This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D3363 − 20

Standard Test Method for

Film Hardness by Pencil Test1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3363; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Scope* 2.2 Other Standards:

1.1 This test method covers a procedure for rapid, inexpen- ISO 15184 Determination of film hardness by pencil test.3
sive determination of the film hardness of an organic coating
3. Summary of Test Method
on a substrate in terms of drawing leads or pencil leads of
known hardness. 3.1 A coated panel is placed on a firm horizontal surface.
The pencil is held firmly against the film at a 45° angle (point
1.2 This test method is similar in content (but not techni-
away from the operator) and pushed away from the operator in
cally equivalent) to ISO 15184.
a 6.5-mm (1⁄4-in.) stroke. The process is started with the hardest
NOTE 1—Other procedures are available to measure permanent defor- pencil and continued down the scale of hardness to either of
mation of organic coatings under the action of a single point (stylus tip) two end points: one, the pencil that will not cut into or gouge
including but not limited to Test Methods D2197, D5178, and G171.
the film (pencil hardness), or two, the pencil that will not
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the scratch the film (scratch hardness).
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
only. 4. Significance and Use
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 4.1 Pencil hardness measurements have been used by the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the coatings industry for many years to determine the hardness of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- clear and pigmented organic coating films. This test method
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- has also been used to determine the cure of these coatings,
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. especially when forced dried using heat.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
4.2 This test method is especially useful in developmental
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
work and in production control testing in a single laboratory. It
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
should be recognized that the results obtained may vary
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
between different laboratories when different pencils as well as
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
panels are used. To improve test result reproducibility for a
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
specific group of tests, it is recommended to utilize drawing
2. Referenced Documents leads or pencils made by the same manufacturer and from the
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 same batch. If drawing leads or pencils from the same
D2197 Test Method for Adhesion of Organic Coatings by manufacturer and from the same batch are not available at the
Scrape Adhesion time of subsequent evaluations, it shall be noted on the test
D5178 Test Method for Mar Resistance of Organic Coatings report. For all tests, the manufacturer and lot number of the
G171 Test Method for Scratch Hardness of Materials Using drawing leads or pencils shall be reported.
a Diamond Stylus NOTE 2—Using leads or pencils made by different manufacturers or
from the same manufacturer but different production batches, may result
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint in significant variation for leads within the same pencil hardness scale.
and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of 4.3 If this test method is used as a basis for purchase
Subcommittee D01.23 on Physical Properties of Applied Paint Films.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2020. Published September 2020. Originally
agreement, maximum precision will be achieved if a given set
approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as D3363 – 05 (2011)ɛ2 of referee pencils be agreed upon between the purchaser and
which was withdrawn in May 2020 and reinstated in September 2020. DOI: the seller.
10.1520/D3363-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Wed Sep 16 16:03:56 EDT 2020
1
Downloaded/printed by
University of Michigan (University of Michigan) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 D3363 − 20
5. Apparatus
5.1 A set of drawing leads (preferred) or wood pencils (see
4.2). The leads must be nominal 2 mm diameter and meet the
following scale of hardness:
6B25B24B23B22B2B2HB2F2H22H23H24H25H26H
Softer Harder
(1)

The difference between two adjacent leads shall be consid-

ered one unit of hardness.
5.2 Mechanical Lead Holder, for drawing leads if used.
5.3 Mechanical Sharpener, draftsman-type, is helpful for
trimming wood pencils if used.
5.4 Abrasive Paper, grit No. 400.
FIG. 2 View of Mechanical Holder with Sharpened Drawing Lead
6. Test Specimens and Conditions
6.1 Apply the surface coating by appropriate means to a
smooth rigid substrate and cure properly, or use representative 7.3 Repeat the process down the hardness scale until a
panels cut from coated stock. The panels used, the curing pencil is found that will not cut through the film to the substrate
conditions, and the age of the coating prior to the test shall be (either metal or a previous coat) for a distance of at least 3 mm
within the limits agreed upon between the purchaser and the (1⁄8 in.) (see 8.1.1).
seller.
NOTE 3—The operator must watch closely for cutting into or scratching
6.2 The film thickness of the coating shall be as specified or the film. Some finishes contain compounds that may tend to lubricate the
as agreed upon between the purchaser and the seller. film. Checks should be made by close visual inspection and by fingernail
feel.
6.3 Conduct the test at 23 6 2°C (73.5 6 3.5°F) and 50 6 NOTE 4—In conducting the test, if the sharp edge of the lead is slightly
5 % relative humidity. chipped or crumbled, the lead must be resharpened.
7.4 Continue the process until a pencil is found that will
7. Procedure neither cut through nor scratch the surface of the film. Any
7.1 For wood pencils, remove approximately 5 to 6 mm (3⁄16 defacement of the film other than a cut (gouge) is considered a
to 1⁄4 in.) of wood from the point of each pencil using a scratch. Record each end point (if applicable) for gouge and
draftsman-type mechanical sharpener, being careful to leave an scratch hardness (see 8.1).
undisturbed, unmarked, smooth cylinder of lead. Holding the
NOTE 5—With some films, the two end points will be identical.
pencil holder (when using drawing leads) at an angle of 90° to
the abrasive paper, rub the lead against the paper maintaining 7.5 Make a minimum of two determinations for gouge
an exact angle of 90° to the abrasive paper until a flat, smooth hardness (7.3) and scratch hardness (7.4) for each pencil or
and circular cross section is obtained, free of chips or nicks in lead.
the edge of the cross section. For wood pencils, see Fig. 1 for
an illustration. For mechanical pencil holders with drawing 8. Report
leads, see Fig. 2 as the illustration. The desired edge may be 8.1 Report the following information:
obtained by cementing the abrasive paper to a flat motor-driven 8.1.1 The two end points as follows:
disk. By supporting the pencil at 90° to the rotating disk a 8.1.1.1 Gouge Hardness—The hardest pencil that will leave
uniform flat lead end may be obtained more reproducibly. the film uncut for a stroke length of at least 3 mm (1⁄8 in.).
7.2 Place the coated panel on a level, firm, horizontal 8.1.1.2 Scratch Hardness—The hardest pencil that will not
surface. Starting with the hardest lead, hold the pencil or lead rupture or scratch the film.
holder firmly with the lead against the film at a 45° angle (point 8.1.2 The manufacturer, lot or batch number, and grade of
away from the operator) and push away from the operator. lead or pencil used, and
Exert sufficient uniform pressure downward and forward either 8.1.3 Any deviation from standard conditions, including
to cut or scratch the film or to crumble the edge of the lead. It roughness in the finish.
is suggested that the length of the stroke be 6.5 mm (1⁄4 in.).
9. Precision and Bias
9.1 Precision—In an interlaboratory test of this test method
with three different films on panels, ten laboratories and
operators, and repeated by switching leads and panels between
laboratories, the within-laboratory standard deviation was
found to be 0.52 and the between-laboratory standard deviation
FIG. 1 View of Wood Pencil after Sharpening was found to be 0.61. Based on these standard deviations, the

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Wed Sep 16 16:03:56 EDT 2020
2
Downloaded/printed by
University of Michigan (University of Michigan) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 D3363 − 20
following criteria should be used for judging the acceptability pencils with the same panels should be considered suspect if
of results at a 95 % confidence level: they differ by more than one pencil unit on the scale described
9.1.1 Repeatability—Two results obtained by two operators in 5.1.
within a laboratory using the same pencils and panels should be 9.1.3 Bias—Since there is no acceptable material suitable
considered suspect if they differ by more than one pencil unit for determining the bias for the procedure in this test method
on the scale described in 5.1. for measuring pencil hardness, bias cannot be determined.
9.1.2 Reproducibility—Two results, each the mean of at
least two determinations, obtained by operators in different 10. Keywords
laboratories using the same pencils and panels or different 10.1 hardness (scratch); pencil hardness

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee D01 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (D3363 – 05
(2011)ɛ2) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Sept. 1, 2020.)

(1) Note 1 was added to inform users of different options for (3) The subcommittee was unable to determine a procedure to
evaluating film hardness of organic coatings. calibrate pencil lead hardness, so the reference to the term
(2) 4.2 was updated and Note 2 added to emphasize there may ‘calibrated’ was deleted from 5.1.
be variation in the test resulting from differences in the lead or (4) The nominal diameter of the leads was added to 5.1.
pencil hardness.

ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or [email protected] (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org). Permission rights to photocopy the standard may also be secured from the Copyright Clearance Center, 222
Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, Tel: (978) 646-2600; http://www.copyright.com/

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Wed Sep 16 16:03:56 EDT 2020
3
Downloaded/printed by
University of Michigan (University of Michigan) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.