5.1 Acid etch damage is an important warranty claim item for automotive companies. As a result, acid etch resistance is an important parameter for automotive exterior coatings. The method described in this test method has been shown to simulate acid etch damage of automotive clearcoats that occurs when such coatings are exposed from May through mid-August in Jacksonville, FL.3^,5 The accelerated test described in this standard allows year-round testing as opposed to the limited outdoor exposure time available for the Jacksonville, FL exposures.

1.1 This test method covers an accelerated exposure test intended to simulate defects in automotive clearcoats caused by acid rain2 that occur at the Jacksonville, Florida exposure site. Exterior exposures at an acid rain test location in Jacksonville, Florida produce etch defects that range from small pits to 12.7 mm [0.5 in.] in diameter or larger acid-etched spots. The latter type of defect is not produced in other acid-etch tests that only produce pits that are smaller than 6.35 mm [0.25 in.] in diameter.3

Note 1: Digital images of the acid etch defects produced in outdoor acid-rain exposures and in the accelerated test described in this test method are found in Appendix X1.

1.2 The accelerated test described in this test method uses a xenon-arc light source with daylight filter conforming to the requirements of Practice G155. Specimens are sprayed with a simulated acid rain solution and requires the use of a horizontal, flat specimen array in order to allow the acid rain solution to remain on the test specimens for an extended period of time.

1.3 There is no known ISO equivalent to this test method.

1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.

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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 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.