The permissible level of heavy metals in certain coatings is specified by governmental regulatory agencies. This test method provides a fully documented procedure for determining low concentrations of lead, cadmium, and cobalt present in both water and solvent-reducible coatings to determine compliance.

1.1 This test method covers the determination of lead contents between 0.01 and 5 %, cadmium contents between 50 and 150 ppm (mg/kg), and cobalt contents between 50 and 2000 ppm (mg/kg) present in the nonvolatile portion of liquid coatings or contained in dried films. There is no reason to believe that higher levels of all three elements could not be determined by this test method, provided that appropriate dilutions and adjustments in specimen size and reagent quantities are made.

1.2 Only pigmented coatings were used for evaluating this test method, but there is no reason to believe that varnishes and lacquers could not be analyzed successfully, provided that appropriate precautions are taken.

1.3 This test method is not applicable to the determination of lead in samples containing antimony pigments (low recoveries are obtained).

1.4 If lead is present in the sample to be analyzed in the form of an organic lead compound at a concentration greater than 0.1 %, small losses of lead may occur, resulting in slightly poorer precision than shown in Section 12.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.6 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard statements are given in Section 7.