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ASTM D523-89(1999)

Historical Revision

Standard Test Method for Specular Gloss

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1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the specular gloss of nonmetallic specimens for glossmeter geometries of 60, 20, and 85° (1-7).

1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.


Gloss is associated with the capacity of a surface to reflect more light in some directions than in others. The directions associated with mirror (or specular) reflection normally have the highest reflectances. Measurements by this test method correlate with visual observations of surface shininess made at roughly the corresponding angles.

5.1.1 Measured gloss ratings by this test method are obtained by comparing the specular reflectance from the specimen to that from a black glass standard. Since specular reflectance depends also on the surface refractive index of the specimen, the measured gloss ratings change as the surface refractive index changes. In obtaining the visual gloss ratings, however, it is customary to compare the specular reflectances of two specimens having similar surface refractive indices. Since the instrumental ratings are affected more than the visual ratings by changes in surface refractive index, non-agreement between visual and instrumental gloss ratings can occur when high gloss specimen surfaces differing in refractive index are compared.

Other visual aspects of surface appearance, such as distinctness of reflected images, reflection haze, and texture, are frequently involved in the assessment of gloss (1), (6), (7). Test Method E 430 includes techniques for the measurement of both distinctness-of-image gloss and reflection haze. Test Method D 4039 provides an alternative procedure for measuring reflection haze.

Little information about the relation of numerical-to-perceptual intervals of specular gloss has been published. However, in many applications the gloss scales of this test method have provided discriminations between coated specimens that have agreed well with visual discriminations of gloss (10).

When specimens differing widely in perceived gloss or color, or both, are compared, nonlinearity may be encountered in the relationship between visual gloss difference ratings and instrumental gloss reading differences.

SDO ASTM: ASTM International
Document Number D523
Publication Date May 10, 1999
Language en - English
Page Count 5
Revision Level 89(1999)
Supercedes
Committee E12.03
Publish Date Document Id Type View
Jan. 1, 2014 D0523-14 Revision
June 1, 2008 D0523-08 Revision
May 10, 1999 D0523-89R99 Revision
May 1, 2018 D0523-14R18 Reaffirmation
Feb. 1, 2008 D0523-89R08 Reaffirmation