Designation: D 2247 02

Standard Practice for

Testing Water Resistance of Coatings in 100 % Relative
Humidity1
This standard is issued under the xed 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.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.02.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers the basic principles
and operating procedures for testing water
resistance of coatings by exposing coated
specimens in an atmosphere maintained at 100
% relative humidity so that condensation forms
on the test specimens.
1.2 This practice is limited to the methods of
obtaining, measuring, and controlling the
conditions and procedures of tests conducted in
100 % relative humidity. It does not specify
specimen preparation, specic test conditions,
or evaluation of results.
NOTE 1Alternative practices for testing the water
resistance of coatings include Practices D 870, D 1735,
and D 4585.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be
regarded as the standard. The values given in
parentheses are for information only.
1.4 This standard does not purport to
address all of the safety concerns, if any,
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of
the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and
determine the applica-bility 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 610 Test Method for Evaluating Degree of
Rusting on Painted Steel Surfaces3
D 714 Test Method for Evaluating Degree of
Blistering of Paints2
D 823 Practices for Producing Films of
Uniform Thickness of Paint, Varnish, and
Related Products on Test Panels2
D 870 Practice for Testing Water Resistance
of Coatings

1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee
D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D01.27 on
Accelerated Testing.
Current edition approved Aug. 10, 2002. Published October
2002. Originally published as D 2247 66 T. Last previous
edition D 2247 99.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.01.
 Using Water Immersion2
D 1193 Specication for Reagent Water4
D 1654 Test Method for Evaluation of
Painted or Coated Specimens Subjected to
Corrosive Environment2
D 1730 Practices for Preparation of
Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Surfaces
for Painting5
D 1735 Practice for Testing Water Resistance
of Coatings Using Water Fog Apparatus2
D 2616 Test Method for Evaluation of Visual
Color Differ-ence With a Gray Scale2
D 3359 Test Methods for Measuring
Adhesion by Tape Test2
D 3363 Test Method for Film Hardness by
Pencil Test2
D 4541 Test Method for Pull-Off Strength of
Coatings Using Portable Adhesion Testers3
D 4585 Practice for Testing Water Resistance
of Coatings Using Controlled
Condensation2
3. Summary of Practice
3.1 Coated specimens are placed in an
enclosed chamber containing a heated, saturated
mixture of air and water vapor. The temperature
of the chamber is usually maintained at 38C
Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
(100F). At 100 % relative humidity (RH), a
very small temperature difference between the
specimen and the surround-ing vapor causes the
formation of condensation on the speci-mens.
The exposure condition is varied by selecting
the duration of the test. Water permeates the
coating at rates that are dependent upon the
characteristics of the coating. Any effects such
as color change, blistering, loss of adhesion,
softening, or embrittlement are observed and
reported.
4. Signicance and Use
4.1 Water can cause the degradation of
coatings, so knowl-edge of how a coating resists
water is helpful in predicting its service life.
Failure in tests at 100 % relative humidity may
be caused by a number of factors including a
deciency in the coating itself, contamination
of the substrate, or inadequate surface
preparation. This practice is therefore useful for
evalu-ating coatings alone or complete coating
systems.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01.
5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.05.
 D 2247 02
4.2 T accordan
ests at ce with
100 % this
relative practice
humidit should
y are not be
used for represent
specic ed as
a-tion being
acceptan equivale
ce, nt to a
quality period of
control, exposure
and to water
research in the
and natural
develop environ
ment of ment,
coatings until the
and degree of
substrat quantitat
e ive
treatmen correlati
ts. These on has
tests been
usually establish
result in ed for
a pass or the
fail coating
determi or
nation, coating
but the system.
degree 4.4 T
of he test
failure chamber
may can be a
also be small
measure laborato
d. A ry
coating cabinet
system or a
is room
consider large
ed to enough
pass if to hold
there is an
no automob
evidenc ile or a
e of truck.
water- Some
related automob
failure ile
after a manufac
period turers
of time. test
4.3 R complet
esults ed
obtained vehicles
from the in rooms
use of maintain
100 % ed at
humidity 100 %
tests in relative
humidit with
y. sensor
Corrosio located
n tests adjacent
can be to the
conduct speci-
ed, as men
the holders.
condens 5.5 D
ate iagrams
dripping and
off the details
test of the
articles apparatu
is not s are
recircula shown
ted. in the
Annex.
5. Appa
ratus 6. Test
Speci
5.1 T mens
est
Chambe 6.1 T
r, his
construc practice
ted of does not
corrosio cover
n- the
resistant preparati
mate- on of
rials test
with specime
supports ns. The
for the substrate
test composi
specime tion and
ns. surface
5.2 H preparati
eated on,
Water specime
Tank, n
within preparati
the test on, and
chamber the
, a water number
supply, of
and a specime
water ns
level should
control. be
5.3 T agreed
hermost upon
atic prior to
Control, testing.
for the
water NOTE
heater 2Applic
able
with the methods
sensor for the
located preparatio
adjacent n of test
to the panels
specime and
n substrates
holders. are given
in
5.4 T Practices
hermom D 609 and
eter,
D 1730. compens
Practices ate for
D 823 variation
cover
applicatio
s
n between
technique specime
s for the ns and
productio variation
n of s in test
uniform conditio
lms. ns with
6.2 It' the
s apparatu
recomm s.
ended
that a 7. Proc
control edur
specime e
n of a 7.1 Fi
paint ll the
with water
known tank with
durabilit reagent
y be water
included conformi
with ng to
each Type IV
test. of
Such Specic
control ation D
specime
1193.
ns can
Tap
provide
water
warning
of should
changes not be
in test used.
severity 7.2 A
in a djust the
given temperat
apparatu ure of
s, and the
can saturate
indicate d air and
variatio water
ns in vapor
test mixture
severity to 38 6
between 2C
different (100 6
apparatu 4F).
ses.
6.3 It'
s
recomm
ended
that at
least
two
replicate
specime
ns of
each
different
coating
be used,
so as to
 NOTE capable
3Due to of acting
heat loss
as a
to the
specimen wick.
s and the Arrange
walls of specimen
the s so that
chamber, condensa
the
te from
temperatu
re of the one
water in specimen
the tank cannot
will be drip on
above the other
temperatu
re of the
specimen
air and s.
water 7.4 D
vapor roplets
mixture. of
7.3 S condens
upport ation
the should
specimen appear
s evenly
approxi on the
mately specime
15 from n at all
the times if
vertical. the
Slotted chamber
wood is
supports operatin
are g
suitable properly.
for at The
specimen chamber
s. should
Provide be
for mapped
formatio througho
n of ut the
condensa exposure
tion on zone to
the avoid
specimen areas
s by where
spacing condens
them at ation
least 30 does not
mm occur on
apart. the
Space panels
the and
specimen reduce
s so they variabilit
do not y in the
touch test.
each Operate
other, the test
any continuo
metallic usly
material, with the
or any test
material chamber
closed
unless effects
otherwis from
e exposur
specie e to
d. Short water
interrupt are
ions to observe
inspect d.
or 7.7 W
remove ipe the
specime
test
specime
ns are
ns dry.
permitte
Rate
d, but
specime
such ns for
interrupt changes
ions in color,
should blisterin
occur no g, etc.
more Evaluate
than specime
once ns no
each less than
day. 5 min
7.5 T and no
o more
control than 10
for min
variabili after
ty removal
within from
the test, as
apparatu the
s, effects
reposi- from
tion the water
specime exposur
ns on a e can
regular change
basis so within a
that all short
specime time.
ns spend Remove
equivale only as
nt many
amounts specime
of time ns as
in the can be
various rated
areas of within
the the
apparatu specie
s (front, d time.
back,
NOTE
left, 4
right, Relevant
and procedure
center). s for
7.6 C evaluatin
onclude g water
the test effects are
de-
after a scribed in
specie Test
d period Methods
of time D 610, D
or after 714, D
1654, D transient
2616, D effects,
3359, D
and is
3363, and
D 4541. especiall
y
7.7.1 importa
If nt for
possible evaluati
, rate the on of
specime color
ns again and
after gloss.
they
have 8.
been Report
remove 8.1
d from Repor
the test t the
for a follow
recover ing
y period infor
long matio
enough n:
that 8.1.1 S
moistur a
e m
absorbe p
d within l
the e
specime
ns dries i
out and d
the e
specime n
ns reach t
moistur i
e
equilibri c
um with a
room t
air. A i
recov- o
ery n
period .
from 12 8.1.2 R
to 24 h e
is s
generall u
y l
sufficien t
t. The s
post-
recover o
y rating f
allows
evaluati
t
on of
h
the
e
permane
nt
effects e
of the v
exposur a
e as l
distinct u
from the a
t
 i d
o u
n r
( a
s t
) i
. o
8.1.3 R n
e .
f 8.1.5 T
e e
r s
e t
n
c t
e e
m
t p
o e
r
P a
r t
a u
c r
t e
i .
c 8.1.6 S
e pecial
conditio
D ns of
test or
2 any
deviatio
2
ns in
4
test
7 procedu
. re.
8.1.4 H
o 9. Key
u word
r s
s 9.1
adhesi
o on;
f blister
ing;
t humid
e ity;
s resista
t nce-
water;
rust

2
 D 2247 02
ANNEX

(Mandatory Information)

A1. Apparatus
and the
A1.1 other uses
The a
apparatus submerge
must be d air
construct distributi
ed so that on pipe.
heated
water A1.2 In
vapor is chambers
generated using a
at the water tank
bottom of with
the electric
chamber. immer-
This sion
saturates heater to
the air supply
immediat heat and
ely above humidity,
the water the area of
tank with the heated
water water tank
vapor. should be
The limited to
saturated no more
mixture than 25 %
of water of the
vapor and oor area
air of the
tempera- chamber.
ture rises The use of
and then a large
cools heated
below the water tank
dew would
point, tend to
causing make the
condensat temperatu
ion on the re within
specimen the
s. Two chamber
types of uniform,
apparatus and thus
have been inhibit or
found to prevent
meet the the
requireme
formation
nts of this
of
practice.
condensat
One type
e on the
uses a
specimens
water
tank with . The
an water
electric temperatu
immersio re will be
n heater, approxima
tely from heating
5 to 10C jacket to
(10 to insure
20F) proper
above the condensati
vapor on. Air
temperatu pressure
re when to
the water
tank and
chamber
are
properly
proportion
ed.

A1.3 In
chambers
using a
water
jacket to
supply
heat and
humidifyi
ng tower
(optional)
and
submerge
d air
distributio
n pipe to
supply
humidity,
the water
level in
the
chamber
should be
approxima
tely 15 cm
(6 in.)
above the
bottom of
the
chamber.
The level
of water
in the
heating
jacket
should be
approxima
tely 30 cm
(12 in.)
above the
bottom of
the
chamber.
Samples
must be
placed at a
level
above the
water in
the
the Circulat-
humidifyi ing fans
ng tower should be
should be used with
approxim caution as
ately 7 to their use
14 kPa (1 may
to 2 psi). reduce
the
A1.4
temperatu
Insulation
re
of the
differenti
enclosure
al and
is not
limit
required
condensat
and can
ion.
possibly
interfere A1.6 In
with the a properly
formation operating
of chamber,
condensat condensat
e by ion is
reducing observed
the on the
temperatu specimen
re s or parts
differenti when the
al within chamber
the is opened
chamber. for
It is inspectio
difficult ns. It may
to be
produce necessary
condensat to avoid
ion with placing
small specimen
chambers s in the
because lower
the tem- portion of
perature the
differenti chamber
al is as the
slight. tempera-
ture
A1.5
differenti
Large
als at the
walk-in
lower
chambers
levels
may
may be
require
too small
more than
to induce
one
condensat
heated
ion.
water
tank to A1.7 In
generate the event
the that
convectiv enough
e currents condensat
needed to ion does
cause not occur,
condensat or
ion at all condensat
points ion does
within the not form
chamber. at all the
desired A1.8
points, it Many
is variations
possible in the
to design of
increase the
condensat apparatus
ion by are
turning possible
off the in the use
water of this
heater practice.
periodical Two
ly to typical
cause designs
temperatu are shown
re in Fig.
uctuatio A1.1 and
ns. Fig. A1.2,
and Fig.
A1.3.

3
 D 2247 02

0Angle of lid, 90 to 125

1Hinged top, hydraulically operated, or counterbalanced
2Water seal
3Constant-level water tank unheated with overow outlet and equalizer
connection
4Heater water tank for supplying heat and humidity to cabinet
5Immersion heater
6Water temperature limit control
7Thermostatic controller for room temperature. Primary limit control for
immersion heater (5)
8Water line
9Insulation if necessary (see
A1.3) 10Temperature recorder
(optional) 11Drain
FIG. A1.1 Humidity Cabinet

1Temperature recorder
2Fiberglass door with magnetic closers and rubber seal; inward sloping sill
3Light switch
4Thermostatic controller for room temperature. Primary limit control for
immersion heater (6)
5Heated water tank for supplying heat and humidity to room
6Immersion heater
7Water temperature limit control
8Constant level water tank unheated with overow outlet
9Equalizer connection
10Floor drain

NOTE 1The chamber shall feature waterproof construction with

insulation and vaporproof xtures on the interior, lighting may be
accomplished with a uorescent xture above insulating glass sealed in
the ceiling. Polyvinyl chloride pipe and anges shall be used for sleeves
through walls.
FIG. A1.2 Walk-in Humidity Chamber

4
 D 2247 02

FIG. A1.3 Humidity Cabinet

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