ASTM E2301-03

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: E2301 – 03
Standard Test Method for
Daytime Colorimetric Properties of Fluorescent
Retroreflective Sheeting and Marking Materials for High
Visibility Traffic Control and Personal Safety Applications
Using 45°:Normal Geometry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2301; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1.1 This test method describes the instrumental measure-
E1164 Practice for Obtaining Spectrometric Data for
ment of the colorimetric properties (CIE tristimulus values,
Object-Color Evaluation
luminance factors, and chromaticity coordinates) of
E1767 Practice for Specifying the Geometries of Observa-
fluorescent-retroreflective sheeting and marking materials
tion and Measurement to Characterize the Appearance of
when illuminated by daylight.
Materials
1.2 This test method is generally applicable to any sheeting
E2152 Practice for Computing the Colors of Fluorescent
or marking material having combined fluorescent and retrore-
Objects from Bispectral Photometric Data
flective properties used for daytime high visibility traffic
E2153 Practice for Obtaining Bispectral Photometric Data
control and personal safety applications.
for Evaluation of Fluorescent Color
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
2.2 CIE Document:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
CIE 15.2 Colorimetry
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3. Terminology
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1 Definitions—The definitions contained in Guide E179,
2. Referenced Documents Terminology E284, and Practice E1164 are applicable to this
2 test method.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and
4. Summary of Test Method
Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color
4.1 Thistestmethodprovidesaprocedureformeasuringthe
Coordinates
colorimetric properties of fluorescent-retroreflective sheeting
E179 Guide for Selection of Geometric Conditions for
and markings under simulated daylight illumination. Colori-
Measurement of Reflection andTransmission Properties of
metric properties are determined for CIE D65, which approxi-
Materials
mates outdoor illumination at midday, and Daylight 15 000 K,
E284 Terminology of Appearance
which is an alternate D illuminant chosen to represent low
E308 Practice for Computing the Colors of Objects by
ambient light/dawn/dusk daylight illumination conditions (see
Using the CIE System
CIE 15.2).
4.2 This test method requires the use of a calibrated bispec-
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color
trometer (two-monochromator spectrometer) with either 45:0
and Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.05 on
or 0:45 geometry that can measure the specimen’s Donaldson
Fluorescence.
matrix (see Practice E2153).
Current edition approved July 10, 2003. Published August 2003. DOI: 10.1520/
E2301-03.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM AvailablefromU.S.NationalCommitteeoftheCIE(InternationalCommission
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on on Illumination), C/o Thomas M. Lemons, TLA-Lighting Consultants, Inc., 7 Pond
the ASTM website. St., Salem, MA 01970, http://www.cie-usnc.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E2301 – 03
4.3 This test method provides for calculation and reporting deviating from these may affect the measurement results. See
of separated fluorescence, reflectance and total tristimulus Practice E1767 for fundamentals of specification of apertures.
values (XYZ) and luminance factors (Y, %), and total chroma-
NOTE 4—Fluorescent colorimetric properties (for example, Fluores-
ticity coordinates (x,y) from the Donaldson matrix for the CIE
cence tristimulus values (XYZ) ) are not significantly influenced by the
F
1931 Standard Colorimetric Observer.
aperture sizes. Reflectance colorimetric properties (for example, Reflec-
tance tristimulus values (XYZ) ) may be greatly affected by aperture sizes.
R
5. Significance and Use
Consequently total colorimetric properties (for example, Total tristimulus
values (XYZ) ) may be greatly affected.
T
5.1 This test method provides procedures for obtaining
tristimulus values, luminance factors and chromaticity coordi-
6.1.6 The illumination monochromator shall illuminate the
natesoffluorescent-retroreflectivematerialsbybispectralcolo-
specimen over the wavelength range from 300 to 780 nm at
rimetry using a 45:0 or 0:45 optical measuring system.
intervals of 10 nm or less.
5.2 TheCIE1931(2°)standardobserverisusedtocalculate
6.1.7 The viewing monochromator shall detect the speci-
the colorimetric properties of fluorescent-retroreflective sheet-
men radiance over the wavelength range from 380 to 780 nm
ing and markings used in daytime high visibility traffic control
at intervals of 10 nm or less.
and personal safety applications because in practice these
6.1.8 The minimum illuminated sample area shall be 100
materials are primarily viewed from a distance where they
mm with no dimension less than 5 mm.
subtend less than 4° of the visual field.
6.2 Calibration Standards, as outlined in Practice E2153,
5.3 This test method is applicable to object-color specimens
supplied by the instrument manufacturer or obtained sepa-
of any gloss level.
rately, with calibration values no older than 24 months.
5.4 Due to the retroreflective properties of these materials
6.3 Verification Standards—Verification of the precision
the colorimetric data may not be suitable for use in computer
and bias of the entire system, including calculation of tristimu-
colorant formulation.
lus values, shall be conducted on an annual basis using
5.5 This test method is suitable for quality control testing of
non-retroreflective/non-fluorescent, fluorescent/non-
fluorescent-retroreflective sheeting and marking materials.
retroreflective and fluorescent retroreflective color standards
NOTE 1—Separation of the fluorescence and reflectance components with calibration values traceable to an accredited National
from the total colorimetric properties provides useful and meaningful
Standards Laboratory. The calibration values for the verifica-
information to evaluate independently the luminescent and diffuse reflec-
tion panels shall be no older than 36 months.
tive efficiency and consistency of these materials.
NOTE 5—Stable fluorescent/non-retroreflective and fluorescent retrore-
5.6 This test method is the referee method for determining
flective color artifact standards are not widely available as Standard
the conformance of fluorescent-retroreflective sheeting and
Reference Materials (SRMs). However, measurement services are avail-
marking materials to standard daytime colorimetric specifica-
able from Independent Testing Laboratories and National Standards
tions.
Laboratories to calibrate artifacts for use as Verification Standards.
7. Test Specimen
6. Apparatus
6.1 Bispectrometer, with either 45:0 or 0:45 (illumination- 7.1 Specimen Preparations:
:viewing) geometry. 7.1.1 Samples shall be tested mounted on the substrate that
6.1.1 The tolerance on the inclination of the 45-degree axis
will be utilized for the intended application. Apply the sample
shall be 2 degrees (45 6 2 degrees). to the substrate in accordance with the recommendations of the
6.1.2 The tolerance on the 0-degree axis shall be 2 degrees
material’s manufacturer.
from the normal (0 6 2 degrees).
7.1.2 If the sample is not supplied with its intended sub-
strate, or if the intended substrate is not defined, then the
NOTE 2—For maximum reproducibility smaller tolerances on the axis
sample shall be mounted or backed by a black panel, such as a
angles are recommended.
black tile. The black panel shall have a luminance factor (Y)of
6.1.3 For the 45:0 condition, the illumination geometry may
less than 4 %.
be annular, circumferential or uniplanar and the viewing shall
be normal to the specimen. For the 0:45 condition, the NOTE 6—The measurement results will depend upon the spectral
reflectance properties of the material behind the specimen as well as the
illumination shall be normal to the specimen and the viewing
specimen thickness.
geometry may be annular, circumferential or uniplanar.
6.1.4 The referee geometry shall be annular 45:0.
7.1.3 Specimens should be uniform in physical properties
over the area measured.
NOTE 3—Reciprocity between 45:0 and 0:45 geometry for commercial
instruments may not be observed in practice for retroreflective materials 7.1.4 Number of Test Specimens—Measurements shall be
because of the variation in axis angles and aperture sizes of instruments.
made on a minimum of 3 test specimens.
7.1.5 Specimens that have been subjected to additional
6.1.4.1 Circumferential instruments are acceptable provided
testing, such as outdoor or machine exposure testing, shall be
the procedure described in 9.3.1 is followed.
tested on the substrate used for these additional tests.
6.1.4.2 Uniplanar instruments are acceptable provided the
procedure described in 9.3.2 is followed. 7.2 Test Conditions—Unless otherwise specified, condition
6.1.5 The referee aperture sizes shall be 10 degrees for alltestspecimensatatemperatureof73 63°F(23 62°C)and
illumination and 10 degrees for viewing. Use of aperture sizes 50 6 5 % relative humidity for 24 h prior to testing.
E2301 – 03
7.3 Sampling—Unless otherwise specified test samples are sufficiently close for the measurement to approximate
shall be selected according to the following sampling plan. measurement with annular geometry. This may depend on the
7.3.1 Sheeting for Traffıc Control Applications—Test optical construction of the specimen, and must be determined
samples shall be cut from 1 m of sheeting. The test samples by the testing laboratory. Otherwise treat the instrument as a
shall be cut from the lower left corner, center and upper right uniplanar geometry (see 9.3.2).
corner of the sheeting as shown in Fig. 1. This insures test 9.3.2 If the measurement geometry is uniplanar, then a
samples reflect crossweb and downweb variability of the sequence of measurements shall be made on the same speci-
sheeting. men area at incremental rotations, and the measurement values
7.3.1.1 For materials manufactured in widths less than 1 m shall be averaged over all the rotations. The number of
the size of the sample shall be such that the width times the rotations must be sufficient to assure good approximation to an
2 2
length shall equal 1 m (that is, length 3 width=1m ). An annular measurement. The number depends on the optical
example is shown in Fig. 1B. construction of the specimen and must be determined by the
7.3.2 Marking Materials for Personal SafetyApplications— testing laboratory. The averaging over rotations shall be
Test samples shall be cut from a 2 m length by sample width of applied to the values in the Donaldson matrix.
material as shown in Fig. 2. Test samples shall be cut from the 9.4 Obtain the illuminant independent Donaldson matrix for
beginning, middle and end of the 2 m long length of test each test specimen at illumination and viewing sampling
material. This insures test samples reflect variability of the intervals of no greater than 10 nm (see Practice E2153 and the
marking material. instrument manufacturer’s instructions).
7.3.3 Materials Subjected to Outdoor Exposure—Sampling
10. Calculation
of materials subjected to outdoor exposure shall conform to
10.1 Tristimulus Values:
these sampling requirements to the extent practical based on
10.1.1 Tristimulus Values for CIE D65—Calculate the indi-
the number and size of the exposed test specimen.
vidual Total tristimulus values (XYZ) , Reflectance tristimulus
T
8. Calibration and Verification
values (XYZ) and Fluorescence tristimulus values (XYZ) for
R F
each test specimen from the respective Donaldson matrix for
8.1 CalibratethebispectrometerinaccordancewithPractice
the CIE 1931 Standard Observer and CIE D65 (see Practice
E2153,or
E2152).
8.2 Verifytheaccuracyoftheinstrumentaldatabymeasure-
ment of a series of calibrated verification standards. 10.1.1.1 Calculate the averages and standard deviations for
the individual tristimulus values (X, Y, and Z) for each
9. Procedure
component(Total,Reflectance,andFluorescence)forCIED65
9.1 Handle the specimen carefully; avoid touching the area for each set of test specimens:
to be measured. Totaltristimulusvalues: X -average=(S X )/n; Y -average
T T T
9.2 Clean the specimen prior to measurement as necessary, =(S Y )/n; Z -average = (S Z )/n);
T T T
for example when measuring specimens that have been sub- Reflectance tristimulus values: X -average = (S X )/n;
R R
jected to outdoor or machine exposure testing. Y -average = (S Y )/n; Z -average = (S Z )/n);
R R R R
9.2.1 Washing Panels—Gently wash the panels using a soft Fluorescence tristimulus values: X -average = (S X )/n;
F F
cloth or sponge and clean water or a dilute solution (1 % by Y -average = (S Y )/n; Z -average = (S Z )/n
F F F F
weight in water, maximum concentration) of a mild detergent. 10.1.2 Tristimulus Values for Daylight 15 000 K—Calculate
After washing, rinse thoroughly with clean water, and blot dry the individual Total tristimulus values (XYZ) , Reflectance
T
with a soft clean cloth.After washing and drying, condition the tristimulus values (XYZ) and Fluorescence tristimulus values
R
panels at room temperature for at least 2 h prior to conducting (XYZ) for each test specimen from the respective Donaldson
F
any property measurements. matrix for the CIE 1931 Standard Observer and Daylight
9.3 Position the test specimen at the measurement port of 15 000 K (see Practice E2152).
the instrument. 10.1.2.1 The spectral power distribution for Daylight
9.3.1 If the measurement geometry is circumferential, then 15 000 K shall be calculated in accordance with the procedure
the testing laboratory must verify that the apertures in the ring described in CIE Publication 15.2 for other D Illuminants
FIG. 1
E2301 – 03
FIG. 2
(tabulated values at 10 nm intervals for CIE D65 and Daylight 11.5.4 Average Total tristimulus value
...