ASTM D2743-68(2010)

All of the methods provided involve comparisons between the spectra or chromatograms of the reference and test samples to determine if they show significant differences. It is not possible at this time to establish quantitative limits as a guide to whether a spectral or chromatographic difference is truly significant. Certainly the presence or absence of a moderate or strong peak in the test sample which is not evident in the reference is significant. A persistent difference in the ratios of two peaks of one spectrum as compared to the reference sample is significant. On the whole, some judgment must be exercised in this respect and it is advisable to refer to published data on infrared or gas chromatography in order to establish, where feasible, the possible overall nature of the adulterant or its functional group which might be causing the comparison spectra to differ.

Method A is rapid and the most convenient of the procedures given. It should be utilized first in order to detect nonuniformity of the test sample. Significant spectral differences from that of the reference sample can be taken as an indication of adulteration and in such cases the use of the other methods is not necessary. As a general rule. Method A is sufficient to detect gross or major adulteration of the vehicle solids. However, where Method A shows no significant spectral differences, it cannot be assumed that the test sample is completely acceptable since changes in the type of drying oil, polyol, and certain dibasic acids in alkyd resins, addition of certain aliphatic or nonfunctional hydrocarbon resins, and many minor adulterations may not always show characteristic infrared spectral differences. Therefore, in such cases it is best to proceed to additional tests as given in Methods B and C or else alternatively directly to Method D.

Method B is useful in detecting adulterations that are unsaponifiable or else have an unsaponifiable component that has escaped detection in Method A only because the adulterant may have been small in amount and therefore its strong spectral peaks may have been masked over by the rest of the vehicle solids. Some care should be taken in interpreting spectral differences in Method B to avoid an erroneous conclusion that the test sample is unacceptable because its spectrum is different. Apparent but unreal differences can occur as a result of incomplete saponification, failure to remove all saponifiable material, and varying degrees of contamination of the unsaponifiable fraction with sterols, etc., present in the vehicle solids. After it has thus been firmly established that a real spectral difference does exist, further tests are unnecessary, except that it is wise to resort again to the published literature on infrared to attempt to identify the possible nature of the adulterant. Where Methods A and B indicate acceptability of the test sample, it is still not always possible to rule out adulteration caused by changes or modifications in the saponifiable portion, that is, the type of fatty acid, dibasic acids, and polyol. In such cases, it is best to continue on to Method C for determination of the oil acids, and to other gas chromatographic methods for the polyol and dibasic acids when such equipment is available.

Method C is extremely sensitive in detecting adulterations and changes that have been made in the oil or fatty acid portion of the vehicle solids. It can, for example, detect whether linseed, coconut, oiticica, etc., has been substituted for soya oil and vice versa, or whether fish or tall oil has partially or wholly replaced some other drying oil, etc. Consequently, when the results of Methods A and B suggest that the test sample is acceptable and where a drying oil component is known to be present, Method C should be used additionally for more complete assurance of product uniformity. Where the results from Method C along with those from Methods A and B indicate product uniformity, it is a fairly safe assumption that the product has not been significantly altered.

Method D is intended as an alternative to Methods B and C and where the results from Method A indicate apparent product acceptability. Method D, by the use of quantitative ultraviolet spectral absorbance data, is an extremely sensitive procedure for the detection of complete or even partial adulteration of the test sample. However, considerable caution must be exercised in the preliminary pre-drying of the vehicle solids since it is at this stage that the components are extremely sensitive to oxidative changes. Even minor oxidative changes can seriously affect the absorbance data obtained in ultraviolet spectral analysis and may give an impression that the two samples being compared are different when in fact they are the same. When these considerations are provided for, and the comparison spectra are identical in Method D as well as in Method A, then it can be assumed that the sample is acceptable. Significant differences in the spectra from Method D would indicate nonuniformity of the product even though Method A may fail to reveal such nonuniformity.

1.1 These practices provide general information on the instrumental techniques available for detecting adulteration or nonuniformity of the chemical nature of the vehicle solids in purchased lots of traffic paints by means of the individual or combined use of infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy and gas chromatography. The procedures given are applicable when traffic paint is selected and purchased on the basis of pre-qualification laboratory or road performance tests, or both, and a reference sample of the original paint so evaluated and selected is retained and compared with test samples representative of subsequent purchased and delivered lots of such paint and which are required to be the same as the original reference sample.

1.2 Although not specifically provided for in these practices, the methods given may also be applied, with appropriate modification, to evaluating the acceptability of traffic paints that have been purchased on the basis of composition specifications. In such cases, application is limited to the vehicle solids as before, as well as the availability of a suitable standard or range of standards representative of the vehicle solids that are acceptable and with which samples of subsequent delivered lots will be compared.

1.3 The techniques provided are wholly adequate for detecting gross adulteration of the vehicle solids where completely different drying oils, resins, or polymers, or combinations of these have been substituted for those originally contained in the reference sample. In cases of lesser adulteration or modification, these methods have been found adequate for detecting vehicle solids, adulterations, or modifications as low as 5 weight % of the vehicle solids.

1.4 These techniques have been developed on the basis of cooperative work with alkyd, chlorinated rubber-alkyd, and poly(vinyl toluene) type paints involving the detection of nonuniformity when such extraneous materials as rosin, fish oil, hydrocarbon resin, and chlorinated paraffin have been added. The procedures given may be, but are not necessarily completely applicable to all other types of vehicle solids or extraneous additions, or both.