Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
D215-91 – Standard Test Method Technical Guide
📜 Scope and Significance of ASTM D215-91
ASTM D215-91 (Reapproved 2002) provides a comprehensive standard practice for the chemical analysis of traditional white linseed oil paints. Issued under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, this practice serves as the definitive framework for deconstructing paint samples into their pigment and vehicle phases. The analytical methods included are detailed in Table 1 of the standard, offering a systematic approach to determining composition, from volatile components to specific elemental concentrations in the pigment.
This practice is specifically tailored to the usual formulations of white linseed oil paints. It consolidates a series of discrete ASTM test methods into a cohesive analytical protocol, ensuring consistency across laboratories for evaluating both the binder system and the pigmentation.
⚠️ Safety and Regulatory Compliance: As specified in Section 1.2 of the standard, this practice does not purport to address all safety concerns. It is the responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
⚙️ Key Procedural Stages and Referenced Methods
The analytical workflow prescribed by D215 initiates with sample preparation (Section 4). The volatile thinner content is determined per D 2369, with the nature of the solvent identified via D 2349. Pigment content (D 2371) and vehicle separation (D 2372) follow. The isolated vehicle is subsequently analyzed for unsaponifiable matter (D 1397), fatty acid composition (D 1398), and iodine value (D 1959), while the pigment fraction undergoes a rigorous suite of quantitative tests.
| 📐 Test Section | 🟦 Property / Component | 🎯 Referenced Method |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Volatile Thinner | D 2369 |
| 7 | Nature of Thinner | D 2349 |
| 8 | Percentage of Pigment | D 2371 |
| 10 | Separation of Vehicle | D 2372 |
| 11 | Unsaponifiable Matter | D 1397 |
| 12 | Fatty Acids Content | D 1398 |
| 13 | Iodine Number of Fatty Acids | D 1959 |
| 14 | Resin (Qualitative Detection of Rosin) | D 1542 |
💡 Key Procedural Tip: The accurate separation of the vehicle from the pigment (Section 10, D 2372) is critical for the integrity of the fatty acid and iodine value determinations. Ensure the complete removal of pigment residues via centrifugation and solvent extraction before proceeding with analyses of the liquid phase.
🧪 Quantitative Analysis of Mixed and Composite Pigments
For single pigment formulations, D215 references D 34. The practice provides extensive protocols for mixed or composite pigments (Sections 17-32), covering moisture (D 280), loss on ignition (D 1208), and the quantification of specific chemical species. Critical elemental analyses include total lead, antimony oxide (D 2350), soluble barium, aluminum oxide, total zinc, and alkaline earth metals. Sulfur chemistry is thoroughly assessed through total soluble sulfur (D 34), soluble sulfate (D 50), sulfide sulfur (D 2351), and sulfur dioxide (D 2352).
| 📏 Test Section | ⚡ Parameter | 📌 Applicable Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Moisture and Other Volatile Matter | D 280 |
| 18 | Loss on Ignition | D 1208 |
| 21 | Antimony Oxide | D 2350 |
| 27 | Carbon Dioxide | D 1301 |
| 28 | Total Soluble Sulfur Compounds | D 34 |
| 29 | Soluble Sulfate | D 50 |
| 30 | Sulfide Sulfur | D 2351 |
| 31 | Sulfur Dioxide | D 2352
📥 Standard Documents Download |