Surface Contamination Kit

Operating Instructions

EnglishElcometer 138/2

English

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is a registered trademark of Elcometer Limited.

All other trademarks acknowledged.
© Copyright Elcometer Limited. 2010.
All rights reserved. No part of this Document may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored (in a retrieval
system or otherwise) or translated into any language, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,magnetic, optical, manual or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Elcometer Limited.
A copy of this Instruction Manual is available for download on our Website via www.elcometer.com.
Doc.No. TMA-0440 Issue 05
Text with Cover No: 20571

RCONTENTS
Section
1Page

About this test kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

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Test procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Technical specification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105Spares and accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

6Related equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

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Thank you for your purchase of this Elcometer 138/2 Surface Contamination Kit. Welcome to Elcometer.
Elcometer are world leaders in the design, manufacture and supply of inspection equipment for coatingsand concrete. Our products cover all aspects of coating inspection, from development through application
to post application inspection.
Your Elcometer 138/2 Surface Contamination Kit is a world beating product. With the purchase of thisproduct you now have access to the worldwide service and support network of Elcometer. For more
information visit our website at www.elcometer.com

1 ABOUT THIS TEST KIT
The Elcometer 138/2 Surface Contamination Kit provides materials to collect a sample of contaminationfrom a surface in accordance with ISO 8502-6 (Bresle method).
A solution is produced from the test surface using the Bresle Sampler method and the pH, chloride
concentration and iron concentration are then measured using single-use test strips.
To maximise the benefits of this test kit please take some time to read these Operating Instructions.
Do not hesitate to contact Elcometer or your Elcometer supplier if you have any questions.
1.1 WHAT THE BOX CONTAINS•pH Test Strips in plastic container (sufficient for 100 tests)•Iron Test Strips in metal bottle (sufficient for 100 tests)•Chloride Test Strips in plastic bottle (sufficient for 40 tests)•Bresle Samplers in cardboard containers (sufficient for 50 tests)•Syringes, 5 ml, 3x2

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Needles (blunt), 3x•

Beaker, plastic, 30 ml•

Operating instructions•

Carrying Case

1.2 PACKAGING
The Elcometer 138/2 Surface Contamination Kit is packed in a cardboard package. Please ensure that thispackaging is disposed of in an environmentally sensitive manner. Consult your local Environmental
Authority for further guidance.
1.3 TEST STRIP EXPIRY DATE
All the test strips included in this Kit have a shelf life determined by the manufacturer. Before using a test
strip always check that the expiry date has not been exceeded. The expiry date of the test strips is marked
on the test strip containers. Replacement test strips are available from Elcometer or your local Elcometer
supplier - see “Spares and accessories” on page 10.
1.4 MANUFACTURERS’ INSTRUCTIONS
Further information concerning the use of the test strips may be found in the manufacturers’ instructions
included with the test strip containers.
1.5 CAUTION
The needles supplied for use with this kit are blunt, but care must be exercised when using anddisposing of these needles to prevent accidental needle stick injuries. It is recommended thatused needles be disposed of as special waste, and not in landfill.
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2 TEST PROCEDURE
The test procedure consists of two stages:•Stage 1 - produce a solution•

Stage 2 - test the solution for chloride, iron or pH as required

Note: Wear gloves during testing. The tests are extremely sensitive; wear clean latex or nitrile gloves during
the extraction of soluble salts to prevent contamination of the surface or sample.
Note: Ensure that all parts which come into contact with the test solution are clean (the beaker, the syringe
and the needle). Rinse with deionised water if necessary.
2.1 PRODUCING A SOLUTION
1. Remove protective backing and foam centre from Bresle Sampler.

2. Apply sampler to surface. Press firmly around perimeter of sampler toensure a complete seal.

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Ra into the beaker, by eye. Fit a

3. Pour approximately 3 ml of deionised water
needle into the syringe. Suck 3ml into the syringe. Throw away what is left
in the beaker (do NOT put the deionised water back into the bottle!).

4. Insert needle into sampler through spongy foam perimeter and inject
1.5 ml of deionised water into sampler. Do not remove needle.
5. With needle still in sampler, reposition needle and evacuate any air insampler.
6. Remove needle from sampler, hold syringe with needle pointing upwards
and expel air.
7. Insert needle into sampler through spongy foam perimeter and injectremaining deionised water into sampler. Do not remove needle.
8. After a suitable period of timeb suck the solution back into the syringe andthen immediately re-inject back into the sampler.

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9. Repeat step 8 until at least four injection/sucking cycles have beencompleted.

a.
b.

Deionised water is available from Elcometer or your local Elcometer supplier - see “Spares and accessories” onpage 10.
On unpitted blast-cleaned areas a period of 10 minutes has been found satisfactory.

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10. At the end of the last cycle extract as much solution as possible andremove needle from samplerc.

11. Transfer the contents of the syringe into the beaker.
12. Test the solution for Chloride, Iron or pH as required - see sections 2.2,
2.3 and 2.4.
13. After the test is complete:• Record temperature of the test surface.
• Remove Bresle Sampler from surface and clean surface. If required,
any adhesive residue from the Bresle Sampler left on the test surface
can be removed by wiping the surface with a cloth moistened with asuitable solvent. Ensure that the solvent will not damage the surface
before use.
• Rinse all components of the test kit in fresh water. The components canthen be used again.

c.

6During steps 4 to 10 it is essential that no solution is lost. If any solution is lost the test shall be rejected.

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2.2 TESTING FOR CHLORIDE
1. Remove a titrator from the plastic bottle
marked ‘Chloride’ and replace cap on bottle
immediately.
2. Insert lower end of titrator into solution. Do notallow solution to reach yellow band at top oftitrator.
Fluid will rise up the wick inside the titrator bycapillary action.
3. Allow the solution to saturate completely thetitrator wick; complete saturation is indicatedby the yellow band at the top of the titrator
changing to a dark blue colour.
4. Note the position on the numbered scale of thetip of the white column which has become
visible; this represents the Quantab unit value.
5. Refer to the table on the bottle to convert theQuantab unit value to chloride concentration,(mg/L or ppm).
Note: The solution contains salt in a 3ml sample taken from a 12.5cm2 area. Estimated salt/area as Sodium
Chloride (according to ISO 8502-5)• µg/cm2= 0.4 x concentration in ppm• mg/m2= 4.0 x concentration in ppm
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2.3 TESTING FOR IRON1.

Remove a test strip from the metal bottle
marked ‘Iron Test’ and replace cap on bottle
immediately.
2. Insert lower end of test strip into solution (pH 1to 7, 15°C to 25°C) for 1 second.
3. Remove test strip from the solution and shakeoff excess liquid from the strip.
4. Wait 10 seconds.
5. Compare the test strip with the scale on themetal bottle. Determine which of the scale
colours coincides most exactly with that of thetest strip.
6. Read off the corresponding result in mg/l Fe2+
or, if necessary, estimate an intermediate value.
For determination of Fe3+ and should any other colour changes occur, refer to the manufacturers’ instructions
included with the test strip container.
Note: The colour of the reaction zone on the test strip may continue to change after the specified reaction time
(10 s) has elapsed. This must not be considered as a measurement.
Note: If the colour of the reaction zone is equal to or more intense than the darkest colour on the scale, repeat
the measurement using fresh samples diluted with deionised water until a value of less than 500 mg/l Fe2+ isobtained. This must then be multiplied by the corresponding dilution factor.
Note: The reading will be the concentration of iron in 3ml water. To compare this reading with that of anothercollection method, scale the volume of water.
Note: The sample is taken from an area of 12.5cm2. To compare with another collection method, scale the area.

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2.4 TESTING FOR pH
1. Remove a test strip from the plastic container
marked ‘pH 0 - 14’ and replace lid oncontainer immediately.
2. Insert coloured end of test strip into solution
to a depth sufficient to cover all colouredsquares.
3. Remove test strip from the solution and shakeoff excess liquid from the strip.
4. Holding the test strip as shown, compare thetest strip with the coloured scale on the paper
insert inside the plastic container. Determine
which of the scale colour groups coincides
most with that of the test strip.
5. Read off the corresponding pH value (0 to 14).
Note: For weak solutions, leave the test strip immersed in the solution for a period of up to 10 minutes until
there is no further colour change, then proceed to step 3 above.

3 STORAGE
Always store the components of the Elcometer 138/2 Surface Contamination Kit in the carrying case when
the kit is not being used.

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4 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Bresle sampler size:

5.2 x 5.2 cm

Bresle test area:

12.5 cm²

Bresle sample volume:

2.6 ± 0.6 ml

Measuring range of test strips, pH:

0 to 14 pH

Iron:

3 - 10 - 25 - 50 - 100 - 250 - 500 mg/l Fe2+ in 3ml waterfrom 12.5 cm2 area

Chloride:

30 to 600 ppm Cl- (0.005 - 0.1% NaCl) (12-240 µg/cm2 ofISO salt mix)

5 SPARES AND ACCESSORIESThe following items are available from Elcometer, or your local supplier.
Bresle Samplers, box of 50:

E135----A

Bresle Patches, box of 25

E135----B

Syringes, 5 ml, 3x:

T13818517

Needles, 3x:

T13818518

Beaker, plastic, 30 ml:

T13818519

Deionised water, 250 ml:

T99911344

pH Test Strips (sufficient for 100 tests):

T13820562

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Iron Test Strips (sufficient for 100 tests):

T13820563

Chloride Test Strips (sufficient for 40 tests):

T13820564

6 RELATED EQUIPMENT
In addition to the Elcometer 138/2 Surface Contamination Kit, Elcometer produces a wide range of otherequipment for testing and measuring the characteristics of coatings. Users of this test kit may also benefit
from the following Elcometer products:•Elcometer 134A Chloride Ion Test Kit for Abrasives•

Elcometer 134S Salt Detection Kit for Blast Cleaned Surfaces•

Elcometer 134W Chloride Ion Test Kit for Water/Liquids•

Elcometer 130 Salt Contamination Meter•

Elcometer 138 Bresle Kit and Patches (chloride measurement using a Conductivity Meter)

For further information contact Elcometer, your local supplier or visit www.elcometer.com

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