SSPC-Paint 42

January 14, 2019

SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings

COATING STANDARD NO. 42

Epoxy Polyamide Coating, Performance-Based

1. Scope 3.3 SSPC STANDARDS AND JOINT STANDARDS:

SSPC-PA 2 Determining Compliance to Dry
This standard contains performance requirements for a Coating Thickness Requirements
two-component epoxy polyamide coating for use as a primer
SSPC-PA 15 Material and Preparation Requirements
on blast cleaned steel surfaces. The coating may also be
for Steel Test Panels Used to Evaluate
applied in multiple coats for enhanced barrier protection.
the Performance of Industrial
Individual products meeting minimum performance
Coatings
requirements of this standard may vary in formulation, raw
materials, and application characteristics. SSPC-PA 16 Method for Evaluating Scribe
Undercutting on Coated Steel Test
2. Description Panels Following Corrosion Testing
SSPC-VIS 2 Standard Method for Evaluating
2.1 This coating, when properly applied and cured, is Degree of Rusting on Painted Steel
suitable for use on steel surfaces in SSPC Environmental Surfaces
Zones 2A (frequently wet by fresh water), 2B (frequently wet SSPC- Guide for the Identification and Use
by salt water), 3A (chemical, acidic), 3B (chemical, neutral), Guide 13 of Industrial Coating Materials in
and 3C (chemical, alkaline).(1) Computerized Product Databases

2.2 This coating is intended for application by brush,

3.4 ASTM INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS:
spray, or roller for use as a primer under a compatible
topcoat, or in multiple applications as an epoxy multi-coat Standard Test Methods for Mandrel
system. The performance requirements in this standard are ASTM D522 Bend Test of Attached Organic
intended for qualification of a single-coat application. Coatings
Standard Test Method for Specular
2.3 Units of Measure: This standard makes use of both * ASTM D523
Gloss
the IEEE/ASTM SI 10(2), “American National Standard for
Standard Test Method for
Metric Practice” International System Units (SI) and U.S.
* ASTM D562 Consistency of Paints Using the
Customary units. S.I. Units are presented first, followed by an
Stormer Viscometer
approximate conversion into U.S. Units. The measurements
may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall Standard Test Method for Evaluating
be used independently of the other. ASTM D660 Degree of Checking of Exterior
Paints
3. Referenced Standards Standard Test Method for Evaluating
ASTM D661 Degree of Cracking of Exterior
3.1 The date of the referenced standard in effect at Paints
the time of publication of this standard shall govern unless
Standard Test Method for Evaluating
otherwise specified. Standards marked with an asterisk (*) ASTM D714
Degree of Blistering of Paints
are referenced only in the Notes, which are not requirements
of this standard. Standard Test Method for Odor of
* ASTM D1296
Volatile Solvents and Diluents
3.2 If there is a conflict between the requirements of Standard Test Method for Effect of
any of the cited reference documents and this standard, the ASTM D1308 Household Chemicals on Clear and
requirements of this standard shall prevail. Pigmented Organic Finishes
(
SSPC Environmental Zones are defined in “Using SSPC Coating Material Standards, Standard Test Method for Density of
available as a downloadable pd file rom <http //www sspc org/media/documents/
echnical_Committee_Documents/Using_SSPC_Coating_Material_Standards_1 pd )>
* ASTM D1475 Liquid Coatings, Inks, and Related
(2
AS M nternational, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 or Products
re erenced AS M standards, visit the AS M website, www astm org, or contact AS M
Customer Service at service@astm org or Annual Book o AS M Standards volume
in ormation, re er to the standard s Document Summary page on the AS M website

This standard developed by the SSPC C 1 3 C Committee was first issued in July 2010
and was last revised in 2015
1
SSPC-Paint 42
January 14, 2019

Standard Practice for Specifying 3.6 UNITED NATIONS STANDARD(4)

* ASTM D1535
Color by the Munsell System
Test Methods for Drying, Curing, or Globally Harmonized System of
* ASTM D1640 Film Formation of Organic Coatings GHS Classification and Labelling of Chemicals
at Room Temperature (GHS).
Standard Test Method for Epoxy
* ASTM D1652
Content of Epoxy Resins 4. Composition Requirements
Standard Test Method for Evaluation
4.1 The base component of the coating shall contain
of Painted or Coated Specimens
ASTM D1654 an epoxy resin and may include color pigments, mineral
Subjected to
fillers, thixotropes, leveling agents and volatile solvents. The
Corrosive Environments
epoxy resin shall be a di-epoxide condensation product of
Standard Test Method for Package epichlorohydrin with terminal epoxide groups.(5)
ASTM D1849
Stability of Paint
Standard Test Method for Infrared 4.2 The curing agent component of the coating shall
* ASTM D2621 Identification of Vehicle Solids From contain a liquid type polyamide resin and may include color
Solvent-Reducible Paints pigments, mineral fillers, thixotropes, leveling agents and
volatile solvents (see Note 11.1). The polyamide resin shall be
Standard Test Method for Volatile
* ASTM D2369 a condensation product of dimerized and/or monofunctional
Content of Coatings
fatty acids and polyamines.
Standard Test Method for Pigment
* ASTM D2371
Content of Solvent-Reducible Paints 4.3 ANALYTICAL TEST DATA: If required by the
Standard Test Method for Resistance purchaser, the coating manufacturer shall provide certificates
ASTM D2794 of Organic Coatings to Effect of of analysis for coating batches qualified by independent
Rapid Deformation (Impact) testing to meet this standard for use in verifying batch-to-
batch consistency of material (see Note 11.2).
Standard Test Method for Film
ASTM D3363
Hardness by Pencil Test 5. Standard Testing Conditions
Standard Test Methods for Field
ASTM D4417 Measurement of Surface Profile of 5.1 TEST PANELS: Unless otherwise specified, test
Blast Cleaned Steel panels shall comply with requirements of SSPC-PA 15,
except that either Method B or Method C of ASTM D4417
Standard Test Method for Pull-Off
may be used to obtain profile readings. The method used
ASTM D4541 Strength of Coatings Using Portable
and the profile reading shall be reported.
Adhesion Testers
Panels used for the flexibility test described in Section
Standard Practice for Testing Water 7.4 shall meet requirements of ASTM D522.
ASTM D4585 Resistance of Coatings Using
Controlled Condensation 5.2 APPLICATION: The coating shall be spray applied
Standard Practice for Assessing as a single coat in accordance with requirements of the
ASTM D5402 the Solvent Resistance of Organic manufacturer’s product data sheet.
Coatings Using Solvent Rubs
5.3 DRY FILM THICKNESS: The dry film thickness
Standard Practice for Cyclic Salt
(DFT) of the coating applied to test panels shall meet the
Fog/UV Exposure of Painted Metal,
manufacturer’s recommended range. Unless otherwise
ASTM D5894 (Alternating Exposures in a Fog/Dry
specified, the maximum single-coat DFT shall be 300 µm
Cabinet and a UV/Condensation
(~12 mils). The DFT shall be measured in accordance with
Cabinet)
SSPC-PA 2, Level 3 Appendix 5.
3.5 FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS:(3)
5.4 CURE: Unless otherwise specified by tests in
this standard, the coating shall be dried and cured at a
Method 3011 Condition in Container temperature between 20 and 25 °C (68 and 77 °F) for a
(
United Nations Economic Commission or Europe, ransport Division, Palais des
(3
ederal est Method 141D is available online rom http //www assistdocs com/search/ Nations, CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Copies o this standard may be obtained
search_basic c m (Search or 141D) rom the United Nations Publications Customer Service, National Book Network, 15200,
15200 NBN Way, Ridge Summit PA 17124 < https //unp un org>
(5
he epoxy component should be an epoxy resin with a unctionality o 1 or higher

2

minimum of 7 days, maximum 45 days (report cure time
prior to exposure) in an environment maintaining a relative
humidity between 40 and 60 percent.
5.5 SCRIBING: Scribes shall be made in accordance
with SSPC-PA 15 unless otherwise specified.
6. Requirements of Liquid Coating
6.1 MIXING: Each coating component shall be stirred
to a smooth homogenous mixture by mechanical mixing in
accordance with the manufacturer’s product data sheet. All
guidance provided by the manufacturer’s product data sheet
regarding the mixing of multi-component product, thinning
requirements, induction times, and special application
procedures shall be followed. The coating shall be applied
within the manufacturer’s pot life limitations.
6.2 STORAGE LIFE AND PACKAGE STABILITY:
Each component of Table 1 these coatings shall be uniform,
stable in storage, and free from grit and coarse particles.
Package stability shall be tested in accordance with ASTM
D1849. Storage conditions shall be 30 days at 52 ± 1 ºC (125
± 2 ºF). A change in viscosity greater than 10 Krebs units or
noncompliance with application requirements shall be cause
for rejection.
6.3 APPLICATION PROPERTIES: All guidance
provided by the manufacturer regarding special application
procedures shall be followed. Following the manufacturer’s
directions, the coating shall be easily applied by brush, roller,
or spray. The coating shall be evaluated for brush, roll, and
spray application properties following manufacturer’s written
recommendations for each application method. The coating
shall have no streaking, running, or sagging or other defects
during application or while drying.
TABLE 1
CHEMICAL RESISTANCE, 24 H EXPOSURE
ASTM TEST METHODS AND MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
CHEMICAL,
5% BY WEIGHT Blistering Cracking
D714 D661
Sodium hydroxide No blistering No cracking
Sulfuric acid No blistering No cracking
Phosphoric acid No blistering No cracking
Ammonium
No blistering No cracking
hydroxide
Acetic acid No blistering No cracking
Hydrochloric acid No blistering No cracking
A contro set of tr p cate pane s sha be eva uated accord ng to ASTM D3363 to estab sh a benchmark hardness va ue for compar son w th
the pane s subjected to the covered spot test.
SSPC-Paint 42
January 14, 2019
7. Laboratory Physical Tests of Applied Films
7.1 The tests shall be performed on panels prepared in
accordance with Sections 5.1 through 5.4.
7.2 ADHESION: Adhesion shall be tested following
procedure in ASTM D4541 Method C, D, E, or F. Report the
type of adhesion tester employed, and the type of adhesive
used for testing. Perform a minimum of three pulls on one
test panel. The minimum adhesion value to the substrate for
each pull shall be 5.6 MPa (800 psi).
7.3 CURE: This test evaluates the capability of the coating
to cure at a lower temperature than the standard conditions
required in Section 5.4. Triplicate panels prepared and cured
for 240 hours in accordance with Sections 5.1 through 5.3
at a temperature of 10 °C (50 °F) and a relative humidity
between 40 and 60 percent shall be tested in accordance
with ASTM D5402 using 50 double rubs with MEK solvent.
The coating shall exhibit no marring or burnishing and no
more than superficial transfer of coating to the cloth.
7.4 FLEXIBILITY: Coating flexibility shall be evaluated
on triplicate panels using the procedure described in ASTM
D522, Method A using a conical mandrel. Two of three panels
tested shall exhibit a minimum elongation value of 3%.
7.5 DIRECT IMPACT RESISTANCE: When tested
in accordance with ASTM D2794, using panels prepared
in accordance with Section 5.1 the minimum direct impact
resistance shall be no less than 3.4 N•m (~30 lbf-in).
7.6 CHEMICAL RESISTANCE: Triplicate panels shall
be tested in accordance with Section 7.2 “Covered Spot Test”
of ASTM D1308. The coating shall be exposed to the reagents
listed in Table 1 below for a period of 24 hours at 24 °C (75 °F)
Checking Softening
Delamination
D660 D3363*
No checking No softening No delamination
No checking No softening No delamination
No checking No softening No delamination
No checking No softening No delamination
No checking No softening No delamination
No checking No softening No delamination
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SSPC-Paint 42
January 14, 2019

and examined immediately after exposure to the specified
reagents. The coating shall be examined for blistering,
cracking, checking, softening and delamination of film. The
coating shall meet the performance requirements listed in
Table 1 for each reagent. A control set of triplicate panels
shall be evaluated according to ASTM D3363 to establish a
benchmark hardness value for comparison with the panels
subjected to the covered spot test (see Note 11.3)
8. Accelerated Laboratory Requirements
8.1 CONDENSATION: Triplicate panels prepared and
cured in accordance with Section 5.1 through 5.5 shall be
exposed to controlled condensation at 38° C (100 °F) for
1008 hours in accordance with ASTM D4585
8.2.1 Rust Evaluation: When evaluated in accordance
with SSPC-VIS 2, the rust rating of the unscribed portion of
each panel shall be 10 (no rusting).
8.2.2 Blister Evaluation: When evaluated in
accordance with ASTM D714, the blister rating of each panel
shall be 10 (no blistering).
8.2.3 Scribe Undercutting Evaluation: The average
undercutting distance on each panel shall be no more than
5.0 mm when evaluated in accordance with ASTM D1654.
9. Labeling
9.1 Labeling shall conform to GHS.

8.1.1 Rust Evaluation: When evaluated in accordance
with SSPC-VIS 2, the rust rating of each panel shall be 10
(no rusting).
8.1.2 Blister Evaluation: When evaluated in
accordance with ASTM D714, the blister rating of each panel
shall be 10 (no blistering).
8.2 CYCLIC WEATHERING TEST: Triplicate panels
prepared and cured in accordance with Sections 5.1 through
5.6 shall be exposed in accordance with ASTM D5894 for 8
cycles (2688 hours). Immediately after exposure, the tested
panels shall be evaluated for rusting, blistering, and scribe
undercutting.
9.2 Technical data shall be provided for at least all data
elements categorized as “essential” in SSPC-Guide 13.
10. Disclaimer
10.1 While every precaution is taken to ensure that all
information furnished in SSPC standards and specifications
is as accurate, complete, and useful as possible, SSPC
cannot assume responsibility nor incur any obligation
resulting from the use of any materials, coatings, or methods
specified herein, or of the specification or standard itself.
10.2 This standard does not attempt to address problems
concerning safety associated with its use. The user of this
standard, as well as the user of all products or practices

TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
No. of Exposure Evaluate
Test Requirement
Specimens Time According to:
Adhesion
Minimum adhesion
ASTM D4541, Requirements
3 locations --- value 5.6 MPa
Method C, D, E or F of Section 7.2
(800 psi)
(report Method used)
Blister Rating of
ASTM D714
Condensation 10 (no blistering)
3 1008 h
ASTM D4585 Rust Rating of
SSPC-VIS 2
10 (no rusting)

Cyclic Salt Fog/ Blister Rating of

ASTM D714
UV Exposure Test 2688 h 10 (no blistering)
3
ASTM D5894 (8 cycles) Rust Rating of
SSPC-VIS 2
(blistering) 10 (no rusting)

Cyclic Salt Fog/

UV Exposure Test Average
2688 h Requirements of
3 undercutting no
(8 cycles) Section 8.2.1
ASTM D5894 more than 5.0 mm
(undercutting)

4
 SSPC-Paint 42
January 14, 2019

described herein, is responsible for instituting appropriate performed on the originally submitted qualification sample.
health and safety practices and for ensuring compliance with The results of these tests are used to establish pass/fail
all governmental regulations. criteria for quality assurance testing of supplied products.

11. Notes 11.2.1 Establishing Quality Assurance Acceptance

Notes are not requirements of this standard.
11.1 VOC CONTENT: U.S. Federal limits for VOCs in
industrial maintenance coatings were published in 1998 and
may be found at 40 CFR 59, subpart D, National Volatile
Organic Compound Emission Standards for Architectural
Coatings <http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&
SID=4b8291a47d7dbfffc78b40bef17cc383&mc=true&n=sp
40.6.59.d&r=SUBPART&ty=HTML#ap40.6.59_1413.1> The
Federal limits apply to the coating at the time of manufacture.
Local regulations regarding VOC content, VOC
emissions, and container labeling may vary depending on
project location. Many state and local governments and/or
air quality management areas have more stringent VOC
regulations than those in the federal rule. Local regulations
frequently apply at the time of application, after thinning
according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The
coating manufacturer’s product data sheet usually provides
information on the total VOC content.
11.2 QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTS: If the user
chooses, tests may be used to determine the acceptability
of a lot or batch of a qualified coating. The quality assurance
tests are used to determine whether the supplied products
are of the same type and quality as those originally tested
and certified for acceptance. The selected tests should
accurately and rapidly measure the physical and chemical
characteristics of the coating necessary to verify that the
supplied material is substantially the same as the previously
accepted material. All of the quality assurance tests must be
Criteria: Many ASTM test methods contain precision
and bias statements. Specification developers should be
cognizant of the fact that these statements exist. Quality
assurance test criteria should not be more stringent than the
interlaboratory precision of the test methods used.
Where precision and bias data are not available for
a given test method, determine the standard deviation of
a minimum of five measurements taken on the originally
tested and certified material. The pass/fail criterion is that the
measurement of the test sample shall fall within two standard
deviations of the target value. The contracting parties must
agree on a target value.
11.2.2 Recommended Quality Assurance Tests:
Recommended quality assurance tests include but are not
limited to, infrared analysis (ASTM D2621), viscosity (ASTM
D562), weight per gallon (ASTM D1475), total solids (ASTM
D2369), dry time (ASTM D1640), percent pigment (ASTM
D2371), gloss (ASTM D523), color (ASTM D1535), condition
in container (FED-STD-141, Method 3011), odor (ASTM
D1296), and epoxy content (ASTM D1652).
11.3 Although the coating herein specified has exhibited
good chemical protection, its resistance against specific
chemicals should, in the absence of applicable case
histories, be appropriately tested.

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SSPC standards, guides, and technical reports are copyrighted
world-wide by SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings. Any
photocopying, re-selling, or redistribution of these standards,
guides, and technical reports by printed, electronic, or any
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consent of SSPC: The Society of Protective Coatings and a
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