ENGINEERING Material Specification

GM4350M
STANDARDS Paints

Painted Part Performance Requirements

mium plated metal or plastic. Note that paint

1 Scope
1.1 Material Description. This standard covers
laboratory test requirements for a number of
classes of paint finishes commonly used for
automobile components.
This standard does not cover appearance re-
quirements or processing parameters (excep-
tion: see Section 3.1.1) which are expected to
be specified in material specifications
(998XXXX) and is not intended to cover paint
finishes as used in connection with vacuum
deposited metal coatings and hot stamped coat-
ings.
For painted plastic parts only, the combinations
of substrate, surface preparation and applied
paints shall be used that are shown in GM Ap-
proved Paint on Parts Systems (APOPS) data-
base. When APOPS testing is performed each
test must be completed on a minimum of 3 sam-
ples, each obtained from separate parts.
Parts which are source primed and subse-
quently top-coated at assembly plants shall be
capable of accepting the specified topcoat paint
system and meet all the test requirements of this
standard.
normally does not adhere well to bright surfaces,
and passing the A96 requirement does not as-
sure satisfactory performance in the field.
Therefore, specifying paint on bright substrates
is not recommended.
A0. Normally applicable to exterior vehicle parts
having plastic or other nonmetallic substrates.
C96. Normally applicable to visible metal parts
in the trunk and vehicle interior which may be
exposed to moisture.
C24. Normally applicable to interior vehicle parts
having metallic substrates which are not ex-
posed to moisture.
C0. Normally applicable to interior vehicle parts
having plastic or other nonmetallic substrates.
1.3 Remarks.
1.3.1 The tests specified herein are intended for
both routine quality control (Section 3) and paint
development (Section 3 and Appendix A). Addi-
tional test requirements shall be specified by Z
suffixed to the class number, and the additional
test requirements shall be outlined on the engi-
neering drawing and/or material specifications.
Examples are shown in Table 1.

1.2 Typical Application. The following e- Table 1: Suffix Z Examples

xamples show where some code classes have
been utilized in the past or are currently in use. Suffix Symbol to Class Test Requirements
Consult your materials engineer for assistance GM4350M Class A0/GD Z Gasoline Dip Resistance
in specifying codes for your applications.
GM4350M Class A0/GP Z Gasoline Puddle Resistance
Typical applications for the classes of finishes
are as follows: GM4350M Class A0/M1 Z Mandrel Bend (M1)

A336. Normally applicable to chassis & exterior GM4350M Class A0/M2 Z Mandrel Bend (M2)
vehicle parts having a corrodible substrate, such 1
GM4350M Class A0/C Z Compatibility
as unplated cold rolled steel, precoated steel,
die cast zinc, aluminum or magnesium. Some- GM4350M Class A168/OD Z Oil Immersion
times used for metal underhood parts. 1
Under the Z suffix the adjacent material with which the
compatibility test is required must be specified on the engi-
A168. Frequently applicable to metal underhood neering drawing.
parts. Sometimes applicable to metal chassis
components. 1.3.2 Table 2 depicts deleted classes and their
current applicable equivalents. For new drawing
A96. Previously utilized on exterior vehicle parts callouts, see paragraph 1.2.
having paint on a bright substrate such as
stainless steel, anodized aluminum and chro-
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February 2004 Originating Department: North American Engineering Standards Page 1 of 7

GM4350M GM ENGINEERING STANDARDS

Table 2: Deleted Classes 2 References

Deleted Class Current Applicable Note: Only the latest approved standards are
Equivalent applicable unless otherwise specified.
GM4350M Class B336 GM4350M Class A336 2.1 External Standards/Specifications.
Except: (1) without
N.S.S. related Corrosion ASTM D3363 SAE J2334
Creepback requirements ISO 11014-1
and (2) without Scab 2.2 GM Standards/Specifications.
Corrosion & Corrosion
9984303 GM9503P
Creepback requirements
for zinc surfaces GM4298P GM9504P
GM4465P GM9505P
GM4350M Class B168 GM4350M Class A168 GM9033P GM9506P
Except: (1) without GM9071P GM9507P
N.S.S. related Corrosion
GM9102P GM9508P
Creepback requirements,
(2) without Scab Corro- GM9125P GM9509P
sion & Corrosion Creep- GM9141P GM9511P
back requirements for GM9163P GM9515P
zinc surfaces, and (3) GM9500P GM9516P
Humidity exposure to be GM9501P GM9540P
24 h GM9502P GMW3059
GM4350M Class B96 GM4350M Class C96
GM4350M Class B48 GM4350M Class A96 3 Requirements
Except: (1) N.S.S. to be 3.1 Requirements on Delivery. For painted
48 h, (2) without N.S.S. parts, prime and topcoat applications are limited
related Corrosion Creep- per Table 3.
back requirements, (3) Table 3: Allowed Primer and Topcoat
without Scab Corrosion & Applications
Corrosion Creepback
Number Repair Number Total
requirements for zinc
of OEM Applica- of Bakes Film
surfaces, and (4) Humidi-
Applica- tions (max) Build (of
ty exposure to be 24 h
tions (max) given
paint
GM4350M Class E24 GM4350M Class layer)
A168/OD (max)
Except: (1) without Primer 1
1 2 3 100 µm
N.S.S. related Corrosion
Creepback requirements, Top- 1 2 3 225 µm
(2) without Scab Corro- coat2
sion & Corrosion Creep- 1
Wet-on-wet applications are considered as only one appli-
back requirements for cation (still limited by total film build of given layer require-
zinc surfaces, and (3) ment).
Humidity exposure to be 2
24 h Total film for topcoat only, including two-tone applications.
Parts that are unsatisfactory after a spot repair (for either
primer or topcoat) must be scrapped.

Topcoats are to be repaired with the OEM or

two-tone color only (i.e., white over white, red
over red, etc.).

© Copyright 2004 General Motors Corporation All Rights Reserved

Page 2 of 7 February 2004

GM ENGINEERING STANDARDS
Unless otherwise specified, painted parts shall
be subjected to the testing after a minimum ag-
ing period of 72 h following the baking or drying
cycle. A shorter aging period may be used,
provided it is recognized that this represents a
more severe condition of test and that results
obtained at different aging times under 72 h are
not a good basis for comparing the relative per-
formance characteristics of paint finishes.
3.1.1 Chemical Requirements. Effective
model year 2006, all sealed phosphated parts,
both new and carryover, must use a sealer ap-
proved to 9984303.
© Copyright 2004 General Motors Corporation All Rights Reserved
February 2004
GM4350M
3.1.2 Physical Requirements. Parts furnished
to this standard shall meet the test requirements
shown in Table 4 for the class of finish specified.
These quality control tests are routine tests
which are to be run on production parts as a
means of insuring part quality and/or process
quality. Frequency of these tests shall be based
on a statistical sampling plan determined by the
supplier. Tests are to be run in accordance with
class requirements as designated on the part
drawing and in Table 4. These tests shall also
be performed during the initial qualification proc-
ess for paint materials.
Page 3 of 7
GM4350M GM ENGINEERING STANDARDS

Table 4: Test Class Requirements

Test Class A336 A168 A96 A0 C96 C24 C0
Tape Adhesion (GM9071P) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a)
Humidity & Tape Adhesion (GM4465P & 96 h (b) 96 h (b) 96 h (b) 96 h 24 h 24 h 24 h
GM9071P) (c) (c) (c) (b) (c) (b) (b) (b)
(c) (c) (c)
Neutral Salt Spray & Corrosion Creepback 336 h (d) 168 h (d) 96 h (d)
(GM4298P & GM9102P) (non-zinc sub- (e) (b) (e)(b) (e) (b)
strates)
Scab Corrosion Creepback (GM9511P) 2 weeks 1 week 4 days
(zinc substrates) (q) (e) (q) (e) (q) (e)
(b) (b) (b)
Neutral Salt Spray (GM4298P) 96 h 24 h
(e) (e)
(b) (b)
Cyclic Corrosion (GM9540P) See See See
3.1.2.1 3.1.2.1 3.1.2.1
Chip Resistance (GM9508P) (f) (f) (f) (g)(h)
Dime Scrape, Brittleness – Rigid Substrate (i) (i)
(GM9506P)
Thumbnail Hardness (GM9507P) (j)
Cure (GM9509P) (k) (k) (k) (k) (k) (k) (k)
Knife Crosshatch Adhesion – Flexible Sub- (l)
strate (GM9502P)
Mandrel Bend – Flexible Substrate (m)
(GM9503P)
Gasoline Resistance – Dip (where speci- (n)(o) (n)(o) (n)(o) (n)(o)
fied) (GM9501P
Gasoline Resistance – Puddle (where (n)(o) (n)(o) (n)(o) (n)(o)
specified) (GM9500P)
Compatibility Test – (where specified) (p)
(GM9141P) (This test is to be used when 2
surfaces are adjacent to and/or in contact
with one another when operational.)
Oil Resistance Dip (where specified) (Ap- 7 h (j) 7 h (j) 7 h (j) 7 h (j)
pendix B)
(a) Minimum of 99% paint retention in as received condition.
(b) No evidence of blistering or other appearance changes at the end of the h indicated.
(c) Minimum of 99% paint retention.
(d) Maximum allowable creepback is 3 mm (see GM9102P).
(e) Less than 10% of surface shall be corroded (exclusive of scribes and/or within 3 mm of sharp edges).
(f) Minimum rating of 6 (metallic substrates).
(g) Minimum rating of 7 (rigid plastics, flexural modulus >800 MPa).
(h) Minimum rating of 8 (flexible plastics, flexural modulus <800 MPa).
(i) No evidence of brittleness. Paint removal shall be confined to an area less than the width of the furrow made by the
dime.
(j) No marring or paint removal of the surface (i.e., no paint removal or change in appearance).
(k) Rating of 0 or 1.
(l) Minimum rating of 8.
(m) Minimum of 8 (minimal cracking).
(n) No color change or paint removal to previous surface or lifting or peeling of paint film.
(o) No visible defect in paint film.
(p) No staining, surface marring or softening when exposed face to face (see GM9141P).
(q) Maximum allowable creepback after test is 2 mm (see GM9102P).

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Page 4 of 7 February 2004

GM ENGINEERING STANDARDS GM4350M

3.1.2.1 Cyclic Corrosion Related Audit Fre- incoming shipments and checked for confor-
quencies. mance to this specification, the supplier shall
accept the responsibility for incoming shipments
GM9540P, Duration C Accelerated Corrosion meeting this specification without dependence
Testing is recommended to be performed on upon purchaser’s inspection.
normally processed parts, or sections of parts, a
minimum of 4 times per year. Each substrate 5.5 Initial Source Approval. No shipments shall
type that is being processed by a plant for GM is be made by any supplier until representative
recommended to be represented in each of initial production samples have been approved
these GM9540P examinations (i.e. Bare steel, by Materials Engineering as meeting the re-
hot dipped galvanized, electrogalvanized, alu- quirements of this specification.
minum, zinc die cast, galvanneal). Part per-
5.6 Safety Data Sheets. Completed copies of
formance records should be kept for reference
the Material Safety Data Sheets meeting GM
and be available for review. Tested parts should
information requirements, consistent with
be retained three years for potential review.
ISO 11014-1 standard must be submitted with
Records should indicate the part performance
any new material submissions or where a com-
and the coupon mass loss at regular intervals
position change has occurred.
each approximately equal to 20% (1/5) of the
total test duration. SAE J2334 test procedure 6 Approved Sources
may be substituted for GM9540P, provided
GM9540P coupon mass loss requirements are Approved sources are not required for
met. Performance criteria will be the responsi- GM4350M.
bility of the appropriate GM engineer based on
specific part performance expectations. If a 7 Coding System
supplier does not follow the recommended audit This material specification shall be called up in
protocol, some other (GM) acceptable empirical other documents, drawings, VTS, CTS etc. as
proof of field correlative performance is required follows:
on each supplied substrate.
GM4350M
4 Manufacturing Process
Not Applicable 8 Release and Revisions
5 Rules and Regulations 8.1 Release. The specification was first ap-
proved and released in December 1960.
5.1 Legal Regulations. For use of this material
the valid laws and other regulations and recom- 8.2 Revisions.
mendations in the country of usage have to be Rev Date Description (Organization)
followed.
J MAY 2003 Deleted previous Sec.
5.2 Language. In the event of any conflict be- 5.2.1 – 5.2.14 & 5.3.9 (old
tween the English and domestic language re- format); added Sec. 3.1.1
garding this document, the English language will & 3.1.2.1 (including rein-
take precedence. stated previous publica-
5.3 Restricted and Reportable Chemicals. All tion omissions); revised
materials supplied to this specification must Sec. 1.2, 1.3.2, 8.2, Table
comply with the requirements of GMW3059. 4 (including removal of B
codes & addition of C96),
5.4 Inspection and Rejection. All shipments of Appendix A1 & A1.1, plus
materials or parts under contract or purchase minor editorial changes
order manufactured to this specification shall be and reformatting. (Ap-
equivalent in every respect to the initial samples plied Parts Specialist
approved by engineering. There shall be no Team)
changes in formulation or manufacturing proc-
ess permitted without prior notification and ap- K FEB 2004 Editorial changes
proval by engineering. Lack of notification by the
supplier constitutes grounds for rejection of any
shipment. While samples may be taken from
© Copyright 2004 General Motors Corporation All Rights Reserved

February 2004 Page 5 of 7

GM4350M
Appendix A
A1. Paint Development Tests. Paint develop-
ment tests are, in most cases, long term tests
which are to be used by engineering for qualifi-
cation of paint materials. For exterior, Paint
Engineering should be contacted to determine
the development tests required for a specific
material and application. For windshield wipers,
mast antennas, chassis, underhood, and interior
parts, Materials Engineering should be con-
tacted to determine the development tests re-
quired for a specific material and applications.
In most cases, these tests are not used for rou-
tine quality control.
Note: It is important to note that there are addi-
tional development type tests that can be used
to qualify paint materials. The tests listed below
illustrate some of the more common paint de-
velopment tests that are used. Additional tests
may be required depending upon the environ-
ment that a paint material will be exposed to in
service.
A1.1 Outdoor Weathering test requirements
(GM9163P) are defined in the individual specifi-
cations.
© Copyright 2004 General Motors Corporation All Rights Reserved
Page 6 of 7
GM ENGINEERING STANDARDS
A1.2 Xenon Arc Weatherometer Test
(GM9125P) requirements are defined in the
individual specifications.
A1.3 Scab Corrosion Test shall be conducted
according to GM9511P.
A1.4 Cold Crack/Corrosion Cycle Tests shall be
conducted according to GM9505P.
A1.5 Color Crock Test shall be conducted ac-
cording to GM9033P.
A1.6 Oven Aging Test shall be conducted ac-
cording to GM9504P.
A1.7 Abrasion Resistance Test of organic coat-
ings shall be conducted according to GM9515P.
A1.8 Wear Resistance Test (Canvas Belt Wear
Test) shall be conducted according to
GM9516P.
A1.9 Pencil Hardness Test shall be conducted
according to ASTM D3363.
A1.10 Cyclic Corrosion Test shall be conducted
according to GM9540P. Length of test is de-
fined in the individual specifications, or will be
determined by Materials Engineering or Paint
Engineering.
February 2004
GM ENGINEERING STANDARDS
Appendix B
B1. Oil Immersion Test Procedure. Oil Im-
mersion Test shall be conducted as follows:
Immerse the painted specimen in a bath of cur-
rent production automotive engine oil main-
tained @ 70 to 75°C for the specified number of
hours. Remove specimen from the bath. At-
tempt to press a sturdy thumbnail into painted
© Copyright 2004 General Motors Corporation All Rights Reserved
February 2004
GM4350M
surface. While holding the nail in a vertical posi-
tion and maintaining heavy pressure thereon,
drag the nail across the surface so as to cause a
maximum marring and/or loosening effect.
Visually examine the tested area and record the
results as marred or not marred. (A finish is
considered marred if any paint has been re-
moved and/or the appearance of the surface
has been significantly changed.)
Page 7 of 7