BULLETIN 34 REPORT OF THE 1912 INSPECTION OF THE ATLANTIC CITY WOODEN TEST FENCE, INCLUDING THE REPAINTING TESTS AND THE NEW TESTS. SCIENTIFIC SECTION HENRY A. GARDNER. Director EDUCATIONAL BUREAU PAINT M’F’RS ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES PHILADELPHIA, PA. Copyright, 1913 . by H. A. Gakdnhk BULLETIN 34 REPORT OF THE 1912 INSPECTION OF THE ATLANTIC CITY WOODEN TEST FENCE, INCLUDING THE REPAINTING TESTS AND THE NEW TESTS. SCIENTIFIC SECTION HENRY A. GARDNER, Director EDUCATIONAL BUREAU PAINT M’F’RS ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES PHILADELPHIA, PA. Distributed by G. B. HECKEL, Secretary 636 Bourse Bldg., Philadelphia, Pa. Copyright, 1913, by H. A. GARDNER THE GETTY RESEARCH INSTITUTE LIBRARY REPORT OF THE 1912 INSPECTION OF THE ATLANTIC CITY WOODEN TEST FENCE, INCLUDING THE REPAINTING TESTS AND THE NEW TESTS. Ail inspection of tlie Atlantic City Test Pence was made on August 30, 1912, by a committee* representing the Master Painters’ Association and the Scientific Section of the Educational Bureau, Paint Manufacturers’ Association of the United States. The first set of panels examined were those originally painted during December, 1907, and repainted in May, 1910, these repainting tests having weathered over two years previous to inspection. Panels, Paints, and Preparation . It will be re¬ membered that of the panels painted in 1907 with forty-seven different formulas of the single and combination pigment type, all of the i^ellow-pine and cypress panels, as well as all panels painted yellow and gray, were excluded from the repaint¬ ing tests.f The panels which had been painted * George Butler, representing Philadelphia Master Painters’ Associa¬ tion. Charles Macnichol, Member Washington Association of Master Painters. II. A. Gardner, Assistant Director, Institute of Industrial Research, Washington, D. C. t Bulls. 1C and 26, Seien. Sec., Paint Mfrs. Asso. of U. S. with paints containing lithopone had been re¬ moved from the fence soon after the first inspec¬ tion in 1909. After the second annual inspection, the white- pine panels painted white, which were adopted as standards for future tests, were grouped to¬ gether at the southern end of the fence, with a western exposure. These were carefully prepared for repainting early in May, 1910, the surface of each being lightly sandpapered and brushed to remove loosely adhering dirt or sand and to a slight extent some of the soft chalked surface or hard checked surface that was in some cases pre¬ sented. Paints: The paints for the repainting test were all contained in original sealed and labeled pack¬ ages, having been kept under lock and key in a storage vault for over three years, and being part of the supply that was used in the original paint¬ ing in 1907. An examination of the paints when the pack¬ ages were opened disclosed the contents to be in good condition, with general absence of harden¬ ing except in the case of some of the packages containing single-pigment pastes (in wooden pack¬ ages). Upon opening some of these a hard, thick skin covered the surface, and it was removed with difficulty. Much of the oil contained in these pastes had soaked through the wooden containers, leaving the pigment in a condition that required consider- ♦ able effort to prepare it for reduction and appli¬ cation. Reduction, Application, and Drying. For ap¬ plication of the first repainting coat of paint a re¬ duction of one-lialf pint of turpentine and one- half pint of linseed oil to one gallon of paint was used, with an equivalent amount in the case of the white pastes, which were broken up previous to reduction, with 4y 2 gallons of oil to 100 pounds of paste. In certain cases, where the surfaces of the old 'paints were very hard, a somewhat higher reduction was used, depend¬ ing upon the judgment of the practical master painter to make such reduction as was needed. The penetration in every case was good, and the drying excellent. The second repainting coat was applied without reduction, six days after the first coat. This coat dried very well within twenty-four hours after application, although a rain storm caused slight pitting of the surface on most of the panels, but insufficient to be noticed except at close range. The repainting tests were started in very clear weather, and the temperature throughout the tests ranged from sixty to seventy- five. The paints were all applied to the panels ex¬ posed upon the fence. Condition of Painted Surfaces at Inspection, One of the most striking results shown at this year’s inspection was the general superiority of nearly all the repainted surfaces, as contrasted with the appearance of the original painting on the bare wood after one year’s wear. This point may be confirmed by comparison of the attached inspec¬ tion chart with the chart issued in Bulletin 16, in which the condition of the panels as originally painted was reported at the end of the year’s wear. This conclusion, however, refers more especially to those paints which previous to the repainting pos¬ sessed a fair repainting surface. Paints which had a rough and deeply checked surface previous to repainting presented at this year’s inspection a mottled and alligatored surface. The crests of the old checks were very pronounced and of a dark color, while the intermediate valleys surrounding the crests were partly filled with a soft, white, dry pigment, indicating that the oil had been absorbed by contact with the bare wood, wherever deep checking was present, leaving the dry pigment ex¬ posed to the atmosphere. In the elevated spots surrounded by the checking the dark film was in excellent condition. Such a surface, however, with pigment unsatisfied with oil iu some places and fully satisfied in other places, is no doubt subject to strains and stresses that will lead to serious de¬ fects. The committee therefore suggests that under such conditions, when a deeply checked sur¬ face is to be repainted, the surface should be thor¬ oughly levelled, even at great expense, if the best results are to be obtained. The use of paints that 6 do not check deeply would, of course, be preferable in the first place. In tlie repainting tests all of the white paints of the combination pigment type were in fair con¬ dition, those white paints carrying large percent¬ ages of lead and zinc, with or without a moderate percentage of the inert pigments, being somewhat superior to those white paints carrying heavy per¬ centages of the inert pigments. The white paints made of zinc oxide and basic sulphate-white lead or zinc oxide and basic carbonate-white lead were giving exceptional service; much better, in fact, than at the first inspection. Although the re¬ painted panels have been exposed to the elements for over two years, most of the paints are still giv¬ ing good service. Inspection of New Tests. The new tests which were exposed in 1909, and which were made en¬ tirely upon white-pine panels in three-color work, were also inspected on August 30, 1912, hv the same committee. One of the most apparent results of this series of tests was the superior condition of the tinted paints when contrasted with the same formula 1 in white. The white paints, however, were the only ones inspected in detail. The mixed-pigment paints as a rule presented in colors a more perma¬ nent appearance than the single-pigment paints, the tinted leads having faded considerably. The leads, however, in white looked in better condition than at last year’s inspection, the rough, darkened surfaces having been changed through chalking to surfaces of lighter color. Note.— An unfortunate accident, which happened early this spring, has prevented the committee from making a report upon panels N 22 to N 30, which were painted in 1909. The paving of the street from Chelsea to Longport, at Atlantic City, necessitated the establishment of a central road-binder mixing plant. The place selected for the plant was back of the east side of the test fence at Savannah Ave. Spur tracks were run in on the ground, and extended to a point very close to the fence. On two occasions loaded freight cars were acci¬ dentally backed through the fence, resulting in the entire destruction of panels N 22 to N 30. The fence has been trimmed up and the panels which were not destroyed by the accident were assembled at the southern end of the fence. The present arrangement of the panels is shown by photograph and by diagram. A detailed report of the condition of each panel examined is shown in the following charts. Attention is called to the detail photographs pre¬ sented with this report, which show in a general way the condition of the test panels at the time of inspection. It is to be noted, however, that it is not always possible to illustrate by photographic means the true color values or surface conditions presented by the various paints. On this account the reader is advised not to give too much consider¬ ation to the illustrations, but to weigh carefully the appended report of conditions at inspection when forming a conclusion as to the value of the various formulas. 8 ATLANTIC CITY TEST FENCE. PAINTED DECEMBER, 1907. EXPOSED JANUARY, 1908. REPAINTED MAY, 1910. OLD TESTS. TABLE OF RESULTS OF INSPECTION AUGUST, 1912. White-pine Panels Painted White. ormula No. Panel No. 1 1 2 3 3 5 4 7 5 9 6 11 7 13 8 15 9 17 10 19 11 21 12 23 13 25 14 27 15 29 16 31 17 33 18 145 19 147 20 149 33 176 34 175 35 180 36 181 37 182 38 177 39 17S 40 16S 45 170 46 169 47 172 Formulas. Report op Inspection. Basic. Carbonate White Lead. Zinc Oxide. Basic Sulphate White Lead. Zinc Lead. Inert Pigments. Chalking. Checking. General Condition. Calcium Carbonate. Calcium Sulphate. Magnesium Silicate. Barium Sulphate. Silica. Blanc Fixe. 30.00% 50.00% 20.00% 48.50% 22.00% 70.00% 50.00% . 50.00% 48.50% 50.00% 64.00% 63.00% 48.00% 73.00% 46.00% 50.00% 34.00% 27.00% 25.00% 40.00% 33.00% 40.00% 25.00% 25.00% 19.50% 30.00% 33.58% 25.87% 20.00% 10.00% 3.00% 2.00% 26.00% 36.00% Fairly good.... 37.00% 38.00% 14.00% 25.00% 2.00% 5.00% O © bob © o o 5.00% 6% Inert Pigment 10.00% 60.00% 20.00% 3.00% 5.00% 10.00% 25.00% 20.00% 33.00% 40.00% 75.00% 25.00% 30.00% 34.00% 13.00% Fairly good.... Fairly good.... 3.00% 4.00% Slight. 75.00% 67.00% 15.00% 38.95% 37.51% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 10.00% 3.50% 25.00% 4.81% 7.84% 30.00% 1.59% 4.21% 19.48% 20.36% 1.59% 4.21% Slight. Slight. Heavy and deep. 100.00% 100.00% Fairly good.... 90.00% 61.00% 100.00% 10.00% Slight. 39.00% Slight. Pure Linseed Oil used in all Paints. Panel Formula No. No. 1 1 3 2 5 3 7 4 9 5 11 6 13 7 15 8 17 9 19 10 21 11 23 12 25 13 27 14 29 15 31 16 33 17 145 18 147 19 149 20 176 33 175 34 180 35 181 36 182 37 177 38 17S 39 168 40 170 45 169 46 172 47 . I These tests are all marked with the capital letter N. ATLANTIC CITY TEST FENCE. NEW TESTS—EXPOSED JUNE, 1909. TABLE OF RESULTS OF INSPECTION AUGUST, 1912. White-pine Panels Painted White—Thbee-coat Wobk. Inspection only on White Paints. Formula Panel No. No. 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 S 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 Formulas. Report of Inspection. Basic Carbonate White Lead. Zinc Oxide. Basic Sulphate White Lead. Preeip. While Lead. Zinc Lead. Litho- pone. Inert Pigments. Chalking. Checking. General Condition. Calcium Carbonate. Silica Asbes¬ tine. China Clay. Barytes. Fixe. 45 45 % 40 40 45 45 40 35 % 15 % % % % % Disintegrated.. Disintegrated... 15 45 10 10 20 Considerable... ‘' v,\\.. 45 Disintegrated... Poor. Disintegrated... 40 Considerable... ■ n.. 45 20 2 2 2 2 3 3 50 36 8 8 4 4 12 4 7 7 Considerable... 50 50 50 36 36 Disintegrated... Disintegrated... 36 55 55 60 30 8 Slight. 28 7 7 Fair to poor... 28 Considerable... 30 30 30 100 100 10 10 Fair to poor... Fair to poor... 30 60 10 Disintegrated.. Disintegrated... 33 34 34 100 33 33 33 17 33 17 33 Fair to poor... Fairly good.... 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 24 45 45 45 50 75 50 45 13 18 . 40 40 35 36 15 15 Heavy alligatoring... 20 2 12 Considerable... Slight. 25 50 Considerable... 100 Disintegrated... N B.—Notice is called to the fact that White Llthopone Paints, when exposed to the weather, have not given satisfactory service upon wooden surfaces. For interior use however, Llthopone Paints have proved highly satisfactory and very durable. Experiments with White Llthopone Paints made up with special oils and vehicles designed to withstand exterior exposure, are under way. Tests 22-30 Desteoyed by Raileoad Accident. Panel No. Formula No. 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 See Text. Pure Linseed Oil used in all Paints. Present arrangement of panels shown. End of fence is shown cut off where destroyed by railroad. Road binder plant shown in back of fence. Basic Carbonate-White Lead. 30% Results of Inspection, Aug. 30, 1912 : Zinc Oxide. 70% Chalking: Very slight - Checking: Slight 100% General Condition: Very good Basic Oarbonate-Wliite Lead. 50% Results of Inspection. Aug. 30, 1912: Zinc Oxide. 50% Chalking : Very slight - Checking: Slight 100% General Condition: Very good 14 Basic Carbonate-White Lead. 20% Results of Inspection, Aug. 30, 1912: Zinc Oxide. 50% Chalking: Medium Basic Sulphate-White Lead. 20% Checking: Very slight Calcium Carbonate. 10% General Condition: Very good 16 Basic Carbonate-White Lead. 22% Results of Inspection, Aug. 30, 1912: Zinc Oxide. 50% Chalking: Slight Calcium Carbonate. 2% Checking: Slight Magnesium Silicate. 26% General Condition: Good Zinc Oxide. 04% Results of Inspection, Aug. 30, 1932: Barium Sulphate. 36% Chalking: Medium - Checking: Slight 100% General Condition : Fairly good if 1 B ;: ' 1 I ij£} 1 ' 1 1 p: .;> 1 ; | 1 1 1 d o -a fi -43 ■ ■ g ini liil is Basic Carbonate-White Lead. 38% Results of Inspection. Aug. 30, 1912: Zinc Oxide. 48% Chalking: Slight Silica . 14% Checking: Slight - General Condition : Good 100 % 20 Zinc Oxide. 73% Results of Inspection, Aug. 30, 1912: Calcium Carbonate. 2% Chalking: Medium Silica . 25% Checking: Heavy - General Condition: Fair 100 % WZI Basic Carbonate-White Lead. 50% Results of Inspection, Aug. 30, 1912 ■ Zinc Oxide. 50% Chalking: Slight - Checking : Slight 100% General Condition : Good Zinc Oxide. 27% Results of Inspection, Aug. 30, 1912- Basic Sulphate-White Lead. 60% Chalking: Medium Calcium Carbonate. 3% Checking: Very slight Magnesium Silicate.... 10% General Condition: Very good Old Tests Repainted 26 Basic Carbonate-White Lead. 20% Results of Inspection, Aug. 30, 1912: Zinc Oxide. 40% Chalking: Slight Zinc Lead.... 30% Checking: Medium Calcium Carbonate. 10% General Condition: Fair Basic Carbonate-White Lead. 33% Results of Inspection, Aug. 30, 1912: Zinc Oxide. 33% Chalking: Medium Barium Sulphate.». 34% Checking: Considerable - General Condition : Fairly good 100 % wta 5 2.0 Old Tests Repainted ^5 O O O 4 ^ . .—« o <1) be £ 0) d 4o5o o £ o £ 0) K d § u o fa fl 03 lOOlOO P_l rH CO OJ CO -—~ ---c, ' «* View of Formula No. 3. In White, Yellow ancl Gray. Although this formula failed in white, the same formula tinted yellow and gray is in very fair condition. Test Panel No. 2 : :« S *3 !3 S . ^ O 0 O' "'t' T—I o o - 0) £ 2 O Zinc Oxicle. 40% Results of Inspection, Aug. 30, 1012 : Lithopone. 40% Chalking: Considerable Calcium Carbonate. 20% Checking: Disintegrated - General Condition : Poor 100 % In White, Yellow and Gray. Although this formula failed in white, the same formula tinted yellow and gray is in very fair condition. 49 New Tests L— l- C ON CO ^ 8 rH 0 ) •» P O • • '-D * * 3 o •• •• Q bX) tc p % 3 . —h O <1000 o & p £ O CO H 0) 3 £ d> Co PJ 3 a> M o a o 1 <® t* ». -Q p 05 P 4 ^ ^ . —■ a a; &JD rt <15 p P O P3