TESTING SPECIFICATION
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Paint and Non-Metallic Coating Evaluation Program
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1.0 SCOPE
1.1 This specification pertains to the requirements, guidelines and procedures for the testing and
evaluation of paints and non-metallic coatings. The requirements defined herein are applicable
when this specification is referenced on Engineering Drawing and/or other specification. This
specification is not an exhaustive list of all coating testing available but gives a program to
evaluate and qualify new and existing paints and non-metallic coatings.
2.0 REFRENCED SPECIFICATIONS
2.1 ASTM B117: Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus
2.2 ASTM B659: Standard Guide for Measuring Thickness of Metallic and Non-Metallic
Coatings
2.3 ASTM D533: Test Methods for Mandrel Bend Test of Attached Organic Coatings
2.4 ASTM D609: Preparation of Cold-Rolled Steel Panels for Testing of Paints, Varnish,
Conversion Coatings and Related Coating Products
2.5 ASTM D714: Test Method for Evaluation of the Degree of Blistering of Paints
2.6 ASTM D870: Testing of Water Resistance of Coatings Using Water Immersion
2.7 ASTM D1654:Test Method for Painted or Coated Specimens Subjected to Corrosive
Environments
2.8 ASTM D2794: Test Method for Resistance of Organic Coating s to the Effects of Rapid
Deformation
2.9 ASTM D3359: Test methods for Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test
2.10 ASTM D3363: Standard Test Method for Film Hardness by Pencil Test
2.11 ASTM D3451: Standard Guide for Testing Coating Powders and Powder Coatings
2.12 ASTM D4060: Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings to the Taber Abraser
2.13 ASTM D4541: Test Method for Pull-off Strength of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion Testers
3.0 TEST PROTOCAL AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
3.1 Coating evaluation shall be conducted in the following testing sequence. Should a coating fail
to pass any single test criteria, testing shall be concluded and the results reported.
Hardness and dry-film thickness measurements shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s
published hardness and thickness ranges for the product evaluated. Should these values fall
outside the published values testing shall not proceed and the results reported.
3.2 Test panels to which coatings shall be applied for evaluation shall be prepared in accordance
with ASTM D609: “Preparation of Cold-Rolled Steel Panels for Testing of Paints, Varnish,
Conversion Coatings and Related Coating Products”. Test panel dimensions (length, width,
and thickness) shall be as required for the specific ASTM test method.
Uncontrolled unless stamped with a RED “Q”. Weatherford, 2012, All rights reserved
This document is copyrighted and whether containing patentable or nonpatentable subject matter is and comprises the proprietary and confidential
information of Weatherford International Ltd. and by receiving this document the recipient agrees that this document is loaned in confidence with
the understanding that neither it nor the information in it will be reproduced or disclosed, in whole or in part for any purpose except the limited
purpose for which it is loaned. This document and any facsimilies hereof shall be returned to Weatherford International Ltd. upon demand.
TESTING SPECIFICATION
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3.3 Adhesion Testing:
3.3.1 ASTM D3359 – Methods for Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test (Test Method B):
Common name for this is a “Cross-Cut Tape Test”. The practice involves subjecting a coating
film to a lattice of cuts through the coating to the metal substrate to produce a grid on the
coating. An adhesive tape (e.g. CHT Tape, Elcometer 99 Tape, Scapa P-99, Intertape Polymer
Group LA-29, or approved equal) is adhered to the surface and removed as directed in ASTM
D3359. Coatings to be tested using this method shall have a dry film thickness greater than 25
microns (1 mil). Acceptance is less than 5% of the coating detaching from the substrate area
tested as shown in ASTM D3359-09 classification 4B. If a multiple coating system is being
tested no loss of inter-coat adhesion is acceptable.
3.3.2 ASTM D4541 – Pull-Off Strength of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion Testers: There
are five types of portable adhesion test apparatus given in ASTM 4541. The preferred method
for adhesion evaluation is by use of a fixed-alignment adhesion tested type II (test method B).
Other adhesion test apparatus may be used but results between two different test methods may
give different results. This is a pass/fail test. Stress applied along with results shall be reported
as per D4541. Loss of adhesion between coats in a multiple coat system is considered a coating
failure. Failure of the adhesive is considered a pass. Minimum coating adhesive strength shall
be ≥ 1500 psi (variance allowed based on type of coating).
3.4 Bend Test (ASTM D522 Method B): This test is to determine the resistance to cracking
(flexibility) of attached organic coatings (< 20 mil) on a sheet metal substrate. Substrate
specimens of size and thickness as given in ASTM D 522 shall be subjected to bending over
various diameter rods to evaluate the cracking resistance of the coating. There is no pass/fail
criteria with regard to cracking as this test is to evaluate the minimum mandrel diameter that
cracking initiates. Any spalling of the coating from the substrate will be considered a coating
failure.
3.5 Acid Resistance Test (downhole coating application only): Three 4” x 6” x 1/8’ carbon steel panels
shall be coated (all sides) as directed by the coating manufacturer’s procedure and place in an
open beaker with a 15% hydrochloric acid (HCl ) solution for a period of 24 hours with the
solution heated to a temperature of 50 °C. Any blistering, cracking, or flaking of the coating
shall be considered a coating failure.
3.6 Abrasion Resistance (ASTM D4060 – Taber Abraser): Three test panels shall be coated per the
coating manufacturer’s specifications with panels of nominal size (4” x 4” x ¼”). The test
consists of calculating the loss in weight at a specified number of abrasion cycles. Weight loss
measurement shall be taken at every 50 cycles. A CS-17 wheel shall be used. Data reported
Uncontrolled unless stamped with a RED “Q”. Weatherford, 2012, All rights reserved
This document is copyrighted and whether containing patentable or nonpatentable subject matter is and comprises the proprietary and confidential
information of Weatherford International Ltd. and by receiving this document the recipient agrees that this document is loaned in confidence with
the understanding that neither it nor the information in it will be reproduced or disclosed, in whole or in part for any purpose except the limited
purpose for which it is loaned. This document and any facsimilies hereof shall be returned to Weatherford International Ltd. upon demand.
TESTING SPECIFICATION
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9/18/2012
include wear index, weight loss, and wear cycles per mil as determined in ASTM D4060.
There are no pass/fail criteria.
3.7 Non-cyclic Corrosion Test (ASTB B117) – Neutral Salt Spray (Fog) Test: Provided results of
coating evaluation results from the above paragraphs are acceptable and the coating application
is for near-shore, offshore, or subsea, triplicate mild steel test panels (A36) shall be coated in
accordance with the coating manufacturer’s recommended practice and tested in a accelerated
corrosion test chamber following procedures given in ASTM D 117. Exposure period will be
for a period of 720 hours at a temperature of 95 °F (35 °C). Panels shall be scribed with vertical
scribe 3.5 inches long (90 mm) long, and 0.04 to 0.08 inches wide (1 – 2 mm) in the center of
one face of each test specimen using a motorized circular blade. Care shall be taken that each
scribe is just deep enough to expose bare steel. Coatings that have been undercut and have
suffered loss of adhesion may be removed mechanically with a scraper. Twelve lines
perpendicular to the scribe shall be drawn along the length of the scribe as 0.25 inch (6.4mm)
intervals. The average rust creepage values shall be calculated using the below equation:
Avg. rust creepage = (avg. rust creepage width – scribe width)/2
Visual inspection shall be conducted to examine other damage mechanisms such as blister
formation, coating cracking, etc.
The flowing information shall be reported:
1. Dry film thickness and rust creepage for each test specimen
2. Average rust creepage
3. Blisters, cracking and other damage
3.8 Immersion Corrosion Testing (ASTM D870) – Testing Water Resistance of Coatings Using Water
Immersion: Coatings intended for subsea application shall be tested in accordance with ASTM
D870. Four test coupons (1) shall be coated in accordance with the coating manufacturer’s
recommended practice. Test panels shall be of mild steel (A36) with dimensions of 4” x 6” x
1/8 – ¼” thickness. Test solution shall be artificial seawater as described in ASTM D1141.
Test solution temperature shall be 100 ± 4 °F (38 ± 2 °C) with a test duration of 720 hours. Any
effects such as color change, blistering, loss of adhesion, softening or imbrittlement shall be
reported.
Note 1. Only three test coupons need to be immersion tested. The fourth coupon is for
measuring baseline hardness, thickness, color comparison, and adhesion per paragraph
3.3.2 .
Uncontrolled unless stamped with a RED “Q”. Weatherford, 2012, All rights reserved
This document is copyrighted and whether containing patentable or nonpatentable subject matter is and comprises the proprietary and confidential
information of Weatherford International Ltd. and by receiving this document the recipient agrees that this document is loaned in confidence with
the understanding that neither it nor the information in it will be reproduced or disclosed, in whole or in part for any purpose except the limited
purpose for which it is loaned. This document and any facsimilies hereof shall be returned to Weatherford International Ltd. upon demand.
