CDC 13(210) CD 2 
 
ICS 87.060.30  
 
 
 
 
  
DRAFT TA NZANIA STANDARD 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 General purpose  thinner for synthetic paints and varnishes  — 
Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU  OF STANDARDS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
1st edition  
© TBS 2021 
 
 
  
 
 Foreword  
This Draft Tanzania Standard is being  prepared by the Paints and Varnishes Technical Committee 
under the supervision of Chemicals Divisional Standards Committee and it is in accordance with the 
procedures of the Bureau.  
During the preparation of this standard reference was made to Indian Standard IS 14314: 1996 
(Reaffirmed - 2012) Thinner, general purpose, for synthetic paints and varnishes – specification , 
published by Bureau of Indian  Standards  
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with, the 
final value observed or calculated expressing the result(s) of a test or analysis shall, be rounded off 
in accordance with TZS 4 .   
© TBS  – All rights reserved  1 
 DRAFT TANZANIA STANDARD           CDC 13(210) DTZS  
General purpose  thinner for synthetic paints and varnishes  — 
Specification   
1. Scope  
This Draft Tanzania Standard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for general 
purpose thinner, for synthetic paints and varnishes . 
 
2. Normative references  
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For 
dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the 
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
ASTM D 86, Standard test method for distilla tion of petroleum products at atmospheric 
pressure   
ASTM D 1613, Standard test method for acidity in volatile solvents and chemical 
intermediates used in paints, varnish, lacquer and related products  
ASTM D 5580, Standard test method for determination of B enzene, Toluene, 
Ethylbenzene,  p/m-Xylene,  o-Xylene, C9  and heavier aromatics, and total aromatics in 
finished gasoline by gas chromatography  
ASTM D 5769, Standard test method for determination of Benzene, Toluene, and total 
aromatics in finished gasolines  by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry  
ISO 4618, Paints and varnishes — Terms and definitions  
TZS 1887 /ISO 1523, Determination of flash point — Closed cup equilibrium method  
TZS 918 /ISO 2811 -1 Paints and varnishes — Determination of density — Part 1: 
Pyknometer method  
TZS 603 /ISO 3668, Paints and varnishes — Visual comparison of the colour of paints  
TZS 1890 /ISO 15528,  Paints, varnishes and raw materials for paints and varnishes — 
Sampling  
ISO 16000 -28, Indoor air — Part 28, Determination of odour emissions from building 
products using test chambers  
TZS 649 /ISO 4317, Surface -active agents and detergents — Determination of water 
content — Karl Fischer methods  
TZS 59 Water for analytical laboratory use – Specification and test method  
  
© TBS  – All rights reserved  2 
  
3. Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 4618 apply.  
 
4. Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
4.1.1 The thinner shall consist of  predominantly an admixture of aliphatic and aromatic 
hydrocarbons derived from petroleum origin or coaltar distillation  product and may also contain 
additives to improve certain  characteristics like flow, levelling, odour and gloss.  
4.1.2 The thinner shall be clear and free from sediment and suspended matter s. 
4.1.3 It shall not show the tendency of breakdown, coagulation or precipitation of the paint  or 
varnish . 
 
4.2 Specific requirements  
The thinner shall comply with specific  requirements given in Table 1 Table 1 — Specific requirements 
for thinners  
S No.  Parameter  Requirement  Test method  
(i)  Colour  Not darker than a freshly 
prepared solution of 0.003 g 
K2Cr2O7 in 1 L of water  ISO 3668  
(ii)  Odour  Not emit appreciable residual 
odour after drying on Whatman 
filter paper No. 42 after 1 h  ISO 16000 -28 
(iii)  Toxicity  Free from toxic solvents like 
benzene and chlorinated 
hydrocarbons  ASTM D 5580and  
ASTM D 5769,  
(iv)  Spot test  
 Complete evaporat ion, without 
leaving a stain, when visually 
examined after 1 h.  Visual examination , when 1 to 3 
drops of thinner applied on a 
Whatman filter paper No. 42  
(v)  Relative density at 2 7 ºC, 
min. 0.76  TZS 918  
(vi)  Acidity (%), max.  0.005  ASTM D 1613  
(vii)  Distillation  range , ºC 120 - 240 ASTM D 86  
(viii)  Residue on evaporation 
mg/100 mL, max.  5  ASTM D 86  
(ix)  Total hydrocarbon content, % 
min.  95 ASTM D 5580 -13 
(x)  Flash point, °C, min. 24 ISO 1523  
(xi)  Water content % max  0.5 ISO 4317   
© TBS  – All rights reserved  3 
 5. Packaging, labelling and marking  
5.1 Packaging  
The thinner shall be packaged in a suitable container that prevents it from deterioration during 
storage, transportation and normal handling . 
5.2 Labelling and marking  
The labelling  or marking shall be either in English, Kiswahili or in combination as agreed 
between the manufa cturer and the supplier  with the following information:   
 
a) the name of the product  
b) manufacturer’s name  
c) registered trade mark if any ; 
d) net content;  
e) batch/code number;  
f) cautionary statement/symbols with the words: “Inflammable liquid”;  
g) country of origin;  
h) date of manu facture and best before date;  
i) instru ctions for use, storage and disposal  and 
j) safety precaution s.  
6. Sampling  
Sampling shall be done in accordance with TZS 1890 . 
7. Quality of reagents  
Analytical grade reagents and water for analytical use as specified by TZS 59 shall be used for 
the appropriate tests.   
© TBS  – All rights reserved  4 
 Bibliography  
TZS 1901:2016/EAS 854: 2015 , Thinner for nitrocellulose resin -based paints and lacquers — 
Specification