The Elcometer 1540 is a simple instrument for quickly determining the adhesion of a wide variety of paints up to 50 µm (2 mils) thick.
Made of special steel, this comb has 11 teeth spaced 1 mm apart. By making 2 series of perpendicularly crossed strokes, 100 squares of 1 mm are obtained.
Classification of adhesion test results using the grid method
| Classification of adhesion test results using the grid method |
|---|
| Surface | Typical description of the result | ISO | ISTM |
|---|
| The edges of the cuts are completely smooth, with not a single square of the grid detached. | 0 | 5B |
| Detachment of small coating flakes at intersections of cuts. Area affected <5% of test area. | 1 | 4B |
| The coating releases small flakes along the edges and/or at the intersection of the cut-outs. Surface affected between 5% and 15% of the test area. | 2 | 3B |
 | The coating flaked along the edges, completely or partially in long ribbons and/or flaked partially or completely on different parts of the squares. Surface affected between 15% and 35% of the test area. | 3 | 2B |
| The coating is flaking along the edges of the cuts in large ribbons and/or some squares have become partially or completely detached. Surface affected between 35% and 65% of the test area. | 4 | 1B |
 | A degree of flaking such that it cannot be classified in 4 (1B). | 5 | 0B |
