BRITISH STANDARD BS EN ISO

1520:2006

Paints and varnishes —

Cupping test

The European Standard EN ISO 1520:2006 has the status of a

British Standard

ICS 87.040

12&23<,1*:,7+287%6,3(50,66,21(;&(37$63(50,77('%<&23<5,*+7/$:
BS EN ISO 1520:2006

National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN ISO 1520:2006. It

supersedes BS EN ISO 1520:2001 which is withdrawn.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee
STI/10, Test methods for paints.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on
request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
legal obligations.

This British Standard was Amendments issued since publication

published under the authority
of the Standards Policy and
Strategy Committee Amd. No. Date Comments
on 31 August 2007

© BSI 2007

ISBN 978 0 580 55049 2

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO 1520
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM November 2006

ICS 87.040 Supersedes EN ISO 1520:2001

English Version

Paints and varnishes - Cupping test (ISO 1520:2006)

Peintures et vernis - Essai d'emboutissage (ISO Beschichtungsstoffe - Tiefungsprüfung (ISO 1520:2006)

1520:2006)

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 25 October 2006.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN Management Centre has the same status as the
official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels

© 2006 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 1520:2006: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
EN ISO 1520:2006

Foreword

This document (EN ISO 1520:2006) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 35
"Paints and varnishes" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 139 "Paints and
varnishes", the secretariat of which is held by DIN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of
an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by May 2007, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by May 2007.

This document supersedes EN ISO 1520:2001

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of

the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

Endorsement notice

The text of ISO 1520:2006 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 1520:2006 without any
modifications.
 EN ISO 1520:2006

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 1520

Third edition
2006-11-15

Paints and varnishes — Cupping test

Peintures et vernis — Essai d'emboutissage

Reference number
ISO 1520:2006(E)
ii
 EN ISO 1520:2006

Contents Page

1 Scope .................................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Normative references .......................................................................................................................... 1
3 Principle ................................................................................................................................................ 1
4 Apparatus ............................................................................................................................................. 1
5 Sampling ............................................................................................................................................... 3
6 Test panels ........................................................................................................................................... 3
7 Procedure ............................................................................................................................................. 3
8 Supplementary test conditions .......................................................................................................... 4
9 Expression of results .......................................................................................................................... 4
10 Precision ............................................................................................................................................... 5
11 Test report ............................................................................................................................................ 5
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................. 6

iii
EN ISO 1520:2006

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 1520 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 35, Paints and varnishes, Subcommittee SC 9,
General test methods for paints and varnishes.

This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 1520:1999), which has been technically revised.
The main changes are:
— the determination is carried out in duplicate instead of triplicate;
— precision data have been added;
— the text has been editorially revised and the normative references have been reviewed.

iv
 EN ISO 1520:2006

Introduction
This International Standard is one of six standards which specify empirical test procedures for assessing the
resistance of coatings of paints, varnishes and related products to cracking and/or detachment from the
substrate under different conditions of deformation.

The other standards are:

ISO 1519, Paints and varnishes — Bend test (cylindrical mandrel)
ISO 6272-1, Paints and varnishes — Rapid-deformation (impact resistance) tests — Part 1: Falling-weight
test, large-area indenter
ISO 6272-2, Paints and varnishes — Rapid-deformation (impact resistance) tests — Part 2: Falling-weight
test, small-area indenter
ISO 6860, Paints and varnishes — Bend test (conical mandrel)
ISO 17132, Paints and varnishes — T-bend test

The method to be chosen depends on the property which has to be measured. In principle, all these tests differ
technically from each other and differ in accuracy.

v
blank
 EN ISO 1520:2006

Paints and varnishes — Cupping test

1 Scope

This International Standard specifies an empirical method for assessing the resistance of a coating of paint,
varnish or related product to cracking and/or detachment from a metal substrate when subjected to gradual
deformation by indentation under standard conditions (see 7.1).

For a multi-coat system, each coat may be tested separately or the complete system may be tested.

The method may be carried out as follows:

— either as a “pass/fail” test, by testing to a specified depth of indentation to assess compliance with a
particular requirement;
— or by gradually increasing the depth of indentation to determine the minimum depth at which the coating
cracks and/or becomes detached from the substrate.

2 Normative references

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(including any amendments) applies.

ISO 1513, Paints and varnishes — Examination and preparation of samples for testing

ISO 1514, Paints and varnishes — Standard panels for testing

ISO 2808, Paints and varnishes — Determination of film thickness

ISO 15528, Paints, varnishes and raw materials for paints and varnishes — Sampling

3 Principle

The product or system under test is applied at uniform thickness to flat panels of uniform surface texture.

After drying/curing, the elastic properties of the paint film are determined by first placing the coated panel
between two rings, namely the retaining ring and the drawing die. The panel is then pushed by a hemispherical
indenter at a steady rate into the die so as to form a dome shape with the coating on the outside.

The deformation is increased either to a depth agreed between the interested parties or until the coating cracks
and/or detaches from the substrate, and the result is then assessed.

4 Apparatus

4.1 Cupping test apparatus, which conforms to the design and dimensions shown in Figure 1 and consists
essentially of the following components:

4.1.1 Drawing die, made of surface-hardened steel and of which the surface in contact with the test panel is
plane-polished.

1
EN ISO 1520:2006

4.1.2 Retaining ring, of which the surface in contact with the test panel is plane-polished and parallel to the
contacting surface of the die.

4.1.3 Indenter, of which the part contacting the test panel is of hardened polished steel and forms a
hemisphere of 20 mm diameter.

It is preferable to use a mechanically driven indenter, but a hand-operated apparatus can also be used, provided
the standard conditions of test (see Clause 7) can be achieved.

During the test, the indenter shall be prevented from turning and the centre of the spherical portion shall not
deviate from the axis of the die by more than 0,1 mm. The indenter shall move at a steady speed of between
0,1 mm/s and 0,3 mm/s during the test.

The tip of the hemisphere, when at the zero position, shall be in the same plane as the face of the retaining ring,
in contact with the test panel and in the centre of the bore of the drawing die.

4.1.4 Measuring device(s), which can measure the depth of the indentation made by the indenter to the
nearest 0,1 mm and the thickness of the test panel to the nearest 0,01 mm.

4.2 Microscope or magnifier, preferably with a magnification range extending up to ×10, if necessary to
view the panels during or after deformation.

Dimensions in millimetres

Key
1 test panel
2 depth of indentation
3 retaining ring
4 indenter and ball
5 die

Figure 1 — Cupping test apparatus

2
 EN ISO 1520:2006

5 Sampling

Take a representative sample of the product to be tested (or of each product in the case of a multi-coat system)
in accordance with ISO 15528.

Examine and prepare each sample for testing in accordance with ISO 1513.

6 Test panels

6.1 Substrate

Unless otherwise specified, select the substrate from one of those described in ISO 1514 and in accordance
with the intended use.

The test panels shall be flat and free from distortion and capable of withstanding the cupping test without
cracking.

NOTE If cracking of the substrate occurs before the cracking and/or detachment of the paint film, the test result of the paint
film can be reported to be better than the indentation depth at which cracking of the substrate occurred.

6.2 Dimensions

The test panels shall be rectangular with the following dimensions:

— Thickness: not less than 0,3 mm and not more than 1,25 mm, as specified, measured with e.g. a micrometer
(see 4.1.4) to the nearest 0,01 mm.
— Width and length: two tests shall be carried out, either on a single long strip or on two separate panels. The
indentation centres in these tests shall be at least 35 mm from any edge, and the distance between any two
indentation centres shall be a minimum of 70 mm. The test panels may be cut to size after coating and
drying, provided no distortion occurs.

6.3 Preparation and coating

Unless otherwise agreed, prepare each test panel in accordance with ISO 1514 and then coat it by the specified
method with the product or system under test.

6.4 Drying and conditioning

Dry (or stove) and age (if applicable) each coated test panel for the specified time and under the specified
conditions. Unless otherwise agreed, condition the coated panels at (23 ± 2) ◦ C and a relative humidity of
(50 ± 5) % for a minimum period of 16 h before testing.

6.5 Thickness of coating

Determine the thickness, in micrometres, of the dried coating by one of the procedures specified in ISO 2808.

7 Procedure

7.1 Test conditions

Unless otherwise specified, carry out the test in duplicate at (23 ± 2) ◦ C and a relative humidity of (50 ± 5) %
(see also ISO 3270).

3
EN ISO 1520:2006

7.2 Procedure for a single specified depth of indentation

7.2.1 Carry out the following procedure in duplicate (if the results differ, additional tests shall be made).

7.2.2 Hold the test panel firmly without excessive pressure between the retaining ring (4.1.2) and the drawing
die (4.1.1) with the coating towards the die and with the hemispherical end of the indenter (4.1.3) just in contact
with the uncoated side of the test panel (zero position of the indenter). Adjust the panel until the central axis of
the indenter intersects the panel at least 35 mm from the edge.

7.2.3 Advance the hemispherical end of the indenter into the test piece at a steady rate between 0,1 mm/s and
0,3 mm/s until the specified depth is reached, i.e. until the indenter has travelled this distance from the zero
position.

7.2.4 Using normal corrected vision or, if necessary, a microscope or magnifier of ×10 magnification (4.2),
examine the coating of the test panel for cracking and/or detachment from the substrate.

If a microscope or magnifier is used, it is essential to mention this fact in the test report to avoid misleading
comparisons with results obtained using normal vision only.

7.3 Procedure for determination of minimum depth of indentation to cause failure

Unless otherwise specified, test the test panels in accordance with the procedure given in 7.2 using normal
corrected vision, or, if necessary, a microscope or magnifier of ×10 magnification, until a crack is first observed
on the surface of the coating and/or the coating begins to become detached from the substrate.

Stop the indenter at this point and measure the depth of indentation (see Figure 1) to the nearest 0,1 mm, i.e.
the distance travelled by the indenter from the zero position. Confirm the result by repeating the determination
on a fresh panel (if the result differs, further determinations shall be made).

8 Supplementary test conditions

To enable the method to be carried out, the following supplementary information needs to be specified in
addition to that in the preceding clauses:

a) the material, dimensions and surface preparation of the substrate;

b) the method of application of the test coating to the substrate;

c) the duration and conditions of drying (or stoving) and ageing (if applicable) of the coated panels before
testing;

d) the thickness, in micrometres, of the dry coating, together with the method of measurement used, and
whether it is a single coating or a multi-coat system;

e) the temperature and humidity during the test.

9 Expression of results

The test results shall be reported in one of the following ways:

— either whether or not the coating on the test panels passed when tested at the specified indentation depth;

— or the maximum depth of indentation at which the coating passed, expressed as the mean of two valid
results (duplicates) to the nearest 0,1 mm.

4
 EN ISO 1520:2006

10 Precision

10.1 Repeatability limit r

The repeatability limit r is the value below which the absolute difference between two single test results, each
the mean of duplicates, can be expected to lie when this method is used under repeatability conditions (i.e. the
test results are obtained on identical material by one operator in one laboratory within a short interval of time
using the standardized test method). For this method, r is ± 1 mm, with a 95 % probability.

10.2 Reproducibility limit R

The reproducibility limit R is the value below which the absolute difference between two test results, each the
mean of duplicates, can be expected to lie when this test method is used under reproducibility conditions (i.e.
the test results are obtained on identical material by operators in different laboratories using the standardized
test method). For this method, R is ± 2 mm, with a 95 % probability.

11 Test report
The test report shall include the following information:
a) all information necessary for complete identification of the product tested (manufacturer, trade name, batch
number, etc.);
b) a reference to this International Standard (ISO 1520:2006);
c) the items of supplementary information referred to in Clause 8;
d) the source of the supplementary information referred to in Clause 8;
e) the results of the test, expressed in accordance with Clause 9;
f) whether the defects were assessed using normal corrected vision or a microscope or magnifier and, if this
was used, the magnification setting at which it was used;
g) whether a hand-operated or a mechanically driven apparatus was used;
h) any deviations from the test method specified;
i) any unusual features (anomalies) observed during the test;
j) the date of the test.

5
EN ISO 1520:2006

Bibliography

[1] ISO 3270, Paints and varnishes and their raw materials — Temperatures and humidities for conditioning
and testing

6
blank
BS EN ISO
1520:2006
BSI — British Standards Institution
BSI is the independent national body responsible for preparing
British Standards. It presents the UK view on standards in Europe and at the
international level. It is incorporated by Royal Charter.

Revisions
British Standards are updated by amendment or revision. Users of
British Standards should make sure that they possess the latest amendments or
editions.
It is the constant aim of BSI to improve the quality of our products and services.
We would be grateful if anyone finding an inaccuracy or ambiguity while using
this British Standard would inform the Secretary of the technical committee
responsible, the identity of which can be found on the inside front cover.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 9000. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7400.
BSI offers members an individual updating service called PLUS which ensures
that subscribers automatically receive the latest editions of standards.

Buying standards
Orders for all BSI, international and foreign standards publications should be
addressed to Customer Services. Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 9001.
Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7001. Email: orders@bsi-global.com. Standards are also
available from the BSI website at http://www.bsi-global.com.
In response to orders for international standards, it is BSI policy to supply the
BSI implementation of those that have been published as British Standards,
unless otherwise requested.

Information on standards
BSI provides a wide range of information on national, European and
international standards through its Library and its Technical Help to Exporters
Service. Various BSI electronic information services are also available which give
details on all its products and services. Contact the Information Centre.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 7111. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7048. Email: info@bsi-global.com.
Subscribing members of BSI are kept up to date with standards developments
and receive substantial discounts on the purchase price of standards. For details
of these and other benefits contact Membership Administration.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 7002. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7001.
Email: membership@bsi-global.com.
Information regarding online access to British Standards via British Standards
Online can be found at http://www.bsi-global.com/bsonline.
Further information about BSI is available on the BSI website at
http://www.bsi-global.com.

Copyright
Copyright subsists in all BSI publications. BSI also holds the copyright, in the
UK, of the publications of the international standardization bodies. Except as
permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 no extract may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any
means – electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without prior written
permission from BSI.
This does not preclude the free use, in the course of implementing the standard,
of necessary details such as symbols, and size, type or grade designations. If these
details are to be used for any other purpose than implementation then the prior
BSI written permission of BSI must be obtained.
389 Chiswick High Road Details and advice can be obtained from the Copyright & Licensing Manager.
London Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 7070. Fax: +44 (0)20 8996 7553.
Email: copyright@bsi-global.com.
W4 4AL