Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
D4062-24 – Standard Test Method Technical Guide
🧪 Scope, Terminology, and Significance
ASTM D4062-24 defines a laboratory test method for determining the relative leveling of water- and solvent-reducible architectural paints in white and light tints. The method compares the ridges produced in a draw-down film to a series of photographic leveling standards specified in Annex A1 of the standard.
Leveling is formally defined in Section 2.1.1 as a measure of a paint’s ability to flow out after application and smooth out any surface irregularities such as brush marks, orange peel, peaks, or craters produced by the mechanical process of application. This property directly impacts the hiding and appearance of gloss and semi-gloss finishes, and evaluations by this test method have been shown to correlate with brush application performance.
⚠️ Scope Limitation: This method evaluates leveling only and is not intended to measure sagging. Additionally, unpigmented, texture, and deep-tint coatings cannot be readily assessed using the required oblique lighting shadowing technique.
⚙️ Apparatus and Leveling Test Procedure
The test precisely simulates brush application mechanics. The material is presheared through a 10 mL Luer-Lok syringe fitted with a 38 mm (1½ in.) No. 15 gauge needle. A fixed amount of paint is drawn down using a specialized grooved leveling test blade on a sealed chart, guided by a draw-down plate equipped with parallel, smooth-faced straightedges to ensure straight ridges.
| 🟦 Component | 📏 Specification | 🎯 Function |
|---|---|---|
| Leveling Test Blade | Grooved draw-down blade | Lays down wet film with parallel ridges simulating brush marks |
| Draw-Down Plate | Parallel smooth-faced straightedges | Guides the blade to ensure straight, uniform ridges |
| Syringe | 10 mL Luer-Lok | Places fixed paint amount while preshearing it for consistency |
| Needle | 38 mm (1½ in.) No. 15 gauge | Glass for solvent-reducible; glass or plastic for water-reducible paints |
📊 Key Measured Properties and Rating
After the draw-down dries in a horizontal position, leveling is rated by viewing the film under a strong, oblique light source. The contrast of lightness and shadow caused by the paint ridges is directly compared to a series of photographic leveling standards under identical lighting conditions.
💡 Alternative Rating Method: For deep-tint and unpigmented coatings where oblique shadowing is ineffective, ratings may be performed by comparing the film against plastic standards at various angles of reflection under ordinary room lighting.
| 📐 Coating Type | ⚡ Lighting Source | 📏 Reference Standard |
|---|---|---|
| White and Light Tints | Strong oblique light source | Photographic leveling standards (Annex A1) |
| Deep Tints / Texture / Unpigmented | Ordinary room light (various reflection angles) | Plastic leveling standards |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🔍 What specifically does “leveling” measure in this test?
Leveling measures a paint’s ability to flow out after application and smooth out surface irregularities such as brush marks, orange peel, peaks, or craters mechanically produced during application.
💡 How is the test paint applied to the substrate?
The paint is presheared through a 10 mL syringe with a No. 15 gauge needle to simulate brushing action. It is then applied using a grooved leveling test blade guided by a draw-down plate to create standard, parallel ridges.
⚡ Does ASTM D4062-24 measure the sagging tendency of a paint?
No. The standard explicitly states in Section 1.3 that since other factors may influence the tendency of liquid paints to sag, this test method is not intended to measure sagging.
📌 What are the limitations for deep-tint coatings?
Deep-tint and unpigmented coatings cannot be readily evaluated with the shadowing produced by oblique lighting employed in this test method. They may be rated by comparing them with plastic standards at various angles of reflection under ordinary room lighting.