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Designation: D 2247 – 99

Standard Practice for

Testing Water Resistance of Coatings in 100 % Relative
Humidity1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2247; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope Using Water Immersion2

1.1 This practice covers the basic principles and operating D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water4
procedures for testing water resistance of coatings by exposing D 1654 Test Method for Evaluation of Painted or Coated
coated specimens in an atmosphere maintained at 100 % Specimens Subjected to Corrosive Environment2
relative humidity so that condensation forms on the test D 1730 Practices for Preparation of Aluminum and
specimens. Aluminum-Alloy Surfaces for Painting5
1.2 This practice is limited to the methods of obtaining, D 1735 Practice for Testing Water Resistance of Coatings
measuring, and controlling the conditions and procedures of Using Water Fog Apparatus2
tests conducted in 100 % relative humidity. It does not specify D 2616 Test Method for Evaluation of Visual Color Differ-
specimen preparation, specific test conditions, or evaluation of ence With a Gray Scale2
results. D 3359 Test Method for Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test2

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NOTE 1—Alternative practices for testing the water resistance of
coatings include Practices D 870, D 1735, and D 4585.
D 3363 Test Method for Film Hardness by Pencil Test2
D 4541 Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of Coatings
Using Portable Adhesion Testers3
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1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
D 4585 Practice for Testing Water Resistance of Coatings
Using Controlled Condensation2
information only.
1.4 This standard does not purport toDocument
address all of the 3.Preview
Summary of Practice
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.1 Coated specimens are placed in an enclosed chamber
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- containing a heated, saturated mixture of air and water vapor.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- ASTM D2247-99
The temperature of the chamber is usually maintained at 100°F
bility https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/5ebf608a-254d-4442-8e1d-f8b6c3c02acf/astm-d2247-99
of regulatory limitations prior to use. (38°C). At 100 % relative humidity (RH), a very small tem-
perature difference between the specimen and the surrounding
2. Referenced Documents vapor causes the formation of condensation on the specimens.
2.1 ASTM Standards: The exposure condition is varied by selecting the duration of
D 609 Practice for Preparation of Cold-Rolled Steel Panels the test. Water permeates the coating at rates that are dependent
for Testing Paint, Varnish, Conversion Coatings, and upon the characteristics of the coating. Any effects such as
Related Coating Products2 color change, blistering, loss of adhesion, softening, or em-
D 610 Test Method for Evaluating Degree of Rusting on brittlement are observed and reported.
Painted Steel Surfaces3
D 714 Test Method for Evaluating Degree of Blistering of 4. Significance and Use
2
Paints 4.1 Water can cause the degradation of coatings, so knowl-
D 823 Practices for Producing Films of Uniform Thickness edge of how a coating resists water is helpful in predicting its
of Paint, Varnish, and Related Products on Test Panels2 service life. Failure in tests at 100 % relative humidity may be
D 870 Practice for Testing Water Resistance of Coatings caused by a number of factors including a deficiency in the
coating itself, contamination of the substrate, or inadequate
surface preparation. This practice is therefore useful for evalu-
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-1 on Paint and ating coatings alone or complete coating systems.
Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D01.27 on Accelerated Testing.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1999. Published February 2000. Originally
published as D 2247 – 66 T. Last previous edition D 2247 – 97.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
3 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.02. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.05.

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

1
 D 2247
4.2 Tests at 100 % relative humidity are used for specifica- NOTE 3—Due to heat loss to the specimens and the walls of the
tion acceptance, quality control, and research and development chamber, the temperature of the water in the tank will be above the
of coatings and substrate treatments. These tests usually result temperature of the air and water vapor mixture.
in a pass or fail determination but the degree of failure may 7.3 Support the specimens approximately 15° from the
also be measured. A coating system is considered to pass if vertical. Slotted wood supports are suitable for flat specimens.
there is no evidence of water-related failure after a period of Provide for formation of condensation on the specimens by
time. spacing them at least 30 mm apart. Space the specimens so
4.3 Results obtained from the use of 100 % humidity tests in they do not touch each other, any metallic material, or any
accordance with this practice should not be represented as material capable of acting as a wick. Arrange specimens so that
being equivalent to a period of exposure to water in the natural condensate from one specimen cannot drip on other specimens.
environment, until the degree of quantitative correlation has 7.4 Droplets of condensation should appear evenly on the
been established for the coating or coating system. specimen at all times if the chamber is operating properly. The
4.4 The test chamber can be a small laboratory cabinet or a chamber should be mapped throughout the exposure zone to
room large enough to hold an automobile or a truck. Some avoid areas where condensation does not occur on the panels
automobile manufacturers test completed vehicles in rooms and reduce variability in the test. Operate the test continuously
maintained at 100 % relative humidity. Corrosion tests can be with the test chamber closed unless otherwise specified. Short
conducted, as the condensate dripping off the test articles is not interruptions to inspect or remove specimens are permitted, but
recirculated. such interruptions should occur no more than once each day.
7.5 To control for variability within the apparatus, reposi-
5. Apparatus tion the specimens on a regular basis so that all specimens
5.1 Test Chamber, constructed of corrosion-resistant mate- spend equivalent amounts of time in the various areas of the
rials with supports for the test specimens. apparatus (front, back, left, right, and center).
5.2 Heated Water Tank, within the test chamber, a water 7.6 Conclude the test after a specified period of time or after
supply, and a water level control. effects from exposure to water are observed.

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5.3 Thermostatic Control, for the water heater with the 7.7 Wipe the test specimens dry. Rate specimens for
sensor located adjacent to the specimen holders. changes in color, blistering, etc. Evaluate specimens no less
5.4 Thermometer, with sensor located adjacent to the speci- than 5 min and no more than 10 min after removal from test,
men holders.
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5.5 Diagrams and details of the apparatus are shown in the
as the effects from water exposure can change within a short
time. Remove only as many specimens as can be rated within
Annex.
6. Test Specimens
Document Preview the specified time.
NOTE 4— Relevant procedures for evaluating water effects are de-
scribed in Test Methods D 610, D 714, D 1654, D 2616, D 3359, D 3363,
6.1 This practice does not cover the preparation of test and D 4541.
specimens. The substrate composition and surface preparation, ASTM D2247-99
7.7.1 If possible, rate the specimens again after they have
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/5ebf608a-254d-4442-8e1d-f8b6c3c02acf/astm-d2247-99
specimen preparation, and the number of specimens should be
been removed from the test for a recovery period long enough
agreed upon prior to testing.
that moisture absorbed within the specimens dries out and the
NOTE 2—Applicable methods for the preparation of test panels and specimens reach moisture equilibrium with room air. A recov-
substrates are given in Practices D 609 and D 1730. Practices D 823 cover ery period from 12 to 24 h is generally sufficient. The
application techniques for the production of uniform films. post-recovery rating allows evaluation of the permanent effects
6.2 It’s recommended that a control specimen of a paint of the exposure as distinct from the transient effects, and is
with known durability be included with each test. Such control especially important for evaluation of color and gloss.
specimens can provide warning of changes in test severity in a
given apparatus, and can indicate variations in test severity 8. Report
between different apparatuses. 8.1 Report the following information:
6.3 It’s recommended that at least two replicate specimens 8.1.1 Sample identification.
of each different coating be used, so as to compensate for 8.1.2 Results of the evaluation(s).
variations between specimens and variations in test conditions 8.1.3 Reference to Practice D 2247.
with the apparatus. 8.1.4 Hours of test duration.
8.1.5 Test temperature.
7. Procedure 8.1.6 Special conditions of test or any deviations in test
7.1 Fill the water tank with reagent water conforming to procedure.
Type IV of Specification D 1193. Tap water should not be used.
7.2 Adjust the temperature of the saturated air and water 9. Keywords
vapor mixture to 38 6 1°C (100 6 2°F). 9.1 adhesion; blistering; humidity; resistance-water; rust