Paints and varnishes — Determination of the pot life of multicomponent coating systems — Preparation and conditioning of samples and guidelines for testing

This document specifies a method, carried out under standard conditions, for preparing and storing a sample of a multicomponent coating system and subsequently assessing its pot-life by measuring a particular property/ies.

Reactive systems curing within a short period of time, e.g. 3 h, will have the end of their pot life so near to the gel point that they will need to be tested for that particular property in accordance with ISO 2535.

The method can be carried out either as a pass/fail test by determining the particular property/ies after a specified period of time, or as determination of the pot life by repeating determinations at convenient intervals of time.

This document is not intended for in situ control of products during their application. It is intended to determine "pot life" in the laboratory.

The value obtained from this test method can be subject to modification by suppliers for practical reasons (e.g. starting temperature) when giving advice to users and should then be called the "practical pot life".