ASTM D2697-22

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Designation: D2697 − 03 (Reapproved 2021) D2697 − 22
Standard Test Method for
Volume Nonvolatile Matter in Clear or Pigmented Coatings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2697; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method is believed to be applicable to the determination of the volume of nonvolatile matter of a variety of coatings.
An interlaboratory study to establish the precision of this test method included a water-reducible exterior latex paint and three
automotive coatings that included a solvent-reducible primer surfacer, water reducible primer surfacer, water reducible enamel
topcoat, and acrylic dispersion lacquer topcoat. Earlier collaborative studies included a gloss enamel, a flat wall paint, a gloss house
enamel, an industrial baking enamel, an interior latex paint, and an exterior latex paint. This method does not apply to radiation
curable materials or pigmented coatings.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1475 Test Method for Density of Liquid Coatings, Inks, and Related Products
D2369 Test Method for Volatile Content of Coatings
D3925 Practice for Sampling Liquid Paints and Related Pigmented Coatings
D3980 Practice for Interlaboratory Testing of Paint and Related Materials (Withdrawn 1998)
D5403 Test Methods for Volatile Content of Radiation Curable Materials
3. Summary of Test Method
3.1 The weight and volume of a stainless steel disk is to be determined; after the disk is coated with the material being tested.
The weight and volume of the disk plus dried coating is determined by weighing in air and then by weighing in a liquid of known
density. The volume being equal to the quotient of the weight loss of the coated disk (due to the Archimedes buoyancy effect)
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D01.21 on Chemical Analysis of Paints and Paint Materials.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2021July 1, 2022. Published February 2021July 2022. Originally approved in 1968. Last previous edition approved in 20142021 as
D2697 – 03 (2014).(2021). DOI: 10.1520/D2697-03R21.10.1520/D2697-22.
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 Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
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D2697 − 22
divided by the density of the liquid displaced. The liquid may be water, organic liquid such as low-solvency mineral spirits or
kerosine, or with special modifications not covered specifically in this method, mercury. The choice of liquid depends upon the
nature of the coating tested.
NOTE 1—Distilled water is suitable for most paints. Exceptions are coatings that contain ingredients that are readily leached out of the dry film by the
water and low-gloss coatings, the surface of which is poorly wet by water even with surfactant added. (Note 2) Low-solvency hydrocarbon solvent (KB
below 36) is also practical for most paints and is preferred by some workers. It is considered to be particularly good for paint films not readily wet by
water. Analogously, organic solvents must not be used if the coating to be tested contains ingredients that will be dissolved readily by the solvent. Lacquers
containing monomeric plasticizers would be examples where hydrocarbon solvents should definitely not be used. Coatings formulated much above the
CPVC present a special problem, where mercury might be the desired “suspending” liquid (Note 3), and for solvent-reducible paints hydrocarbon solvent
might be considered the poorest (unless it is the objective to obtain values closer to “theoretical” spaces between pigment particles not filled with binder,
becoming partially filled with solvent during the test).
NOTE 2—Concentration of surfactant must be kept very low or literature values for the density of the water cannot be used.
NOTE 3—Details of the mercury displacement techniques can be found in the literature.
3.2 From the measured weights and volumes of the disk before and after coating, the weight and volume of the dried coating film
are calculated. Based on the density of the liquid coating and the weight percent nonvolatile matter, the volume of the liquid coating
deposited on the coated disk is calculated. The volume of the dried coating divided by the volume of liquid coating, multiplied
by 100, provides the volume percent nonvolatile matter in the total liquid coating.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This test method is intended to provide a measure of the volume of dry coating obtainable from a given volume of liquid
coating. This value is useful for comparing the coverage (square feet of surface covered at a specified dry film thickness per unit
volume) obtainable with different coating products.
4.2 For various reasons the value obtained may not be equal to that predicted from simple additivity of the weights and volumes
of the raw materials in a formulation. One reason is that the volume occupied by a solution of resin in solvent may be the same,
greater, or less than the total volume of the separate ingredients: such contraction or expansion in resin solutions is governed by
a number of factors, one of which is the extent and direction of spread between solubility parameters of the resin and solvent.
4.3 The spatial configuration of the pigment particles and the degree to which the spaces between the pigment particles are filled
with the binder also affect the volume of a dry coating formulation. Above the critical pigment volume concentration, the apparent
volume of the dry film is significantly greater than theoretical due to the increase in unfilled voids between pigment particles. The
use of volume nonvolatile matter values in such instances should be carefully considered as the increased volume is largely due
to air trapped in these voids.
5. Apparatus
5.1 Analytical Balance.
5.2 Steel Disk, preferably stainless steel, 60 mm (2 ⁄8 in.) in diameter and 22 gage (0.65 mm) in thickness with a small hole near
the circumference. A fine wire, such as Chromel A, 28 gage (0.32 mm), is attached through the hole and made the appropriate
length for subsequent suspension of the disk in a liquid. The wire should have a small loop on the upper end so the disk and wire
can be hung by this loop on the balance.
NOTE 4—Instead of steel disks, some analysts use aluminum tubes. In the round-robin results, essentially no difference was found in the precision obtained
by both methods. Source and dimensions of these tubes are described in the annex.
5.3 Counterweight, to be placed on the balance stirrup after hanger bow and pan are removed.
5.4 Beaker, 1-L—For easier manipulation during the weighing of disk in liquid it is advisable to cut the beaker to a height
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