SENDING A PAINT FLAKE FOR ANALYSIS –

INFORMATION NEEDED
Background of case:
‰ Analysis Request filled in with below information (word template available)
‰ Complaint number (if not included analysis will not be made)
‰ Specification (dft, quality, shade)
‰ Details of application (time, climate conditions, recoating intervals)
‰ Details of material applied (batch number, producing factory)
‰ Failure history
‰ Pictures from site
‰ TS theory of reason for failure and other observations
‰ What you expect from the analysis
‰ Contact person

Sample handling:
‰ One bag/container for each sample taken
‰ Do not wrap sample in tape (adhesive will stick and make chemical analysis impossible)
‰ Clear markings on bag/container about:
o Number
o Quality
o Where the sample has been taken (ex. VB – forward)
o Type of sample (ex. full system – area with good adhesion)
‰ Take samples from both the failure area and a good area (for comparison – and in case of adhesion failures if
you sample the part that is detaching – the cause of the detachment is whatever is remaining on the vessel)

Relevant samples from various failures:

Adhesion:
1) Full system (down to steel) from area with good adhesion
2) Remaining system (down to steel) from area with detachments
3) Flakes which are detaching

Fouling:
1) Full system (down to steel) from area without fouling
2) Full system (down to steel) from area with fouling

Cracking / blisters:
1) Full system (down to steel) from area without cracking/blisters
2) Full system (down to steel) from area with cracking/blisters (if possible include blisters in the center of sample – and
report pH, smell, colour and taste of liquid in blisters)

Please send the information electronically to A‐lab as soon as possible and before the
samples arrive at RD. Also include the information inside the envelope with the samples.
April 2010 – GTC, RD
HOW TO COLLECT PAINT FLAKES FOR
ANALYSIS
In case of complaints it can be necessary to collect paint samples for further analysis in one of our laboratories. The
aim should always be to get the full system from a good area and the remaining or full system from an affected area.

We have tried to use knives and chisels in different shapes, but it has turned out that hollow punches gave the best
result. Using a hollow punch with a diameter of either 6 or 10 mm has been used and acceptable samples have been
collected. The samples are acceptable because there is material enough for the analysis and because the entire
system is included. The bigger the diameter of the hollow punch the more force is required to obtain the full system.
Using a diameter less than 6 mm will give to little paint material for analysis.

Samples taken ‐ 10 mm Ø hollow punch. Samples taken ‐ 6 mm Ø hollow punch.

Hollow punches for collection of samples (6 and 10 mm Ø)

April 2010 – GTC, RD

HOW TO PACK AND LABEL PAINT FLAKES
FOR ANALYSIS
In case of complaints it can be necessary to send paint samples for further analysis in Analytical laboratory. Sending
and labelling the paint flakes without destroying the paint flake as well as including the right information is
important for obtaining the optimum analysis.

The plastic bags used on the pictures below are very practical and handy for sending samples – and it is possible to
label each sample by writing on the bag.

A few examples of good pack and label practice are shown below:

Good ‐ because samples include full system, data such as object, date of sampling, information about where on the
object the sample has been taken from. Further information was included on the a‐lab request filed with the
samples.

A few examples of not so good pack and label practice are shown below:

Not so good – because of tape being wrapped on sample ‐ lack of information other than quality number – no A‐lab
requests have been filed

April 2010 – GTC, RD