ASTM D5403-93(2013)

5.1 These test methods are the procedures of choice for determining volatile content of materials designed to be cured by exposure to ultraviolet light or electron beam irradiation. These types of materials contain liquid reactants that react to become part of the film during cure, but, which under the test conditions of Test Method D2369, will be erroneously measured as volatiles. The conditions of these test methods are similar to Test Method D2369 with the inclusion of a step to cure the material prior to weight loss determination. Volatile content is determined as two separate components—processing volatiles and potential volatiles. Processing volatiles is a measure of volatile loss during the actual cure process. Potential volatiles is a measure of volatile loss that might occur during aging or under extreme storage conditions. These volatile content measurements are useful to the producer and user of a material and to environmental interests for determining emissions.

1.1 These test methods cover procedures for the determination of weight percent volatile content of coatings, inks, and adhesives designed to be cured by exposure to ultraviolet light or to a beam of accelerated electrons.

1.2 Test Method A is applicable to radiation curable materials that are essentially 100 % reactive but may contain traces (no more than 3 %) of volatile materials as impurities or introduced by the inclusion of various additives.

1.3 Test Method B is applicable to all radiation curable materials but must be used for materials that contain volatile solvents intentionally introduced to control application viscosity and which are intended to be removed from the material prior to cure.

1.4 These test methods may not be applicable to radiation curable materials wherein the volatile material is water, and other procedures may be substituted by mutual consent of the producer and user.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.