Designation: D 4940 – 98 (Reapproved 2003)

Standard Test Method for

Conductimetric Analysis of Water Soluble Ionic
Contamination of Blasting Abrasives1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4940; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

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1. Scope slurry is filtered and conductance of the filtrate is measured.
1.1 This test method describes a procedure for rapid evalu- The conductivity, which is related to the concentration of
ation of abrasives for the presence of ionic contamination by soluble ionic materials contaminating the abrasive surface, is
determining the total concentration of water soluble ionic calculated from the conductance and the cell constant.
contaminants by means of a conductivity test. 4. Significance and Use
1.2 This test method does not identify the ionic species
present nor provide quantitative results on each species. 4.1 By-product abrasives manufactured from slags that are
1.3 This test method is based on a volume comparison air cooled or quenched with pure water, normally contain low
among abrasives of similar sizes. A volume comparison is concentrations of ionic materials, as do mined mineral abra-
more closely related to surface area of the abrasives than is a sives. However, slags quenched with seawater or other con-
weight comparison. taminated water, contain high amounts of ionic material as
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the does seashore sand. This contamination of the abrasive can
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the transfer to the steel surfaces being blasted, where it may
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- accelerate corrosion. This test is useful in establishing the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- cleanliness of the abrasive at the jobsite.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 4.2 This test method provides a value that indicates the
concentration of total water soluble ions based on their
2. Referenced Documents electrolytic mobility. Thus, it provides an indication of ionic
2.1 ASTM Standards: corrosion potential.
D 1193 Specification for Reagent Water2 NOTE 1—A typical value of conductivity for a high level of contami-
E 832 Specification for Laboratory Filter Papers3 nation is 500 µmho/cm. A typical value for a low level of contamination
2.2 Other Standard: is 50µ mho/cm.
ISO 11127-6 Preparation of Steel Substrates before Appli-
5. Apparatus
cation of Paints and Related Products - Test Methods for
Non-Metallic Blast Cleaning Abrasives - Part 6: Determi- 5.1 Conductivity Bridge and Cell—Any commercial con-
nation of Water-Soluble Contaminants by Conductivity ductivity bridge and conductivity cell having a range of at least
Measurement4 5µ mho/cm to 1 000 000 µmho/cm and temperature compen-
2.3 SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings sation capability is satisfactory. Either a dip-type, pipet-type, or
SSPC-AB 1 “Specification for Mineral and Slag Abrasives5 cup-type cell may be used. A means of adjusting for tempera-
ture or controlling the temperature is essential. While some
3. Summary of Test Method instruments have an adjustment to compensate for temperature,
3.1 Abrasive and pure water are combined into a slurry that one means is to use a 25°C constant temperature bath. Another
is stirred to leach the soluble salts from the abrasive. This method is to stir the solution with a clean thermometer while
the vessel is warmed or cooled by an external source.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint NOTE 2—ISO 11127-6 is another method for assessing the level of
and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of soluble salt contamination present in an abrasive. It differs from this test
Subcommittee D01.46 on Industrial Protective Coatings. method in two major areas:
Current edition approved January 10, 2003. Published March 2003. Originally (1) The ISO method uses a weight to volume ratio between the abrasive
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D 4940 - 98. and the fluid (deionized water) used to extract soluble salts from the
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.01. abrasive. The ASTM method allows a user to measure a loose packed
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.04.
4 volume of abrasive and mix that abrasive with an equal volume of reagent
Available from American National Standards Institute, 13th Floor, 11 W. 42nd
St., New York, NY 10036.
water. The ISO method is well suited to use in a laboratory setting but is
5
Available from SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings, 40 24th St., poorly suited to use in the field. The ASTM method is well suited for use
Pittsburgh, PA 15222. in the field or laboratory.

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 D 4940 – 98 (2003)
(2) The ISO method reports the effect of the level of extracted salts in the ratio of two samples for each 5000 kg, except that for
terms of milliSiemens/m, whereas this test method uses µmho/cm. The shipments of less than 5000 kg, take two samples. Test the
ISO method uses strict SI units, this test method reports using SI samples separately.
compliant units.
Method to Method Comparison:
The reader is warned that it is difficult to make direct comparisons 8. Calibration and Standardization
between the results of these two different methods of analysis. 8.1 Determination of Cell Constant:
Weight/Volume versus Volume/Volume Method Considerations: 8.1.1 The conductivity cell will come with a predetermined
In the ASTM Method the weight of the abrasive is not known; this constant. This constant should be checked periodically, one
makes it impossible to assess the ratio between conductivity values
determined using this test method procedure and those determined using
method being as follows:
the ISO 11127-6 procedure. 8.1.1.1 Prepare a standard solution such as a 0.0005 N
Comparisons Between Reported Units for Each Method: solution of KCl by diluting a 0.02 N KCl solution with water
An independent study by SSPC showed that the relative order of or by dissolving 0.0372 g of KCl (weighed after heating for 1
extracted salts using each type of procedure on abrasive materials was h at 105°C) in water, followed by dilution to 1 L. Cool and
identical. The ranked order correlation between the two methods was measure the conductance at 25°C as described in Section 9.
unity. There was no direct correlation possible between numerical results Calculate the cell constant, K25, as follows:
obtained and reported by the two different methods. Abrasives that
showed qualifying extracted salts using the ISO Procedure also showed K25 5 ~Cs/Cm!
qualifying extracted salt levels as specified in SSPC-AB 1. (1)
Converting from ISO Reported Units to ASTM Reported Units:
Converting from one unit base to another is not useful as the two where:
methods differ in process. The conversion factor from µmho/cm to Cm = conductance, measured at 25°C (see 10.1), µmho,
milliSiemens/m is as follows: and
A Micro Mho Per Centimetre Cs = conductivity, 72 µmho/cm (from Table 1).
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1µmhocm–1 (1 3 10–6) V–1 cm–1

A MilliSiemen Per Metre
1 (MilliSiemen)(m–1) = (1310–3) V–1 100 cm–1 NOTE 3—In general the cell constant is not greatly affected by varia-
Thus one milliSiemen/m = ten µmho/cm. tions in the strength of the KCl solution, but, for greater accuracy,
measurements should be made at or near the specific conductivity of the
5.2 Filter Paper, conforming to Specification E 832, Type solution to be measured and at values that use the middle range of the
1, Class C, to keep silt from fouling the surfaces of the scale of the conductivity bridge, using the same multiplier tap.
conductivity cell.
8.1.2 Table 1 gives values of specific conductivities for
corresponding KCl solution concentrations which are useful
6. Reagents and Materials
for abrasive testing.
6.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that 9. Procedure
all reagents conform to the specifications of the Committee on 9.1 Preparation of a Slurry Filtrate:
Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society where 9.1.1 Rinse beakers, stirring rods, and funnels with reagent
such specifications are available.6 Other grades may be used, water until tests show the rinse water has a conductivity of 5.0
provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of sufficiently µmho/cm or less.
high purity to permit its use without lessening the accuracy of 9.1.2 Add 300 mL of water to 300 mL of abrasive and stir
the determination. for 1 min with a stirring rod. Let stand for 8 min and then stir
6.2 Purity of Water—Unless otherwise indicated, references again for 1 min.
to water shall be understood to mean reagent water as defined 9.1.3 Filter sufficient supernatant liquid for tests, discarding
by Type IV of Specification D 1193. the first 10 mL of the filtrate. The amount of supernatant liquid
6.3 Potassium Chloride (KCl or 0.02 N KCl solution). filtered shall be sufficient to cover the cell.
9.1.4 Rinse the conductivity cell in reagent water until the
7. Sampling rinse water is a cleanliness of 5.0 µmho/cm or less.
7.1 Sampling shall be as follows unless otherwise agreed 9.1.5 Rinse the conductivity cell two or three times with the
upon between the purchaser and the seller. Take two 1-L filtrate then determine conductance at 25°C in accordance with
samples of abrasive at random from different packages of each the operating instructions of the instrument. Use successive
lot, batch, day’s pack, or other unit of production in the portions of the sample until a constant value is obtained.
shipment. When no markings distinguishing between units of
production appear, take samples from the different packages in
TABLE 1 Specific Conductivities for Potassium Chloride (KCl)
Concentrations at 25°C
Heated, Dry KCl/Reagent KCl Conductivity,
Normality
6
Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American Water Solution, g/L µmho/cm
Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not 0.0005 0.0373 72
listed by the American Chemical Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory 0.001 0.0746 147
Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset, U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia 0.005 0.3728 718
and National Formulary, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville, 0.01 0.7455 1414
MD.

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 D 4940 – 98 (2003)
10. Calculation df. Based on these coefficients, the following criteria should be
10.1 Calculate the specific conductivity of the abrasive as used for judging the acceptability of results at the 95 %
follows: confidence level:
Cs 5 C m 3 K25 (2)
12.1.1 Repeatability—Two results, each the mean of two
runs obtained by the same operator should be considered
11. Report suspect if they differ by more than 5 % relative.
11.1 Report the following information: 12.1.2 Reproducibility—Two results, each the mean of two
11.1.1 The calibration value of the cell constant (both as runs, obtained by operators in different laboratories should be
measured and as predetermined and supplied with the conduc- considered suspect if they differ by more than 22 % relative.
tivity cell), the date, and the name of the person checking the 12.2 Bias:
calibration. 12.2.1 Bias can be present because of the mobility of
11.1.2 The material, date, readings, and mean in µmho/cm various ions. The hydrogen ion has a much greater mobility
along with name of person conducting the tests and identifi- than the hydroxyl ion or other ions so that at low pH’s the
cation of the apparatus. conductivity will be relatively higher than at high pH’s for the
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same ionic concentration. However, the bias introduced by this

12. Precision and Bias 7 factor is in the proper direction. That is, high conductivity due
12.1 Precision—On the basis of five replicate interlabora- to a lower pH of the contamination would normally indicate
tory tests of this test method in which three operators in three greater corrosion potential.
laboratories analyzed, in duplicate, six blasting abrasives 12.2.2 A bias may be introduced by extraneous contamina-
containing ionogenic contamination, the within-laboratory co- tion or from reduced sensitivity of instruments for low levels of
efficient of variation (after rejecting results from one set of contamination in the range of conductivity between 0 and 30
replicate tests as outliers), was found to be 1.7 % with 20 µmho/cm.
degrees of freedom (df) and the between-laboratory standard
deviation coefficient of variation was found to be 7.4 % with 15 13. Keywords
13.1 abrasive; analysis; blasting; chloride; conductimetric;
7
Supporting data available from ASTM International Headquarters. Request RR: conductivity; contamination; interlaboratory testing; iono-
D01-1061. genic; precision; salts.; steel surfaces

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