Overview - ISO 1247-1:2021 (Aluminium pigments for paints - Part 1: General aluminium pigments)
ISO 1247-1:2021 defines requirements and test methods for aluminium pigments intended for use in paints, including general, decorative, protective, and special finishing paints. This first-edition standard modernizes and replaces the earlier ISO 1247:1974, clarifies terminology, and distinguishes between surface-treated and surface-untreated aluminium pigments. It is published by ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 256 (Pigments, dyestuff and extenders).
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard establishes classification, sampling references and detailed test procedures to verify pigment quality. Major technical topics covered include:
- Classification and description of general aluminium pigments, including surface-treated vs surface-untreated types.
- Sampling guidance (reference to ISO 15528).
- Physical and chemical tests, with corresponding methods and reporting requirements:
- Determination of non-volatile-matter content
- Determination of matter soluble in organic solvents
- Comparison of appearance (visual assessment)
- Residue on sieve (particle size/foreign matter)
- Water-covering capacity
- Leafing power (tendency to form a metallic layer at the surface)
- Water content (electrometric and visual titration methods)
- Hiding power (coverage effectiveness in paint films)
- Chemical contaminant analysis:
- Lead determination (spectrophotometric method)
- Metallic impurities measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)
- Test report format and required documentation for results and conformity.
Note: ISO 1247-1 provides test methods and expressions of results but does not itself set numeric limits in this extract - users should consult the full standard for specified acceptance criteria and precision/reproducibility data.
Practical applications and users
ISO 1247-1 is directly applicable to:
- Paint and coatings manufacturers for incoming quality control of aluminium pigments.
- Pigment producers and suppliers for product specification and certification.
- Laboratories performing analytical and physical testing of pigments.
- Specifiers, procurement professionals and regulatory bodies who require standardized test data for material selection and compliance.
- R&D teams developing metallic-effect or protective coatings where pigment performance (leafing, hiding, contamination) is critical.
Using ISO 1247-1 improves consistency in product quality, aids regulatory compliance, and ensures comparable test results across suppliers and labs.
Related standards and references
- ISO 1247-2 (complements Part 1 - consult for other pigment classes)
- ISO 15528 (sampling of pigments)
- ISO/IEC Directives (editorial and development procedures)
Keywords: ISO 1247-1, aluminium pigments, aluminum pigments, pigments for paints, test methods, leafing power, hiding power, water-covering capacity, metallic impurities, flame AAS, non-volatile matter.
