Ask the Expert Question-and-Answer Archive

by Ron Joseph

January, 2002

Paint Adhesion and Abrasion Testing

Q. We have some very basic adhesion/abrasion test equipment on site that doesn't give us a very quantitative answer as to whether a coating is good or not on a finished part. I am trying to gather information on testing techniques for coatings and perhaps a few coating testing laboratories.

A. You will find comprehensive chapters describing adhesion and abrasion testing in the 2001 issue of the Metal Finishing Organic Guidebook & Directory. You can get a complimentary subscription to Metal Finishing and the OGB by writing to Patti Ann Frost at p.frost@elsevier.com.

Another excellent source of information is the ASTM Volume 06.01 which describes all of the tests in great detail.

Instrument suppliers, such as BYK-Gardner and Paul Gardner Co. Inc. provide excellent catalogs that describe these tests in detail.