4.1 This guide provides a useful summary to the selection and use of procedures for testing coating powders and powder coatings. It is applicable to both thermoplastic and thermoset coatings, unless indicated otherwise. By design this guide does not purport to address test methods or procedures developed specifically for the functional powder coating market, those coating powders for application to pipe or reinforced steel bars (rebar). Information on current test procedures for pipe and reinforced steel bar coating powders and powder coatings can be obtained through their respective ASTM Subcommittees, A01.05 and D01.48.

4.2 Selection of the methods to be followed and the interpretation of results must be governed by experience and the requirements in each individual case, together with agreement between the purchaser and seller. It should be noted that many of the methods used for characterizing a coating powder, such as gel time (Section 16) and inclined flow (Section 17), are primarily meant for the relative comparison of two coating powders, rather than to give a test value that can be interpreted as good or bad. Interpretation of the test results will depend on the specific application in question and will also often depend on the chemistry of the coating powder used.

1.1 This guide covers the selection and use of procedures for testing coating powders and powder coatings. The test methods included are listed in Table 1. Where more than one test method is listed for the same characteristic, no attempt is made to indicate superiority of one method over another. Selection of the methods to be followed must be governed by experience and the requirements in each individual case, together with agreement between the purchaser and the seller.

1.2 This guide also refers to methods developed specifically for the coating powder industry by the Powder Coating Institute, PCI, and the International Organization for Standards, ISO.

1.3 This guide describes the testing of coating powders as applied by electrostatic spray, fluidized bed, or any other applicable method.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.5 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.