SIST EN ISO 9117-3:2011 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 9117-3:2010 - Paints and varnishes - Drying tests - Part 3: Surface-drying test using ballotini (ISO 9117-3:2010) is a standardized laboratory method published by CEN/ISO for determining the surface-drying characteristics of coatings that dry by air action or by chemical reaction. The method is expressly not intended for stoving products and can be used either as a “go/no-go” compliance check after a specified time or to determine the surface-drying time by repeated assessment.

Key topics and requirements

• Principle: A coated test panel is assessed by pouring small transparent glass spheres (ballotini) onto the surface and lightly brushing them away. The coating is judged “surface-dry” if the ballotini can be removed without damaging the surface.
• Ballotini specification: Glass spheres must be sieved so that none pass a 125 µm sieve and all pass a 250 µm sieve (nominal sizes).
• Test quantities and handling:
  • Use approximately 0.5 g of ballotini per test, poured from a height of 50–150 mm (a glass tube ~25 mm internal diameter is recommended to control spread).
  • After ~10 s, tilt the panel to ~20° and brush lightly with a soft-haired brush.
• Apparatus: ballotini, soft-haired brush, stopwatch (0.1 s), balance (0.01 g).
• Test specimens and preparation:
  • Prepare panels per ISO 1514 and sample per ISO 15528; coating thickness measured in micrometres per ISO 2808.
  • If required, apply agreed primer/undercoat and dry as specified before testing.
• Test modes:
  • Go/no-go: check surface-dry state after a specified time to evaluate compliance.
  • Time-to-dry: test at intervals (using separate panels or distinct panel areas) until surface-dry time is reached.
• Reporting: include product ID, test conditions, substrate preparation, application method, dry film thickness, result (surface-dry at specified time and/or surface-drying time), anomalies, deviations and test date.

Applications and users

This standard is practical for:

• Coatings manufacturers and R&D teams validating formulations and drying additives.
• Quality control and independent test laboratories performing routine acceptance tests.
• Specifiers, contractors and procurement to verify handling, recoating and packaging readiness.
• Regulatory and compliance teams requiring a repeatable method to document surface-drying performance.

Use cases include production acceptance, batch verification, formulation comparison, and determining appropriate handling or recoating windows.

Related standards

• ISO 1513 - Examination and preparation of test samples
• ISO 1514 - Standard panels for testing
• ISO 2808 - Determination of film thickness
• ISO 15528 - Sampling of paints, varnishes and raw materials

Keywords: EN ISO 9117-3:2010, ISO 9117-3, paints and varnishes, drying tests, surface-drying test, ballotini, surface-drying time, coating quality control.