the transpar- this image as a .xxx file in the computer with a unique
ent plastic that is 50 % larger than the panel over the entire filename.
corroded side of the scribed panel. Do not stretch the plastic 7.2.3 Imaging and Integrating Creepage Area—Use image
sheet and ensure there are no folds or creases. Press the sheet software capable of capturing and opening image file of trace.
tightly against the panel and fold the excess around the back of Calibrate distance by selecting a known length with the ruler
the panel. To avoid any sliding, tape the plastic sheet to the image (Fig. 1) such as 40 mm or 50 mm to obtain number of
back of the panel. pixels per mm, choose threshold for line contrast, then click
(a) Orient the panel so that the scribe line is vertical and inside the region (ijlk) to be integrated to obtain rust creepage
directly in front. With one hand, hold the panel and the plastic area by following the instructions provided with the software.
sheet, and with the other hand, trace the creepage or undercut- 7.2.4 Obtaining Creepage Area and Mean Creepage—
ting outline on the sheet using the pen. The tracing must be Integrate the scanned area based on 7.2.4.1 and obtain mean
made smoothly and continuously by holding the pen at about a creepage based on 7.3 or 7.4.
75° angle to the surface with the upper end of pen away from 7.2.4.1 Integrating Total Rust Creepage Area at Scribe—
creepage. Position the pen so that only the tip is in contact with Integrate the total traced area in mm2 including creepage area
the surface and is at the point where the raised creepage area at both sides of selected center scribe line (Aijlk). The area
begins. Halfway through the tracing, rotate the panel and the being integrated is the area INSIDE the traced line.
plastic 180 degrees and complete the tracing on the other side 7.3 Calculating Mean Creepage (Including Area of Original
Scribe Line)—Calculate mean creepage as follows:
C 5 Aijlk / ~2L! (1)

where:
C = mean creepage in mm,
Aijlk = integrated area inside the boundary of ijlk by
tracing and imaging, and
L = length of scribe line from which creepage (or
undercutting) is extended and area is integrated.
7.4 Calculating the Net Mean Creepage (Excluding Area of
Original Scribe Line)—Calculate the net mean creepage as
follows:
FIG. 1 The Scanned Trace and Markings for Area Integration of Cnet 5 ~Aijlk – A0! / ~2L! (2)
Creepage Area Around the Scribe Line.

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 D 7087 – 05a

where: considered suspect if they differ by more than 12.3, 8.3, and
Cnet = net mean creepage in mm, 4.9 %, respectively. In other words, the measurements for the
Aijlk = integrated area inside the boundary of ijlk by mean creepage of 2.2, 3.4, and 8.8 mm should stay between 1.9
tracing and imaging, and 2.5 mm, 3.1 and 3.7 mm, and 8.4 and 9.2 mm, respectively.
A0 = integrated area of scribe line before exposure, and 9.1.2 Reproducibility—Two results, each the mean of dupli-
L = length of scribe line from which creepage (or cates, obtained by operators in different laboratories should be
undercutting) is extended and area is integrated. considered suspect if they differ by more than 22.9, 29.3, and
6.3 % respectively, for the mean creepage of 2.2, 3.4, and 8.8
8. Report mm. In other words, the measurements for the mean creepage
8.1 Report the following information: of 2.2, 3.4, and 8.8 mm should stay between 1.7 and 2.7 mm,
8.1.1 Rust creepage (also called undercutting) area of rec- 2.4 and 4.4 mm, and 8.3 and 9.4 mm, respectively.
ommended traces in mm2. 9.2 Bias—Bias cannot be determined as no reference mate-
8.1.2 Mean creepage, C, calculated from Eq 1, or net mean rial is available.
creepage, Cnet, calculated from Eq 2. NOTE 5—The error increases as rust creepage area or mean creepage
8.1.3 Type of specimen and its dimensions. decreases. More data are available in the publication cited.5
8.1.4 Length of scribe line around which creepage area is
NOTE 6—Some factors affecting precision are:
integrated.
(a) Deviation of tracing line from actual outline of creepage area.
8.1.5 Exposure test to which the specimen was subjected to. (b) Low adhesion of pen ink to plastic sheet.
8.1.6 Exposure cycle. (c) Discontinuity of tracing line.
8.1.7 Duration or interval of exposure. (d) Low intensity of tracing line.
(e) Non-uniformity of tracing line.
9. Precision and Bias (f) Distance not accurately calibrated.
(g) Sliding of transparent plastic sheet during tracing.
9.1 Precision—Interlaboratory round robin test results were (h) Poor light condition.
obtained by six laboratories; in each laboratory, three weath- (i) Poor operator eyesight.
ered coated panels were traced in duplicate. For three samples
with mean rust creepage of 2.2, 3.4, and 8.8 mm, within- 10. Keywords
laboratory relative standard deviation was found to be 4.3, 3.0, 10.1 accelerated tests; coated panels; creepage area; imag-
1.8 %, respectively, and between-laboratories relative standard ing; outdoor exposure; quantification; rust creepage; undercut-
deviation was found to be 8.2, 10.4, and 2.2 %, respectively. ting; weathering
Based on this, the following criteria should be used for judging
the precision of results at the 95 % confidence level: 5
“An Imaging Technique to Measure Rust Creepage at Scribes on Coated Test
9.1.1 Repeatability—Two results for the mean creepage of Panels,” Journal of Protective Coatings and Linings, Vol. 19, No.1, p. 67, January
2.2, 3.4, and 8.8 mm obtained by the same operator should be 2002.

APPENDIXES

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. DOWNLOADABLE FREE IMAGE SOFTWARE

X1.1 Downloadable Free Image Software— A download- work the same for it as the other image.
able free trial version of Scion Image software was used in the
round robin testing. Upon publication of this standard the X1.4 Set Scale and Length Calibration—Under “Analyze,”
current version of the digital imaging program available was use the “measure line (dotted) tool” to determine the pixels in
“Scion Image Beta 4.02.” The operating procedure of this free chosen number of mm on ruler, and then open the “set scale”
software is described in X1.2-X1.7. window. Select “mm” in the box of “Units” and then enter the
chosen length in the box of “known distance.”
X1.2 Download Software—Go to the website of
“www.scioncorp.com” and click “ Products” and then page X1.5 Analyze the Traced Area—Under “Analyze,” go to
down to “Software” and click “Scion Image Beta 4.02 Win.” “Options,” choose “Interior holes” and “Wand Auto-measure”
Run set up “WinB402.exe” file (it takes about 7 minutes to and “Area,” deselect “density.”
download, and save this file).
X1.6 Choose Threshold—Under “Options,” choose thresh-
X1.3 Open Image File—Image file needs to be a .tif or .bmp old; a default threshold will be selected that can be adjusted by
type (you can save the image in one of those formats directly putting mouse in LUT window. The threshold tool is automati-
from the scanner). Two images are shown on computer cally chosen.
monitor, one labeled “index color” and the other labeled
“trace.” Delete the “Index color image.” The program does not X1.7 Area Integration—Select the “magic wand tool” and

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 D 7087 – 05a
place inside the traced area Aijlk toward the vertical borderline results” under “Analyze” or “ctrl-2” to get the area).
kl. The area (Aijlk) is displayed in the chart (can also use “show

X2. COMMERCIAL IMAGE SOFTWARE

X2.1 Use the particular image software to determine the the image software.
area of the creepage by following the instruction provided with

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