ASTM D3002-07 Standard Guide for Evaluation of Coatings Applied to Plastics

The standard "ASTM D3002-07 Standard guide for Evaluating Coatings Applied to Plastics" published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) describes a procedure for evaluating clear and pigmented coatings designed for use on rigid or semi-rigid plastic substrates. Coated films and sheets are not within the scope of this guide.

This standard is designed to establish a series of screening tests that will demonstrate the level of performance expected of a coating or coating system on a given plastic substrate. Plastic substrates vary widely in their acceptance characteristics for a given coating. Therefore, not all tests apply to all plastics. Surface cleaning or preparation prior to application of the coating can be critical to the proper performance of the coating.

Unless otherwise specified, performance tests are performed on coatings of the specified thickness applied to a normally molded sample of the specified plastic. Preparation of test samples includes any cleaning, metallizing or priming operations agreed upon between the manufacturer and the user. The system shall be air dried or baked according to the specified schedule and aged as agreed upon between the manufacturer and the user.

The physical properties of the substrate, such as hardness, mechanical strength, flexibility or surface smoothness, are determined before and after applying the tested coating. Suitability tests for the substrate are performed according to ASTM standards.

The physical properties of the coating film were determined as follows:

Color: Pigmented (on dry film) color differences are evaluated visually per ASTM D1729-96 and instrumentally per ASTM D2244-22.
Tested for gloss according to ASTM D523-14.
It is tested for hardness according to ASTM D3363-22 standard.
Tested for adhesion in accordance with ASTM D3359-23. These test methods can be used to test the adhesion of organic coatings on plastic substrates. However, this standard must be followed for precautions to be taken. Tested directly in accordance with ASTM D5179-16 for tensile adhesion.
For abrasion resistance, tests are performed according to ASTM D658-91 for air blast abrasion resistance, ASTM D968-22 for drop (abrasive) resistance, ASTM D4060-19 for Taber abrasion resistance, and ASTM G99-23 for pin-on-disc abrasion resistance.
Tested to ASTM D3170-12 for resistance to fracture.
It is tested for flexibility and elasticity according to ASTM D522-13 standard for Mandrel bending flexibility.

Environmental characteristics in terms of durability were determined as follows:

Test for resistance to plasticizer migration in accordance with ASTM D2199-03 for plasticizer migration. Time and temperature may be varied as agreed upon between the manufacturer and the user. If migration from a plastic substrate into a coating is noted, the vinyl contact pad should be removed.
Tested for resistance to temperature-humidity cycling to ASTM D2246-87 standard for moisture-thermal cracking.
It is tested according to ASTM D2247-99 standard for moisture resistance.
It is tested according to ASTM D870-15 standard for water immersion resistance.
Tested to ASTM D1308-20 for resistance to household chemicals.
For outdoor exposure testing, weather resistance is assessed according to ASTM D4141-95. The type of exposure (Procedure A or Procedure B), test duration, and maximum acceptable appearance change are agreed upon between the manufacturer and the user.

Appropriate results are reported for each test as specified by the appropriate test method.

Our organization has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies provided for businesses in various sectors, there are also testing services in accordance with the "ASTM D3002-07 Standard Guide for Evaluation of Coatings Applied to Plastics" standard.