Designation: F 2217 – 02

Standard Practice for

Coating/Adhesive Weight Determination1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 2217; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 4.2.2 Weigh each sample on the analytical balance to the

1.1 This practice covers a procedure for determining the nearest 0.0001 g and record the value “W1.” Samples may be
amount of coating applied to a substrate, (for example, film, folded and placed on to the analytical balance.
paper, nonwoven). The amount of coating is expressed as a NOTE 2—If sample is conditioned weigh immediately.
weight per given area, (for example, g/m2, lb/ream).
4.2.3 Using solvent in which the coating is soluble and the
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
substrate is insoluble, remove coating from substrate. Typical
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
methods are wiping with solvent saturated cloth, immersing
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
samples in solvent to soften, then wiping with cloth or brush,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
if needed, or immersing sample, agitating to soften, then
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
wiping with cloth or brush. For specific recommendations
2. Referenced Documents contact the coated substrate supplier.
2.1 ASTM Standards: NOTE 3—Accumulated coating in solvent, cloth or brush can reduce the
D 1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics2 ability to clean sample properly and may affect test results.
D 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or 4.2.4 Thoroughly dry the substrate with a drying appliance.
Packaging Components for Testing3 A timer should be used to ensure consistency in immersion,
cleaning and drying time. Drying of hygroscopic materials
3. Terminology
should be consistent with conditioning parameters.
3.1 coating—a material applied to enhance the characteris- 4.2.5 Re-weigh each sample on the analytical balance to the
tics of the base substrates. For this practice, the coating must be nearest 0.0001 g and record the value “W2.”
soluble in the chosen solvent. 4.2.6 Calculate and report the adhesive coat weight using
3.2 ream—500 sheets of 609.6 by 914.4 mm (24 by 36 in.) the following equation:

S D
equal to 278.7 m2 (3000 ft2).
K ~ W1 2 W2 !
Adhesive Coat Weight 5 AP (1)
NOTE 1—Other ream sizes may be in use. If using a ream size other
than 278.7 m2 (3000 ft2), the conversion factor K (located in the appendix)
must be recalculated if reporting results as lb/ream. where:
W1 = weight of coated substrate, g,
4. Summary of Practice W2 = weight of uncoated substrate, g,
4.1 Representative samples of coated material are weighed, A = area of substrate, mm2 (in.2),
coating is removed using a solvent appropriate for the coating, P = fraction of substrate that is coated (P = 1 except for
samples are dried and weighed again. The differential obtained zone coated materials), and
is the coating weight. K = constant (see below).
4.2 Typical methodology is as follows: 4.2.7 When coat weight is expressed in g/m2:
4.2.1 Cut representative samples using a cutting device and K 5 1 3 106 mm2/m2 (2)
a template of known unit area “A” mm2 (in.2), for example, 4.2.8 When coat weight is expressed in lb/ream:

S D
203.2 by 50.8 mm (8 by 2 in.) template.
in.2 · lb
K 5 952.4 ream · g (3)
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F02 on Flexible
Barrier Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.60 on NOTE 4—For explanation of how K is determined, see Appendix X1.
Medical Packaging.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 2002. Published February 2003.
2
Discontinued 1998, see 1997 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 F 2217 – 02
5. Significance and Use 7. Hazards
5.1 Coating weight is an indicator of certain functional 7.1 Solvents may be toxic. When using solvents, work in a
characteristics of coated substrates (for example, sealability, fume hood. Wear gloves when handling. Solvents may be
peelability, appearance). The methodology described in this flammable. Do not allow solvent to touch hot surfaces and
practice is a means of determining coat weight. ensure vapors are vented away. See solvent Material Safety
5.2 This practice does not address acceptability criteria. Data Sheet for additional information.
These need to be jointly determined by the user and producer 8. Sampling
of the product. 8.1 The number of samples tested should be adequate to be
5.3 The methodology described in this practice includes predictive of coating weight.
operator assessment of effective coating removal. This is a 8.2 Caution should be taken when eliminating samples with
subjective assessment and requires operator training for con- defects as this can bias results.
sistent results. 8.3 See Practice D 1898 for guidance on standard sampling
5.4 This practice is applicable to coated substrates in which practices.
only the coating is soluble in the chosen solvent. The solvent
used is critical to the success of the coating removal process. 9. Conditioning
The coated substrate manufacturer must provide guidance in 9.1 Conditioning of the samples to be tested will depend
choice of solvent. upon the material under evaluation. Hygroscopic substrates
such as paper should be dried immediately before testing.
6. Apparatus Typical drying parameters are 5 min at 54 to 60°C (130 to
140°F).
6.1 Analytical Balance, capable of reading to 0.0001 g is
9.2 See Practice D 4332 for guidance on standard condition-
recommended. Balances of different degrees of precision may
ing practices.
be used if the result meets the required level of accuracy.
6.2 Solvent—The chemical composition of the coating and 10. Report
the substrate determine the solvent to use. The coating must be 10.1 Apparatus used including degree of precision of ana-
readily soluble in the solvent while the substrate remains lytical balance.
insoluble. Consult with your supplier for guidance on the 10.2 Lot number and source of material, date, time, loca-
solvent selection. tion, operator of test, and complete identification of materials
6.3 Fume Hood, is desirable. being tested.
6.4 Container, appropriate for holding solvent. 10.3 Any conditioning of the materials.
6.5 Clean Soft Cloth, Brush, or Other Tool, for removing 10.4 Any and all deviations from standard methodology.
softened coating from the substrate surface. 10.5 Number and identification of samples tested and coat
6.6 Solvent-resistant Gloves. weight values. Data may be reported as individual or average
6.7 Appliance, for drying substrate. values.
10.6 Type of solvent used, cleaning time and technique for
6.8 Timer, for reference.
removal of coating.
6.9 Cutting Device, for example, a safety cutter or utility 10.7 Drying time, temperature and method used for drying.
knife with retractable blade.
6.10 Template Die, of known area for cutting standard size 11. Keywords
coated web samples. Template should be part of a regular 11.1 adhesive weight; coat weight; flexible package; medi-
calibration check to prevent loss in wear. cal package

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. Determination of K

X1.1 Determination of K when reporting weight measure-

ment in g/m2: K5 S 1000 mm
m D 2
5 1 · 106
mm2
m2
(X1.1)

X1.1.1 The adhesive coat weight is to be reported in g/m2.

However the formula W1 2 W2 / AP will yield units of g/mm2: X1.2 Determination of K when reporting weight measure-
the weights, W1 and W2, are in units of grams, the area is in ment in lb/ream:
units of square millimeters, and the P is unitless. K is used to X1.2.1 The adhesive coat weight is to be reported in
convert from units of g/mm2 to units of g/m2. lb/ream. However the formula W1 2 W2 / AP will yield units

2
 F 2217 – 02
of g/in.2: the weights, W1 and W2, are in units of grams, the area
is in units of square inches, and P is unitless. K is used to S lb
K 5 453.59 g DS 432 000 in.2
ream D lb
5 952.4 in.2 · g · ream
convert from units of g/in.2 to units of lb/ream. Therefore: (X1.2)

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