Control of water content is often important in controlling the performance of paint and paint ingredients, and it is critical in controlling volatile organic compound (VOC) content.

Paint materials are often insoluble in common Karl Fischer solvents such as methanol. Pyridine has been found to be a nearly universal solvent for these materials; however, the Karl Fischer reaction is too slow in that solvent at room temperature. To speed it up, 1-ethylpiperidine is added at 5 % as a buffer, or “catalyst”.

For nonpyridine based reagents, a number of different solvent systems are available to increase solubility and to minimize interferences from ketones and aldehydes.

1.1 This test method is applicable to all paints and paint materials, including resins, monomers, and solvents, with the exception of aldehydes and certain active metals, metal oxides, and metal hydroxides. While the evaluation was limited to pigmented products containing amounts of water in the 30 to 70% range, there is reason to believe that higher and lower concentrations can be determined by this test method.

1.2 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.