Chloride ions on steel surfaces increase the probability that corrosion of the steel will take place even if a protective coating is applied. Chloride ions trapped under a coating in the presence of steel and moisture will form a corrosion cell. This corrosion process will result in premature failure of the protective coating and may cause blistering of coatings in immersion service.
Chloride salts left on the surface before the first coat is applied can result in the coating system being forced off the surface by corrosion or blistering before the full life of the coating has been reached.
To ensure that the chloride has been removed it is essential that the surface is tested before the coating is applied.
Elcometer 134S test method: a latex sleeve is filled with a Chlor*Rid extract solution and stuck to the test surface where the solution is worked against the surface to extract the salts. The titration tube is inserted and the results can be recorded.
Chlorides deposited on a surface by contaminated abrasives during blasting can cause a coating to fail prematurely.
Contamination can build up, particularly if the blast media is recycled several times. Using the Elcometer 134A Chloride Ion Test for abrasives in the field will accurately identify contamination and prevent costly surface-related failures.
Results are recorded in parts per million (ppm) requiring no complicated calculations. Elcometer 134A test is designed to use a ratio of 1:1 for easy conversation to µg/cm².
If the chloride levels in the wash water are too high, this will promote premature corrosion, shortening the life of both steel and concrete structures.
Used to monitor recycled water to establish effectiveness of salt removal, this test is ideal when mixing concrete and when washing steel.