ASTM E2301-12(2017)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:E2301 −12 (Reapproved 2017)
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.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Color Differences from Instrumentally Measured Color
Coordinates
1.1 This test method describes the instrumental measure-
E179Guide for Selection of Geometric Conditions for
ment of the colorimetric properties (CIE tristimulus values,
Measurement of Reflection and Transmission Properties
luminance factors, and chromaticity coordinates) of
of Materials
fluorescent-retroreflective sheeting and marking materials
E284Terminology of Appearance
when illuminated by daylight.
E308PracticeforComputingtheColorsofObjectsbyUsing
1.2 This test method is generally applicable to any sheeting
the CIE System
or marking material having combined fluorescent and retrore-
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
flective properties used for daytime high visibility traffic
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
control and personal safety applications.
E1164PracticeforObtainingSpectrometricDataforObject-
Color Evaluation
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this E1767Practice for Specifying the Geometries of Observa-
tion and Measurement to Characterize the Appearance of
standard.
Materials
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
E2152Practice for Computing the Colors of Fluorescent
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Objects from Bispectral Photometric Data
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
E2153Practice for Obtaining Bispectral Photometric Data
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
for Evaluation of Fluorescent Color
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2.2 CIE Document:
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
CIE 15:2004Colorimetry
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3. Terminology
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical 3.1 Definitions—The definitions contained in Guide E179,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. Terminology E284, and Practice E1164 are applicable to this
test method.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Summary of Test Method
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.1 Thistestmethodprovidesaprocedureformeasuringthe
D2244Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances and
colorimetric properties of fluorescent-retroreflective sheeting
and markings under simulated daylight illumination. Colori-
metric properties are determined for CIE D65, which approxi-
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color
mates outdoor illumination at midday, and Daylight 15000 K,
and Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.05 on
which is an alternate D illuminant chosen to represent low
Fluorescence.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2017. Published November 2017. Originally
ambient light/dawn/dusk daylight illumination conditions (see
approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as E2301 – 12. DOI:
CIE 15:2004).
10.1520/E2301-12R17.
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 Available from CIE (International Commission on Illumination) at
the ASTM website. www.cie.co.at or www.techstreet.com.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2301−12 (2017)
4.2 This test method requires the use of a calibrated bispec- 6.1.4.1 Circumferentialinstrumentsareacceptableprovided
trometer (two-monochromator spectrometer) with either 45:0 the procedure described in 9.3.1 is followed.
or 0:45 geometry that can measure the specimen’s Donaldson
6.1.4.2 Uniplanar instruments are acceptable provided the
matrix (see Practice E2153).
procedure described in 9.3.2 is followed.
6.1.5 The referee aperture sizes shall be 10 degrees for
4.3 This test method provides for calculation and reporting
illumination and 10 degrees for viewing. Use of aperture sizes
of separated fluorescence, reflectance and total tristimulus
deviating from these may affect the measurement results. See
values (XYZ) and luminance factors (Y, %), and total chroma-
Practice E1767 for fundamentals of specification of apertures.
ticity coordinates (x,y) from the Donaldson matrix for the CIE
1931 Standard Colorimetric Observer.
NOTE 4—Fluorescent colorimetric properties (for example, Fluores-
cence tristimulus values (XYZ) ) are not significantly influenced by the
F
aperture sizes. Reflectance colorimetric properties (for example, Reflec-
5. Significance and Use
tancetristimulusvalues(XYZ) )maybegreatlyaffectedbyaperturesizes.
R
5.1 This test method provides procedures for obtaining
Consequently total colorimetric properties (for example, Total tristimulus
tristimulus values, luminance factors and chromaticity coordi- values (XYZ) ) may be greatly affected.
T
natesoffluorescent-retroreflectivematerialsbybispectralcolo-
6.1.6 The illumination monochromator shall illuminate the
rimetry using a 45:0 or 0:45 optical measuring system.
specimen over the wavelength range from 300 to 780 nm at
intervals of 10 nm or less.
5.2 TheCIE1931(2°)standardobserverisusedtocalculate
the colorimetric properties of fluorescent-retroreflective sheet- 6.1.7 The viewing monochromator shall detect the speci-
ing and markings used in daytime high visibility traffic control men radiance over the wavelength range from 380 to 780 nm
and personal safety applications because in practice these at intervals of 10 nm or less.
materials are primarily viewed from a distance where they
6.1.8 The minimum illuminated sample area shall be 100
subtend less than 4° of the visual field.
mm with no dimension less than 5 mm.
5.3 Thistestmethodisapplicabletoobject-colorspecimens
6.2 Calibration Standards, as outlined in Practice E2153,
of any gloss level.
supplied by the instrument manufacturer or obtained
separately, with calibration values no older than 24 months.
5.4 Due to the retroreflective properties of these materials
the colorimetric data may not be suitable for use in computer
6.3 Verification Standards—Verificationoftheprecisionand
colorant formulation.
bias of the entire system, including calculation of tristimulus
values, shall be conducted on an annual basis using non-
5.5 Thistestmethodissuitableforqualitycontroltestingof
retroreflective/non-fluorescent, fluorescent/non-retroreflective
fluorescent-retroreflective sheeting and marking materials.
and fluorescent retroreflective color standards with calibration
NOTE 1—Separation of the fluorescence and reflectance components
values traceable to an accredited National Standards Labora-
from the total colorimetric properties provides useful and meaningful
information to evaluate independently the luminescent and diffuse reflec-
tory. The calibration values for the verification panels shall be
tive efficiency and consistency of these materials.
no older than 36 months.
5.6 This test method is the referee method for determining NOTE 5—Stable fluorescent/non-retroreflective and fluorescent retrore-
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.
6. Apparatus
7. Test Specimen
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).
tothesubstrateinaccordancewiththerecommendationsofthe
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
substrate, 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.
blacktile.Theblackpanelshallhavealuminancefactor(Y)of
6.1.3 Forthe45:0condition,theilluminationgeometrymay
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
7.1.4 Number of Test Specimens—Measurements shall be
instruments may not be observed in practice for retroreflective materials
because of the variation in axis angles and aperture sizes of instruments. made on a minimum of 3 test specimens.
E2301−12 (2017)
7.1.5 Specimens that have been subjected to additional After washing, rinse thoroughly with clean water, and blot dry
testing, such as outdoor or machine exposure testing, shall be withasoftcleancloth.Afterwashinganddrying,conditionthe
tested on the substrate used for these additional tests. panels at room temperature for at least 2 h prior to conducting
any property measurements.
7.2 Test Conditions—Unless otherwise specified, condition
all test specimens at a temperature of 23 6 2°C and 50 65% 9.3 Position the test specimen at the measurement port of
relative humidity for 24 h prior to testing. the instrument.
9.3.1 If the measurement geometry is circumferential, then
7.3 Sampling—Unlessotherwisespecifiedtestsamplesshall
the testing laboratory must verify that the apertures in the ring
be selected according to the following sampling plan.
are sufficiently close for the measurement to approximate
7.3.1 Sheeting for Traffıc Control Applications—Test
measurement with annular geometry. This may depend on the
samples shall be cut from 1 m of sheeting. The test samples
optical construction of the specimen, and must be determined
shall be cut from the lower left corner, center and upper right
by the testing laboratory. Otherwise treat the instrument as a
corner of the sheeting as shown in Fig. 1. This insures test
uniplanar geometry (see 9.3.2).
samples reflect crossweb and downweb variability of the
9.3.2 If the measurement geometry is uniplanar, then a
sheeting.
sequence of measurements shall be made on the same speci-
7.3.1.1 For materials manufactured in widths less than 1 m
menareaatincrementalrotations,andthemeasurementvalues
the size of the sample shall be such that the width times the
2 2 shall be averaged over all the rotations. The number of
length shall equal 1 m (that is, length × width=1m ). An
rotationsmustbesufficienttoassuregoodapproximationtoan
example is shown in Fig. 1B.
annular measurement. The number depends on the optical
7.3.2 Marking Materials for Personal Safety Applications—
construction of the specimen and must be determined by the
Testsamplesshallbecutfroma2mlengthbysamplewidthof
testing laboratory. The averaging over rotations shall be
material as shown in Fig. 2.Test samples shall be cut from the
applied to the values in the Donaldson matrix.
beginning, middle and end of the 2 m long length of test
material. This insures test samples reflect variability of the 9.4 ObtaintheilluminantindependentDonaldsonmatrixfor
marking material. each test specimen at illumination and viewing sampling
7.3.3 Materials Subjected to Outdoor Exposure—Sampling intervals of no greater than 10 nm (see Practice E2153 and the
of materials subjected to outdoor exposure shall conform to instrument manufacturer’s instructions).
these sampling requirements to the extent practical based on
10. Calculation
the number and size of the exposed test specimen.
10.1 Tristimulus Values:
8. Calibration and Verification
10.1.1 Tristimulus Values for CIE D65—Calculate the indi-
vidual Total tristimulus values (XYZ) , Reflectance tristimulus
8.1 CalibratethebispectrometerinaccordancewithPractice
T
values (XYZ) and Fluorescence tristimulus values (XYZ ) for
E2153,or R F
each test specimen from the respective Donaldson matrix for
8.2 Verifytheaccuracyoftheinstrumentaldatabymeasure-
the CIE 1931 Standard Observer and CIE D65 (see Practice
ment of a series of calibrated verification standards.
E2152).
10.1.1.1 Calculate the averages and standard deviations for
9. Procedure
the individual tristimulus values (X, Y, and Z) for each
9.1 Handle the specimen carefully; avoid touching the area
component(Total,Reflectance,andFluorescence)forCIED65
to be measured.
for each set of test specimens:
9.2 Clean the specimen prior to measurement as necessary, Totaltristimulusvalues: X -average=(Σ X )/n; Y -average
T T T
for example when measuring specimens that have been sub- =(Σ Y )/n; Z -average = (Σ Z )/n);
T T T
jected to outdoor or machine exposure testing.
Reflectance tristimulus values: X -average = (Σ X )/n;
R R
9.2.1 Washing Panels—Gently wash the panels using a soft Y -average = (Σ Y )/n; Z -average = (Σ Z )/n);
R R R R
cloth or sponge and clean water or a dilute solution (1% by
Fluorescence tristimulus values: X -average = (Σ X )/n;
F F
weight in water, maximum concentration) of a mild detergent. Y -average = (Σ Y )/n; Z -average = (Σ Z )/n
F F F F
FIG. 1Test Samples
E2301−12 (2017)
FIG. 2Test Sample
10.1.2 Tristimulus Values for Daylight 15 000 K—Calculate 10.2.3 Other Colorimetric Quantities—When other colori-
the individual Total tristimulus values (XYZ) , Reflectance metric properties or values, such as CIELAB, are s
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