Volunteers are sought for an interlaboratory study to be conducted by the Cure Formaldhyde in Coatings Task Group operating within ASTM Subcommittee D01.21 on the Chemical Analysis of Paints and Paint Materials. Results of the study will support the precision and relative bias statement for a standard test method being developed by the task group to measure formaldehyde generated during the curing of melamine-based coatings.

Coating samples will be provided by the task group chair, John Phillips, environmental control engineer, Ford Motor Company, Mich. The test should take approximately two days.

“The test method will measure the amount of cure formaldehyde in a coating,” Phillips said. “Total formaldehyde in a coating is composed of both ‘free’ and ‘cure’ formaldehyde. The cure formaldehyde is often overlooked but is generally greater than the ‘free’ formaldehyde in melamine coatings. Formaldehyde which can be evolved from a coating will contribute to the VOC [volatile organic compound] content of the coating.”

Participants will need the following equipment:

• HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography);
• Vacuum oven;
• Programmable (GC) oven;
• Personal monitoring pump; and
• Flow meter.

To participate, or for further technical information, contact John H. Phillips, Environmental Control Engineer, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich. (phone: 313/845-1648). Committee D01 meets June 10-13 in Pittsburgh, Pa., in conjunction with ASTM Committee G03 on Weathering and Durability. For meeting or membership information, contact Staff Manager Tim Brooke, ASTM (phone: 610/832-9729). //

Copyright 2001, ASTM