BS EN ISO 3233-1:2019

What is ISO 3233‑1 - Paints and varnishes about?

ISO 3233‑1 is an international standard on paints and varnishes which covers the determination of percentage volume of non-volatile matter.

ISO 3233‑1 specifies a method for determining the non-volatile matter by volume (NVV) of coating materials and related products by measuring the density of a dried coating for any specified temperature range and period of drying or curing. This method determines the non-volatile matter immediately after application.

Using the non-volatile matter by volume results obtained in accordance with ISO 3233‑1, it is

possible to calculate the spreading rate of coating materials.

Note: The method specified in this document is the preferred method for air-drying materials. Its use for other materials has not yet been tested. ISO 3233‑1 is not applicable to coating materials in which the critical pigment volume concentration is exceeded.

Who is ISO 3233‑1 - Paints and varnishes for?

ISO 3233‑1 on paints and varnishes is useful for: 

• Paints and varnishes manufacturers
• Coating professional

Why should you use ISO 3233‑1 - Paints and varnishes?

Dry film density is just the mass of the dry paint film divided by the volume of the dry paint film.

Non-volatile matter is defined as the coating content remaining after all water, solvents and other volatiles have been evaporated or removed. The amount of nonvolatile matter in a paint or coating can be expressed as either a weight or a volume.

This method is used to measure the density and to determine the volume of a dry coating obtainable from a given volume of liquid paint. This volume is considered to be the most meaningful measure of the coverage (area of surface covered at a specified dry-film thickness per unit volume) of a paint, varnish or related product. The value obtained by this method might not be the same as that calculated on the basis of the addition of masses and volumes of the raw materials in a formulation.

With the use of ISO 3233‑1, you can calculate the spreading rate of coating materials which is the rate that is tied up with the application properties of the paint and reflects how far a paint would be spread by someone simply painting by 'feel'.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN ISO 3233‑1:2019 supersedes BS EN ISO 3233‑1:2013, which is withdrawn. BS EN ISO 3233‑1:2019 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN ISO 3233‑1:2013. These are:

• The definitions and sources have been updated in Clause 3
• A minimum mass of 25 mg of the coating on the plate has been added in 7.4.1 because measurements and simulation calculations demonstrate the need for a minimum mass for the coated panel
• The text has been editorially revised