ASTM D4330-94(1997)

Designation: D 4330 – 94 (Reapproved 1997)
Standard Practice for
Evaluation of Fiberglass Boat Polish and Wax
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4330; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope test polish or wax. In addition, polishes to be evaluated should
be for the same intended use. Products for below the water line
1.1 This practice covers the properties to test and the
may be different than those designed for above the water line.
apparatus to use when evaluating the performance of boat
4.3 Test Substrates—The test substrate shall be intended
polishes and waxes, in terms of ease of application, cleaning
for the test polish or wax. The test surface shall be in good
efficiency, gloss and improvement of aesthetic appearance.
physical condition, not badly cracked, scratched, or otherwise
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
damaged so as to interfere with evaluations of polish or wax
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
properties. The minimum test surface area for each sample
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
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shall be 200 in. (1290 cm ). Whenever possible, the evaluation
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
of test polish or wax should be made on boats subject to actual
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
use and exposure to diverse but normal conditions.
2. Referenced Documents 4.4 Polishing Cloth—The same type of polishing cloth shall
be used with each sample tested. Separate cloths shall be used
2.1 ASTM Standards:
for each sample. Materials such as washed cheese cloth,
D 2825 Terminology Relating to Polishes and Related Ma-
rumple cloth, flannel, cotton diaper cloth, and nonwoven
terials
fabrics are suitable for this purpose. Felt or paper shall not be
3. Significance and Use
used.
4.5 Cleaning Solvent—Aliphatic solvents with Kauri Bu-
3.1 Boat polish or wax aids in cleaning and maintaining the
tanol values less than 38.
surface of fiberglass boats. The function of cleaning is very
4.6 Eye Droppers and Distilled or Deionized Water.
important.
4.7 Masking Tape, with a ⁄8-in. (9.5 mm) width.
3.2 This practice defines the properties to be tested, the
4.8 Thermometer.
apparatus to use, and the comparisons of product performance.
4.9 Humidity Gage.
It is recognized that considerable discretion exists among
formulators and marketers of boat polish on what properties or
5. Test Conditions
performance characteristics are best for their products. This
5.1 The temperature and relative humidity of the test runs
practice is flexible to honor this fact.
shall be measured and recorded. The temperature shall be
3.3 The methods of testing are subjective and empirical in
within 55 to 85°F (13 to 29°C) with a relative humidity of 20
order to conform to the basic characteristics of the industry and
to 80 %.
to allow flexibility in testing. Although test panels may be used
5.2 The substrate shall have the same temperature as the
for screening purposes, actual boat surfaces should be used for
surrounding area.
the final evaluation.
6. Personnel and Instructions
4. Apparatus and Materials
6.1 The application and evaluation of the test and control
4.1 Sample of Polish or Wax.
polishes or waxes require four individuals. They shall be
4.2 Sample of Control Polish or Wax—The control is
capable of making discriminating judgements of subjective
selected subjectively for comparison to the test sample. It may
physical and aesthetic properties. Training and orientation to
be a competitive product, a modified formulation of the test
specific product performance characteristics may be required.
polish or wax, and so forth. The control must be of the same or
6.2 The four persons each apply the polishes or waxes to
similar type as the test sample. It would not be meaningful to
one of the four test substrates. All persons then rate all
select a paste product as a control for comparison to a liquid
properties except application properties on the remaining three
substrates to which they did not apply polish. The persons
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-21 on Polishes
applying the polishes or waxes rate ease of use and other
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D21.04 on Performance Tests.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 1994. Published January 1995. Originally
published as D 4330 – 84. Last previous edition D 4330 – 89.
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.04. Type of fiberglass, polyester or gel coat, or both.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 4330
application properties. There will be only four readings on 9.2.2 Cleaning Effect of Polish—Following the application
application properties. The three rating the other properties do of the polishes or waxes, inspect the discoloration, if any, on
not observe the application because they rate properties of each applicators (towels). Observe the ease of removal of the
polish or wax “blind.” oxidized film as well as common fouling agents such as algae,
grease, oils, and so forth. This may be done either in the
7. Procedure
laboratory or during actual use trials of the products. A good
7.1 Cleaning of Test Substrates—Clean the test substrate
cleaner usually enhances the appearance of the substrate. A
thoroughly with an aliphatic solvent having a Kauri Butanol
poor cleaner may leave a dull, soiled, or mottled appearance.
value less than 38. Soft cotton towels may be used to apply the
9.2.3 Drying Rate—Take readings of time in minutes for
solvent to the surface and to wipe it clean. Use new or
each polish or wax to dry.
adequately laundered towels. If previously tested polishes
9.2.4 Ease of Wipe Off—Note effort necessary to wipe off
contained resins or reactive polymers or both, or unknown
each of the samples from test substrate.
polishes have been previously used on the test substrate,
9.2.5 Powdering—Note the degree of powdering, if any,
preclean first with an abrasive cleaner to ensure their removal.
during the wipe off of samples from test substrate.
7.2 Surface Subdivision—Divide and outline the precleaned
9.2.6 Ease of Rub-up to Maximum Gloss—During applica-
surface of each test substrate by tape with uniform squares.
tion of the polishes or waxes note the time and ease with which
7.3 Application of Polish or Wax—Assuming the control
each product develops the maximum gloss.
polish or the test polish is a commercially available product,
9.3 Final Properties—Five to ten minutes after the applica-
follow the directions on the container so far as is possible.
tion of the polishes or waxes, begin the second phase of the
When in doubt on the method of use, the directions for similar
evaluation. In each case comparison is made between the test
products may be used. Use equal volumes of control and test
sample and the control. All or any number of the following
polish or wax to avoid excessively thin or heavy coats. One or
properties are evaluated:
two applications may be used depending on the substrate and
9.3.1 Gloss—Evaluate as depth of gloss (the optical phe-
the discretion of the tester. The same number of coats must be
nomenon of relative depth perceived when viewing reflective
used for both the test sample and the control.
surfaces), or as defined in Terminology D 2825.
9.3.2 Uniformity—Observe the surface for streaks, unpol-
8. Placement of Polishes or Waxes
ished dry spots, and general uniformity.
8.1 Method A—A controlled randomized method of laying
9.3.3 Film Clarity—Observe the clearness or sharpness of
out the test (X) and control (C) polishes or waxes is represented
an object’s image in the polished or waxed surface. Overhead
as follows:
lights, face, hands, or other objects may be used for reflection.
Test
This test may be eliminated for low luster surfaces that do not
Substrate Left Center Right
possess mirror-like finishes.
1 CXC
2 CC X
9.3.4 Smear and Mar Resistance—Smear is the degree of
3 XCX
oiliness or greasiness after the polish or wax is rubbed-up to the
4 XX C
desired appearance. Mar is the degree of film damage resulting
These four positionings should be written on tags and drawn
from a glancing blow to the polished or waxed substrate.
randomly by each of the four who ap
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