M 69
Standard Specification for
1. SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers two types of
aluminum paint primarily intended for
use on steel structures. The purchaser
shall designate the type desired.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to
regarded as the standard.
2. CLASSIFICATION
2.1 Type I paint is a two-component
system consisting of aluminum paste and
aluminum mixing varnish that are com-
bined as specified into a paint just prior
to use.
2.2 Type II paint is a ready-mixed alumi-
num paint.
3. ALUMINUM PIGMENT PASTE
FOR TYPE I PAINT
(See Note 1.)
NOTE 1-The technical requirements for
aluminum pigment paste are the same as
ASTM D 962, Type 2 (leafing). Class B
(Medium).
3.1 General Requirements-The alumi-
num pigment paste shall consist of com-
mercially pure aluminum in the form of
fine, polished flakes, and a suitable fatty
lubricant combined with a volatile thin-
ner. It shall contain no fillers or adulter-
ants such as mica.
3.2 Detailed Requirements:
3.2.1 The aluminum pigment paste
shall conform to the requirements given
in Table 1.
3.2.2 Leafing-Leafing shall be not less
than 50 percent.
3.2.3 Condition in Container-The
aluminum pigment paste, as received,
shall be in a homogeneous condition, and
shall be substantially free from separation
of pigment from liquid, and shall show
no hardening or caking in the container.
3.2.4 Stability-The aluminum pigment
paste after heating at 45°C for 24 hours in
the presence of moisture, shall pass the
stability test given in Federal Specifica-
tion TT P-320. Paste which within 6
months storage in unopened original
packages after shipment is found to be
unfit for use will be rejected.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS
Aluminum Paint
AASHTO DESIGNATION: M 69-70
4. ALUMINUM MIXING VARNISH
FOR TYPE I PAINT
4.1 General Requirements-The alumi-
num mixing varnish shall be onoleores-
inous water-resisting spar varnish meet-
ing the requirements hereinafter speci-
fied. The oils used in formulating the
varnish shall be composed of not less
than 75 mass percent of tung oil and the
varnish shall contain no limehardened
rosin. The tung oil shall comply with the
requirements of ASTM D 12.
4.2 Detailed Requirements-The alumi-
num mixing varnish shall conform to the
following requirements:
4.2.1 Appearance-Clear and Transpar-
ent.
4.2.2 Color-Not darker than a solution
of 3 g of reagent grade potassium di-
chromate in 100 mL of pure sulphuric
acid, specific gravity 1.84.
4.2.3 Non-volatile Matter-Not less than
50.0 mass percent.
4.2.4 Set to Touch-In not less than 2
hours and not more than 6 hours.
4.2.5 Dry Hard and Tough-In not more
than 24 hours.
4.2.6 Viscosity at 25°C (77°F)-Not less
than 0.065 (0.65) nor more than 0.125
Pa's (1.25 poises) (Gardner-Holdt Tubes
B to E).
4.2.7 Toughness-Shall pass a of 65 percent (or its equivalent in the case
120percent Kauri reduction test at 25°C
(77°F).
4.2.8 Skinning-Shall show no skinning
after 48 hours in a tightly closed half-
filled container.
4.2.9 Flash point (closed cup)-Not
lower than 30°C (86°F).
4.2.10 Cold Water Resistance-The
varnish shall be applied to a standard
tinned panel and allowed to dry for 48
hours. The dried films, after exposure to
cold water for 18 hours, shall show no
whitening, dulling, or other visible de-
fects after drying at room temperature for
2 hours.
4.2.11 Boiling Water Resistance-The
varnish shall be applied to a standard
tinned panel and allowed to dry for 48
hours. The dried film, after exposure to
boiling water for 15 minutes, shall show
no whitening, dulling, or other visible
defects after drying at room temperature
for 2 hours.
4.2.12 Working Properties-When mixed
with aluminum pigment paste meeting
the requirements of paragraph 2 in the
ratio of 240 kg of paste to I m3 of varnish
(2 lbs of paste to 1 gallon of varnish), the
resulting paint shall show satisfactory
spreading qualities and shall give a free
flowing, smooth, continuous coating free
from breaks or sags and when applied to
a smooth vertical steel surface shall have
satisfactory leafing properties.
TABLE 1
Mass %
Minimum Maximum
Non-volatile matter at 105 to
110°C (221 to 230°F)
65 -
Easily extracted fatty and oil
- 3.0
matter (polishing lubricant)
Total impurities other than
fatty and oily matter
- 0.7
Coarse particles retained on
- 1.0
an 0.045-mm (Nº 325) sieve
4.2.13 Calcium-Calcium as calcium
oxide (CaO) shall not exceed 0.1 mass
percent of solids.
5. TYPE I ALUMINUM PAINT
5.1 The aluminum paint shall be prepared
just prior to application (Note 2) by
thoroughly mixing the aluminum pigment
paste with the mixing varnish in the
proportion of 240 kg (2 lbs) of paste
having a minimum non-volatile content
of paste having a higher non-volatile
content) to 1 m' (1 gallon) of varnish
(Note 3).
NOTE 2-It is recommended that no more
paint be mixed than can be used during the
working day so that the paint used each day
will be freshly mixed.
NOTE 3-When two coats of aluminum paint
are to be used it is recommended that the
undercoat be tinted with prussian blue or
chrome green paste to properly differentiate
the color of the dry undercoat from the wet
second coat. From 30 to 45 kg (4 to 6 ounces)
of tinting paste per cubic meter (gallon) of
paint will usually suffice for this purpose.
Prussian blue or chrome green shall conform
to the requirements of ASTM D 212 or D 261.
5.2 The mixed paint shall set to touch in
not less than 2 or not more than 8 hours,
and shall dry hard and tough in not more
than 24 hours.
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M 69
TABLE 2 Quantitative Requirements, Type II Paint
Characteristics
Pigment, percent by mass of paint (aluminum metal)
Volatile vehicle, percent by mass of paint
Non-volatile vehicle (by diff.), percent by mass of paint
Viscosity, Nº 4 Ford cup, s
Flash point, °C
Leafing, percent
Density, kg/m3 (lb/gal)
Drying time:
Set to touch, hours
Dry for recoating, hours
Reduction (Rosin-Pentaerythritol), percent toughness
Water (moisture) content, percent
6. REQUIREMENTS FOR TYPE II
READY-MIXED PAINT (Note 4)
NOTE 4-The technical requirements for
Type H paint are the same as those for
Federal Specification TT-P-38D.
6.1 Material-The paint as received shall
consist of pigment and vehicle as speci-
fied, so combined as to produce a paint
meeting all of the requirements specified
herein. Suitable gassing inhibitor may be
used to improve package stability.
6.2 Composition:
6.2.1 Pigment-The pigment shall be
commercially pure aluminum in the form
of fine polished flakes suitable for mak-
ing paint and shall conform to the re-
quirements of ASTM D 962, Type I or
Type II, Class B. It may be added to the
vehicle in either powder or paste form.
6.2.2 Vehicle The vehicle shall be
aphenolic resin varnish of 125 L oil
length. The resin shall conform to Fed-
eral Specification TTR-271. The oil
portion of the vehicle shall consist of
tung oil conforming to ASTM D 12 and
SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS
Minimum
13
43
42
35
30
60
959 (8.0)
½ 2
- 16
100
- 0.15
alkalirefined linseed oil conforming to
Military Specification MIL-L-15180 and
shall contain a minimum of 80 percent
tung oil. The vehicle shall not contain
rosin or rosin derivatives.
6.3 Qualitative Requirements:
6.3.1 Type II paint shall meet all the
qualitative requirements of Federal
Specification TT P-38D.
6.4 Quantitative requirements for Type
II:
6.4.1 The quantitative requirement of
the ready-mixed paint shall be as speci-
fied in Table 2.
7. PACKING AND MARKING
7.1 Type I paint shall be delivered in
substantial two compartment containers
or in such containers as may be specified
in the contract. The proper quantity of
paste and varnish vehicle shall be pack-
aged in the proportion of 240 kg (2 lbs)
of paste per cubic meter (gallon) of vehi-
cle and which, when mixed together, will
Requirement
Maximum
17
47
46
45
-
-
-
-
result in 3.8 L (1 gallon) or 19 L (5 gal-
lons) of such other quantities of mixed
paint as may be specified.
7.2 Type II paint shall be delivered in 3.8
L (1 gallon) or 19 L (5 gallons) contain-
ers or in other containers as may be
specified in the contract.
7.3 Each container of either Type I or
Type II paint shall bear a label with the
following information shown thereon:
Name and address of the manufacturer
and contractor, shipping point, trade
mark or trade name, title and number of
applicable specification, including type
and class, number of liters, date of manu-
facture and lot number.
8. TEST METHODS
8.1 The test methods to be used shall be
as specified in Federal Test Method
Standard Number 141, or in Federal
Specification TTA-468.
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