Overview
EN ISO 1247-1:2023 - Aluminium pigments for paints (Part 1: General aluminium pigments) specifies requirements and corresponding test methods for aluminium pigments intended for use in paints, including general, decorative, protective and special finishing paints. Adopted by CEN from ISO 1247-1:2021, this European standard covers description, classification, sampling and a comprehensive set of analytical and performance tests used in quality control and specification of aluminium pigments.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard sets out both requirements and test methods, including:
- Description and classification of general aluminium pigments and their intended paint applications.
- Sampling procedures to ensure representative test portions.
- Chemical and physical tests, for example:
- Determination of non-volatile matter and water content.
- Determination of matter soluble in organic solvents.
- Lead content by spectrophotometry and metallic impurities by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).
- Physical performance tests, for example:
- Water-covering capacity (wetting/spreading behavior).
- Leafing power (tendency of pigments to form a reflective layer).
- Hiding power (opacity in paint films).
- Residue on sieve and comparison of appearance to assess particle size distribution and visual effects.
- Precision and expression of results, with repeatability and reproducibility guidance for several methods.
Applications
EN ISO 1247-1:2023 is used to:
- Ensure consistent quality control of aluminium pigments in paint production.
- Support product specification and acceptance testing between suppliers and paint manufacturers.
- Guide formulation decisions for decorative, protective and special finishing paints where metallic effects, hiding power or leafing behavior are critical.
- Provide test methods for regulatory compliance and material safety reporting (e.g., limits for lead and other metallic impurities).
Who should use this standard
- Aluminium pigment manufacturers and suppliers - to certify product quality and consistency.
- Paint and coatings formulators - to select pigments with the right optical and performance properties.
- Quality control and R&D laboratories - to perform standardized analytical and performance testing.
- Procurement/specification writers and regulatory bodies - to reference agreed tests and limits in contracts and regulations.
Related standards
- This document is the European adoption of ISO 1247-1:2021 (published as EN ISO 1247-1:2023). It is Part 1 of the ISO 1247 series covering aluminium pigments; other parts of the series address additional pigment types or specialized requirements.
Keywords: EN ISO 1247-1:2023, aluminium pigments, paints, test methods, leafing power, water-covering capacity, hiding power, metallic impurities, lead determination.