Designation: G95 – 07

Standard Test Method for

Cathodic Disbondment Test of Pipeline Coatings (Attached
Cell Method)1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation G95; 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 G8 Test Methods for Cathodic Disbonding of Pipeline

1.1 This test method covers accelerated procedures for Coatings
simultaneously determining comparative characteristics of G12 Test Method for Nondestructive Measurement of Film
coating systems applied to steep pipe exterior for the purpose Thickness of Pipeline Coatings on Steel
of preventing or mitigating corrosion that may occur in G42 Test Method for Cathodic Disbonding of Pipeline
underground service where the pipe will be in contact with Coatings Subjected to Elevated Temperatures
natural soils and will receive cathodic protection. They are G62 Test Methods for Holiday Detection in Pipeline Coat-
intended for use with samples of coated pipe taken from ings
commercial production and are applicable to such samples G80 Test Method for Specific Cathodic Disbonding of
when the coating is characterized by function as an electrical Pipeline Coatings
barrier. 3. Summary of Test Method
1.2 This test method is intended to facilitate testing of
coatings where the test cell is cemented to the surface of the 3.1 The test method described subjects the coating on the
coated pipe specimen. This is appropriate when it is impracti- test specimen to electrical stress in a highly conductive alkaline
cal to submerge or immerse the test specimen as required by electrolyte. Electrical stress is obtained from an impressed
Test Methods G8, G42, or G80. Coating sample configuration direct-current system. An intentional holiday is to be made in
such as flat plate and small diameter pipe may be used, the coating prior to starting of test.
provided that the test procedure remains unchanged.2 3.1.1 Electrical instrumentation is provided for measuring
1.3 This test method allows options that must be identified the current and the potential throughout the test cycle. At the
in the report. conclusion of the test period, the test specimen is physically
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the examined.
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information 3.1.2 Physical examination is conducted by comparing the
only. extent of loosened or disbonded coating at the intentional
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the holiday in the immersed area with extent of loosened or
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the disbonded coating at a reference holiday made in the coating in
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- an area that was not immersed.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 4. Significance and Use
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.1 Damage to pipe coating is almost unavoidable during
2. Referenced Documents transportation and construction. Breaks or holidays in pipe
2.1 ASTM Standards:3 coatings may expose the pipe to possible corrosion since, after
a pipe has been installed underground, the surrounding earth
will be moisture-bearing and will constitute an effective
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint electrolyte. Applied cathodic protection potentials may cause
and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D01.48 on Durability of Pipeline Coating and Linings.
loosening of the coating, beginning at holiday edges. Sponta-
Current edition approved July 1, 2007. Published July 2007. Originally approved neous holidays may also be caused by such potentials. This test
in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as G95 - 87 (1998)´1 which was method provides accelerated conditions for cathodic disbond-
withdrawn March 2007 and reinstated in July 2007. DOI: 10.1520/G0095-07. ment to occur and provides a measure of resistance of coatings
2
For other cathodic disbondment testing procedures, consult Test Methods G8,
G42, and G80. to this type of action.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 4.2 The effects of the test are to be evaluated by physical
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM examinations and monitoring the current drawn by the test
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
specimen. Usually there is no correlation between the two

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 G95 – 07
methods of evaluation, but both methods are significant. 5. Apparatus
Physical examination consists of assessing the effective contact
5.1 Test Vessel—A transparent plastic or glass tube that is
of the coating with the metal surface in terms of observed
centered over the intentional holiday and sealed to the test
differences in the relative adhesive bond. It is usually found
sample surface with a waterproof sealing material. The cylin-
that the cathodically disbonded area propogates from an area
where adhesion is zero to an area where adhesion reaches the der is to be 101.6 mm (4.0 in. nominal diameter) and of
original level. An intermediate zone of decreased adhesion may sufficient height to contain 127.0 mm (5.0 in.) of electrolyte.
also be present. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 apply to this entire section.
4.3 Assumptions associated with test results include: NOTE 1—Size of vessel shall remain unchanged. Sealing procedure
4.3.1 Maximum adhesion, or bond, is found in the coating must be altered to accommodate specimen having a diameter less than
that was not immersed in the test liquid, and 101.60 mm (4 in.).
4.3.2 Decreased adhesion in the immersed test area is the
result of cathodic disbondment. 5.2 Filter Tube—Anode assembly shall be constructed uti-
4.4 Ability to resist disbondment is a desired quality on a lizing an immersion tube with fritted disk. Length of the tube
comparative basis, but disbondment in this test method is not will be 180 mm (7 in.) and 8 mm (0.315 in.) in diameter. The
necessarily an adverse indication of coating performance. The fritted-disk section shall be 30 mm (1.18 in.) in diameter with
virtue of this test method is that all dielectric-type coatings now a pore size of 10 to 15 µ m.
in common use will disbond to some degree, thus providing a 5.3 Impressed-Current Anode—Anode shall be of the plati-
means of comparing one coating to another. num wire type, 0.51 mm (0.020 in.) - 24 gage diameter. It shall
4.5 The current density appearing in this test method is be of sufficient length to extend outside the confines of the test
much greater than that usually required for cathodic protection cell and shall be connected to the wire from the power source
in natural environments. with a bolted or compression fitting.

FIG. 1 Typical Test Set Up

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 G95 – 07
tion wire is not desirable but, if necessary, may be made by
means of a bolted pair of terminal lugs, soldering or mechani-
cally crimping to clean wire ends.
5.13 Additional Connecting Wires—If additional wiring is
necessary, it shall be stranded, insulated copper and not less
than 1.75 mm (0.069 in. -14 gage) diameter.
5.14 Holiday Tools—A drill and a suitable drill bit that will
accomplish drilling of test hole, as described under 8.2. A
sharp-pointed knife, with a safe handle is required for use in
making physical examination.

6. Reagent and Materials

6.1 The electrolyte shall consist of distilled or deionized
water with the addition of 3 mass % of technical grade sodium
chloride. Use freshly prepared solution for each test.

7. Test Specimen
7.1 During the coating operation, the applicator may be
directed to cut a section of coated pipe of sufficient length for
laboratory evaluation of the coating. Precautions are to be
taken when cutting the pipe so that spatter will not harm the
coating where testing will be done. Wet rags shall be placed on
each side of the torch-cut area to minimize thermal changes
and spatter damage to the coating. Test sample shall be taken
at least 76.2 mm (3 in.) from any torch-cut edge. Special
FIG. 2 Anode Assembly precautions are to be taken so that coating is not damaged in
handling, transporting, or further cutting. The test specimens
5.4 Anode Assembly—Anode shall be suspended inside the may be a cut coupon, flat plate, or a ring specimen. The test
test vessel so that the tip of the anode assembly closest to the may also be performed on an actual inservice pipeline, or any
holiday is 25.4 mm (1 in.) above, and the edge of the anode other appropriate coated surface.
assembly is 12.7 mm (1⁄2 in.) offset from the holiday.
5.5 Reference Electrode—Saturated Cu-CuSO4 of conven- 8. Procedure
tional glass or plastic tube with porous plug construction, 8.1 Verify the coating integrity in the area to be tested in
preferably not over 19.05 mm (0.750 in.) in diameter, having a accordance with Test Methods G62. Discard specimen found to
potential of − 0.316 V with respect to the standard hydrogen contain holidays. Measure and record the maximum and
electrode. A saturated calomel electrode may be used, but minimum coating thickness measured in the area subjected to
measurements made with it shall be converted to the Cu- test in accordance with Test Method G12.
CuSO4 reference for reporting by adding −0.072 V to the 8.2 One intentional holiday shall be made in each specimen
observed reading. to be tested. The holiday shall be drilled so that the angular
5.6 Reference Electrode Placement—Submerge the tip of cone point of the drill will fully enter the steel where the
the reference electrode 25.4 mm (1 in.) into the electrolyte. cylindrical portion of the drill meets the steel surface. The drill
5.7 High-Impedence Multimeter—For making direct- shall be 3.2 mm (0.125 in.) in diameter.
current and voltage measurements. Multimeter must have an 8.3 Electrical connection is then made to the test specimen,
internal resistance of not less than 10 M V and be capable of (see 5.12).
measuring current as low as 1 mA, and voltage up to 10 V. 8.4 Attach the test cylinder to the test specimen, (see 5.1).
5.8 Direct-Current Power Supply—Capable of supplying Take care to ensure that the cylinder satisfactorily fits the
low-ripple voltage at 3.0, 60.01, V, as measured between the curvature of the pipe sample and that it is centered over the
test specimen and reference electrode. intentional holiday.
5.9 Precision Wire-Wound Resistor—1 V,61 %, 1-W 8.5 Add the electrolyte solution to the specified level in the
(minimum) to be used in the test cell circuit as a shunt for test cylinder. Record the pH of the solution. Check the level of
measuring current. the electrolyte each day and maintain by adding distilled or
5.10 Thickness Gage—For measuring coating thickness in deionized water.
accordance with Test Method G12. 8.6 Place the fritted glass filter tube into the electrolyte
5.11 Holiday Detector—For locating holidays in the coating solution as described in 5.4. Support the fritted glass filter tube.
of the test specimen in accordance with Test Methods G62. 8.7 Insert the platinum anode into the fritted glass tube,
5.12 Connections—Wiring from current source to the speci- down to within 5 mm (2 in.) of the bottom.
men shall be by either soldering, brazing, or bolting to the 8.8 Attach the positive lead of the current source to the
non-immersed area of the specimen. A junction in the connec- platinum anode and the negative lead to the cathode (pipe). A

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 G95 – 07
potential of 3 V DC with respect to a copper-copper sulphate 10.1.1.1 Name and code number of the coating,
reference electrode is to be impressed across the test cell. 10.1.1.2 Size and wall thickness of pipe,
8.9 Conduct the test at a room temperature of 21 to 25°C (70 10.1.1.3 Applicator, production date, and production run
to 77°F). Tests to be run for a period of 90 days. number of coating,
8.10 At least twice each week, place a reference CuSO4 10.1.1.4 Minimum-maximum coating thickness, average
electrode in the electrolyte between the anode and the holiday. thickness, and the thickness at the holiday,
Read the voltage and adjust the power supply output, if 10.1.1.5 Size of initial holidays,
required, so that a negative 3 V DC potential is maintained 10.1.1.6 Dates of starting and termination of test,
between the reference electrode and the test sample. 10.1.1.7 Cell diameter and depth of electrolyte,
10.1.1.8 Salt composition and concentration,
9. Examination 10.1.1.9 Cell voltage,
9.1 At the end of the 90 day test period, disassemble the cell 10.1.1.10 Length of test period, and
and rinse the test area with warm tap water. Immediately wipe 10.1.1.11 Other data that may be pertinent.
the sample dry and visually examine the entire test area for any 10.2 Report the test results by measuring the total area of
evidence of unintentional holidays and loosening of coating at disbondment by planimeter, square counting, or other precise
the edge of all holidays, including the intentional holiday, and method. Subtract the initial holiday area and calculate an
record coating condition, for example, color, blisters, cracking, equivalent circle diameter.4
crazing, adhering deposits, etc.
9.2 Drill a new reference holiday in the coating in an area 11. Precision and Bias
that was not immersed. Follow the same drilling procedure as 11.1 Precision—For between-laboratory testing data is
described in 8.2. within 625 % of the mean for represented samples. Samples
9.3 Make radial 45° cuts through the coating intersecting at were taken from one length of production run coated 16 in.
the center of both the intentional holiday and the reference pipe.
holiday with a sharp, thin-bladed knife. Take care to ensure that 11.2 Bias—No statement of bias is made since samples
coating is cut completely through to the steel substrate. were all obtained from one length of pipe and all participating
9.4 Attempt to lift the coating at both the reference holiday laboratories utilized equipment and procedures as outlined in
and the intentional holiday with the point of a sharp, thin- this test method.
bladed knife. Use the bond at the reference holiday as a
reference for judging the quality of the bond at the intentional 12. Keywords
holiday. Measure and record the total area of disbonded coating
at the intentional holiday. 12.1 anode; attached cell; cathodic; disbondment; electrical
stress; electrolyte; salt bridge
10. Report
10.1 The report of results shall include the following.
10.1.1 Complete identification of the test specimen, includ- 4
Equivalent circle diameter is calculated by ECD = (A/0.785) ⁄ , where A = area
12

ing: corrected for holiday area.

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