Elcometer 134 test kits

Elcometer 134 test kits

Keywords: Elcometer, Testing, Coatings, Cleaning, Steel

Elcometer also informs us that it has released two new test kits for the detection and measurement of soluble salts. Backing up the Elcometer 134 CHLOR*TEST™ Salt Detection Kit for surfaces, the Elcometer 134A CHLOR*TEST for Abrasives (Plate 2) and The Elcometer 134W CHLOR*TEST for Water (Plate 3)are said to offer a quick and simple method for the assessment of the level of chlorides in the blast cleaning process.

  Plate 2 The Elcometer 134A CHLOR*TEST for abrasives

  Plate 3 The Elcometer 134W CHLOR*TEST for water

The presence of chloride ions as contamination on the surface of a steel structure has the potential to cause premature coating failure due to corrosion at the surface of the steel. Cleaning the steel surface will only be effective if, in addition to removing rust, these soluble salts are also removed. The new field tests to determine the level of such salts, accurately, will help to ensure that the abrasive is not contaminated due to recycling the media and the wash water has the chlorides removed from the surface.

All the Elcometer 134 CHLOR*TEST kits are described as simple and convenient to use. For the testing of abrasives simply follow the four-step process:

• 1.

  Measure the abrasive sample in the container provided.

• 2.

  Pour the sample into the pre-measured quantity of test solution, replace the lid and shake the container for two minutes to extract the chlorides.

• 3.

  Allow the abrasive to settle.

• 4.

  Insert the glass titration tube into the clear solution in the container above the abrasive, wait 90 seconds for the titration tube to operate and read the result.

This process takes about five minutes and a simple colour change in the tube registers the level of chloride ions in both parts per million (ppm) and micrograms per square centimetre (mg/cm²). The test has reportedly been shown to be very accurate as the CHLOR* EXTRACT™ will remove at least 90 per cent of the chloride ions present in the abrasive.

Kits are supplied with sufficient materials to complete tests on four samples of abrasives.

For the water test, simply take a sample of the water in question, using the dropper bottle provided and test this sample with the titration tube.

Details available from Elcometer Instruments Ltd. Tel: + 44 (0) 161 371 6000;Fax: +44 (0) 161 371 6010; e-mail: sales@elcometer.com;Web site: www.elcometer.com