SURFACE CONTAMINANTS AND TESTS FOR DETECTION

Any contaminants left on a prepared substrate will effect the adhesion of a coating to that
substrate, and therefore specifications often request that certain tests are done to ensure that
contamination is within set criteria. Some tests are qualitative and some are quantitative. A
qualitative test is one, which give a result as accept/reject, pass/fail, go/no go, whereas a
quantitative test is one, which gives a result in known units e.g. milligrams/m2•

Test for soluble iron salts

This is a qualitative test, it will not even differentiate between the salts. It will detect the
presence of either Sulphates or Chlorides.

This test is known as the Potassium Ferricyanide test, although it is now under a new universal
naming system, known as Potassium Hexa-cyanoferrate, a name more descriptive of its formula.

Test papers, usually Whatman N°3 laboratory filter papers are soaked in a 5 - 10% solution of
potassium ferricyanide and distilled water, and left to dry. The result is a lime green paper,
fringed with an orange brim.

The area of blast to be tested is sprayed with a fine mist of distilled water, (any other water is
likely to contain dissolved salts), and left a few seconds to allow the salts, if present, to dissolve
and form a solution.

A potassium ferricyanide test paper is then applied to the area and by capillary action draws up
the solution like blotting paper.

If there are any dissolved salts they react with the potassium ferricyanide to form potassium
ferrocyanide. The ferrocyanide is prussian blue and shows as blue spots on a lime green
background.

Test to detect soluble chlorides

The test for detecting chloride salts is known as the Silver Nitrate Test.

As with the previous test a solution of silver nitrate, 2% with distilled water, is made and the
Whatman papers cut into strips.

The strips are then soaked in the solution and pressed onto the area under test for about 20
seconds, then washed in distilled water.

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The reaction between silver nitrate and any chloride salts present produces silver chloride, which
remains on the strip after washing.

If the strip is then dipped into photographic developer the chlorides show up as black/brown.

Other tests for salts

Merkoquant

A salts/water solution is made by swabbing an area of 150 mm x 150 mm with distilled water,
22.5 m\. Merkoquant strips are then dipped into the solution and the resulting colour change is
compared to a master chart on the container. The concentration is read off from the chart.

2 Bresle sample patch

Reported as being 95% accurate. An adhesive patch with a rubber diaphragm is stuck onto the
surface and distilled water injected and extracted several times to produce a solution of any salts
present. By a process of Mercuric Nitrate Titration concentrations of 15 mg/m2 can be detected.
A quantitative test.

3 Salt contamination meters

Salt contamination meters measure the resistivity or conductivity of a given sample and convert
this value into a concentration (mg/m2).

With any of the above tests, if the amount of salts present is greater than specified, the area
should be washed down with copious amounts of clean water, reblasted and retested.

Test to detect the presence of millscale

Millscale being cathodic in relation to steel can cause corrosion cells under a paint film and
subsequent early disbondment. Millscale in small quantities is permitted on a SA 2~ blast
standard, but not on an SA3. Therefore the test needs to be carried out only if the specification
requires an SA3.

Blasted steel is dark grey in colour and millscale is dark blue, so by naked eye the contrast is
difficult. However, if the surface is sprayed with a fine mist of slightly acidic copper sulphate
solution, the solution ionises and tints the steel copper colour and blackens the millscale, if
present, thus providing a better contrast.

If this test indicates millscale presence then it should be reblasted and then retested.

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Test to detect the presence of dust on a substrate

Any dust on a blasted substrate will adversely effect the adhesion of a paint film. In conditions
of low relative humidity, dust and finings passing down a blast hose become electro statically
charged and stick onto the substrate. Brushing or air blowing the surface will not remove them,
self adhesive tape however, will.

If a piece of self adhesive tape is stuck onto the surface and snatched off, the dust/finings sticks
to the tape. By then sticking the tape onto white paper the dust can easily be seen.

Test to detect the presence of moisture on a substrate

Presence of moisture, even in the teeniest amount, can affect the choice of paints and if work can
be done or otherwise.

A very simple test for the presence of moisture is to sprinkle with talc or powdered chalk and
then lightly blow away. The powder will stick to areas where moisture is.

Test to detect the presence of oil or grease

Other than ultra violet light, oil and grease can be detected by dropping solvent onto the suspect
area, and absorbing the solution on Whatman or blotting paper. The solvent will evaporate and
oil or grease will give a darker appearance.

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