Laboratory study of inhibitive paints and pigments, as regards protection of base metal so covered, can be classified into two general methods. One method might be considered as a simple “go, no-go” type of test and the other depends upon analysis of forces in the paint-metal system working for or against anti-corrosive conditions. Laboratory study of inhibitive paints and pigments has been severely handicapped in that corrosion processes are very complex and reliable laboratory techniques for anti-corrosion evaluation of paints are almost non-existent.
It has been generally necessary to rely upon time consuming exposure tests for actual evaluation of paint’s worth or, by use of accelerated test equipment, determine trends as to a given paint’s effectiveness. Both mentioned tests tell little beyond how long the test panel lasted before failure occurred — failure evidenced by visible accumulation of corrosion product. The test results were arbitrarily analyzed as indicating acceptance or...
