NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS REPORT

7065

REPORT ON THE SOILING CHARACTERISTICS OF STRUCTURAL MASONRY UNITS

by

William C. Cullen

and

William W. Walton

Approved for public release by the

Director of the National Institute of

Standards and Technology (NIST)

on October 9, 2015.

Not for publication or for reference

„

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

Functions and Activities

The functions of the National Bureau of Standards are set forth in the Act of Congress, March

3, 1901, as amended by Congress in Public Law 619, 1950. These include the development and

maintenance of the national standards of measurement and the provision of means and methods for making measurements consistent with these standards; the determination of physical constants and

properties of materials; the development of methods and instruments for testing materials, devices,

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EVB5 PROJECT

BUREAU OF STANDARDS REPORT

NBS REPORT

1000-20-10401 16 January 1961 7065

1 ^olT'gbTernment use onl^

REPORT ON THE SOILING CHARACTERISTICS OF STRUCTURAL MASONRY UNITS

by

William Co Cullen

and

William W., Walton

Organic Building Materials Section

Building Research Division

Notfoi^ publication or for reference,,

Sponsored by

Office of the Chief of Engineers

Department of the Air Force

Bureau of Yards and Docks

IMPORTANT. NOTICE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS REPORTS are usually preliminary or progress accounting documents

intended for use within the Government. Before material in the reports is formally published it is subjected

to additional evaluation and review. For this reason, the publication, reprinting, reproduction, or open-literature

listing of this Report, either In whole or in part, is not authorized unless permission is obtained in writing from

the Office of the Director, National Bureau of Standards, Washington 25, D. C. Such permission is not needed,

however, by the Government agency for which the Report has been specifically prepared If that agency wishes

to reproduce additional copies for its own use.

U S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

REPORT ON THE SOILING CHARACTERISTICS OF STRUCTURAL MASONRY UNITS

1 . INTRODUCTION

In response to a request of the Office of Civil Engineering, U. S. Air Force; the Office of the Chief of Engineers,, U. S. Army; and the

Bureau of Yards and Docks, U. S. Navy, a study was initiated to determine

the soiling and cleaning characteristics of Spectra-Glaze structural

masonry units, as currently being produced by manufacturers licensed by

the Burns and Russell Company, Baltimore, Maryland. This study was con- ducted as part of the Tri-Service Engineering Investigations of Building

Construction and Equipment at the National Bureau of Standards.

Inspections of a number of installations of the older types of

Spectra-Glaze units by representatives of the sponsoring agencies indicated that the material was not entirely satisfactory in regard to its

soiling and cleaning characteristics. Recently, the manufacturers re- ported that the soiling and cleaning properties of their current product

have been improved, due to a treatment of one of the essential ingredients

used in the facing material. At a meeting held of 14 October 1960 with

representatives of the N.B.S., the sponsoring agencies, and the Burns and

Russell Company, it was requested that the N.B.S.. initiate a program to

determine the soiling and cleaning characteristics of Spectra-Glaze units,

as currently being produced, and to compare the results with those obtained

on the older type of Spectra-Glaze and glazed ceramic structural units.

It was reported by the sponsors that glazed ceramic structural units have

proven satisfactory in use in regard to soiling and cleaning characteristics.

The main efforts were directed toward the selection of typical stains

to simulate soiling which may occur in service and toward the development

of laboratory methods to numerically determine the ease with which a given stain can be removed. Soils of a greasy or oily nature were primarily used, since this type appeared to be the most difficult to remove in service.

Simulated service tests were also made on the sample under consideration. The tests consisted of accelerated aging by subjecting the specimens

to elevated temperatures (11Q®C.) for a seven-day period. In addition,

scrubbing of the specimens with a brush and mild abrasive under controlled

laboratory conditions was employed to simulate repeated cleanings in

service

.

No attempt was made in this study to evaluate properties other than

the soiling and cleaning characteristics.

- 2 -

2 o MATERIALS

To be of value to the sponsors,, it was felt that the soiling and

cleaning properties of the material in question should be compared with

those of products intended for the same end use ; which have a satisfactory

history, as well as with those that do not. With this in mind, three

samples were obtained for test. Unfortunately, samples of Spectra-Glaze

units produced from approximately 1949 to 1955 were not available and

the units produced since 1957 were submitted in lieu of the older

product. (See letter from Burns and Russell Co. in Appendix I.)

The samples submitted for the program were identified as follows:

1 . Spectra-Glaze units, SG (Green) „ This sample represents SpectraGlaze as currently being produced, incorporating the most recent

improvement. (Appendix I.)

2. Spectra-Glaze units, Regular (Green). This material represents

Spectra-Glaze as produced since 1957. (Appendix I„)

3. Natco Ceramic Glazed Vitrilite (Yellow), supplied by the Natco

Company

.

3. STAINS AND CLEANING AGENTS

3 . 1 Stains

A. Raw Umber

Fluorescent Powder—'

Petrolatum

Mineral Spirits

4.5 g. 4.5 g.

1-5 g.

10.0 g.

Bo Graphite

Fluorescent PowderOil, SAE 10

Mineral Spirits

1 /

1.0 g.

1-0 g. 10.0 g. 10.0 g.

Co Oil Soluble Dye—

0.5 g. 1.0 g.

5.0 g. Lanolin

Oil, SAE 10

D. Raw Umber

Fluorescent PowderDistilled Water

2.0 g. 2.0 go

10.0 g.

(continued on next page)

Miscellaneous Stains

- 3

1 . No. 2 Lead Pencil

2. Black Crayon

3. Magic Marker^/

4. Lanolin and Carbon Paper—'

—^Zinc salt of 8-hydroxyquinoline

.

—2 // C.I. Solvent Orange 1 , C.I. 12140. —^Manufactured by Speedry Products, Inc., Richmond Hill, N. Y

4/ — Described in Federal Specification TT-P-29.

3.2 Cleaning Agents

A. Cake Grit Soap (Bon Ami)

B. Liquid Detergent (Lestoil)

C. Powdered Detergent (Sparkleen)

4. TEST PROCEDURES AND RESULTS

4. 1 Stain A

(Raw Umber, Fluorescent Powder,, Petrolatum, Mineral Spirits)

Cleaning Agent A (Bon Ami)

The stain was applied across the specimen by brushing., and dried at

room temperature for 1/2 hour, then at 110°C. for 1/2 hour. The speci- mens were then cleaned using the procedure described in Method 614.3,

Federal Specification TT-P-I4lb, using cleaning agent A. The specimens were inspected visually and under black light (to indicate presence of

fluorescent powder) after each 20 cycles (40 strokes) of the washability

machine

.

The results of the tests are given in Table 1.

4.2 Stain B

(Graphite, Fluorescent Powder,, Oil, Mineral Spirits)

Cleaning Agent A (Bon Ami.)

The stain was applied and the specimens treated as described in

paragraph 4.1, except the specimens were conditioned at room temperature

for 24 hours after the stain was applied.

The results of the tests are presented in Table 2.
" •
TABLE 1 .

Specimen

Cycles Spectra-Glaze SG Spectra-Glaze R G.S.U.

Stain—/ Stain-1/ Stainl/

Vis

.

Fluor. Vis

.

Fluor

.

Vis , Fluor.

20 3 4 0 2 0 0

40 1 3 0 1 60 1 2 0 0

80 0 1 100 0 1 120 0 1

Numerical Rating of Stain Retention

0 - Stain completely removed.

1 - Trace.

2 - Evident.

3 ~ Pronounced.

4 - Very Pronounced.

TABLE 2

No,, of

Cycles

20

40

60

100

Specimen

Spectra-Glaze SG Spectra-Glaze R G.S.IL

,§taini/______. ,SE§inJr_.

Vis

.

4

3

10

Fluor. Vis. Fluor

4 4 4

3 3 3

1 1 3

0 0 0

Vis

.

0

Fluor,

0

1 /

Same as Footnote 1/ above.

- 4

-

4.3 Stain C

(Dye, Lanolin, SAE 10 Oil)

Cleaning Agents B (Lestoil) and A (Bon Ami)

The stain was applied to each specimen by pouring it on an area of

approximately 1/2-in. diameter and allowing it to remain at room

temperature for 4 days. The specimens were then cleaned as described

in Method 614.3, Federal Specification TT-P-14lb, using the brush and

cleaning agent B ( 1 0X solution). The specimens were observed after 10,

20, 40, and 80 cycles. If the stain was still evident, the cleaning

procedure was continued using cleaning agent A and the effects observed

after 10, 20, 40, and 80 additional cycles of the washability machine.

The results are shown in Table 3.

4.4 Stain D

(Raw Umber, Fluorescent Powder, Water)

Cleaning Agent A (Bon Ami)

This stain was selected for use since it simulates a non-greasy

or non-oily type of soil. The stain was applied and the specimen con- ditioned and treated as described in paragraph 4.1.

The results of the tests are given in Table 4.

4.5

Miscellaneous Stains

1

.

No. 2 Lead Pencil

2. Black Crayon

3. Magic Marker

4. Lanolin and carbon paper

Each of the above stains was applied to the test specimens and the

specimens were subjected to the cleaning procedure described in. paragraph 4. 1 employing cleaning agents A (Bon Ami) and C (Sparkleen, 5%

Solution) . The specimens were continuously observed during the cleaning

procedure and the number of cycles required to completely remove the

soil were noted and recorded.

The results obtained with cleaning agent A are given in Table 5,

while those obtained with cleaning agent C are presented in Table 6.

TABLE 3.

No.

cf

Cycles

Specimen

Spectra-Glaze SG

Vis. StainJ/

Spectra-Glaze R

Vis. Stain—

G . S .. U

.

Vis. Stain—

10

20

40

80

90

1 10

150

230

2

2

1

1

4

4

4

4

Cleaning Agent A Used After 80 Cycles

1

1

1

1

3

3

3

3

0

1/

Numerical Rating of Stain Retention

0 - Stain completely removed.

1 - Trace.

2 - Evident.

3 - Pronounced

.

4 - Very Pronounced.

TABLE 4.

Specimen

No.

of

Cycles

Spectra-Glaze SG

StainJ./

Spectra-Glaze R

StainJ./

_GI S

I UI _ Stai.nl/

Vis. Fluor. Vis. Fluor. Vis. Fluor

.

10

20

0 1 0 0

0 1 0 0

0 0

1/

Same as Footnote 1/ above.

TABLE 5.

Stain

No. of Cycles Required to Remove Stain From

Spectra-Glaze SG Spectra-Glaze R GS U

Lead Pencil 10 10 5 Crayon 60 40 10

Magic Marker + 100 + 100 5 Lanolin & CP. 30 30 5

TABLE 6

.

No. of Cycles Required to Remove Stain From

Stain Spectra Glaze SG Spectra-Glaze R G. S.U.

Lead Pencil 10 20 5 Crayon +150 140 10

Magic Marker + 150 + 150 5 Lanolin & C.P. 60 50 5

- 5

-

5. SIMULATED SERVICE TESTS

Simulated service tests were performed on the three samples submitted for test. The conditions consisted of an oven test to accelerate aging and a scrubbing test under controlled conditions to simulate

repeated cleanings in service , Of course, there has been no relation

established between the simulated tests and the conditions encountered

in actual service.

5.1 Accelerated Aging

Two specimens of each sample were subjected to a temperature of

11Q°C. continuously for a 7-day period. They were then soiled with

stain A and conditioned and cleaned as described in paragraph 4.1.

The results of the test,, both before and after the accelerated

aging tests are shown in Table 7.

5.2 Simulated Repeated Cleanings

Repeated cleanings of the units in service were simulated by employing the cleaning procedure described in Method 614.3, Federal Specification TT-P-I41b. The specimens were scrubbed using a mild abrasive (Bon

Ami) for 500 cycles (1000 strokes) and allowed to dry at room temperature

before Stain A was applied. The specimens were then conditioned and

cleaned as described in. paragraph 4.1.

The results of the cleaning operation before and after the simulated scrubbings are presented in Table 8.

6. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

The soiling mediums, the cleaning agents, and the cleaning procedures

which were selected for use in this program represented, as far as practicable, types which may be encountered in actual service. The samples

which were tested included two types of Spectra-Glaze glazed structural

units and a ceramic glazed structural unit.

The results of the laboratory tests indicated that the ceramic

glazed structural unit was impervious to permanent soiling by all the

types of stains employed in the study. Each of the stains could be

readily removed by the cleaning operations to which they were subjected

The tests, which were used to simulate aging and repeated scrubbing with

a mild abrasive, in service, i.ndicated that the soiling and cleaning

TABLE 7.

Specimen

Spectra-Glaze SG Spectra-Glaze R G. SoUo

No.

of Fluor

.

Stain!/ Fluor

.

Stain!/ 1 / Fluor a Stain4-'

Cycles Before After Before After Before After

20 4 4 2 3 0 0

40 3 3 1 2 60 2 2 0 1 80 1 1 0

100 1 1

1/

Numerical Rating of Stain Retention

0

- Stain completely removed.

1 - Trace

.

2

- Evident

.

3

- Pronounced

.

4

- Very Pronounced.

TABLE 8.

Specimen

Spectra- Glaze SG Spectra-Glaze R _C- 1 S.U._

No

.

of

Fluor

.

Stain!/ Fluor. Stain!/ Fluor. Stain!^

Cyc les Before After Before After Before After

20 4 4 2 1 0 0

40 3 1 1 0

60 2 0 0

U

Same as Footnote 1/ above.

- 6 -

properties of this material were not materially altered due to the

exposures. From the reported performance of this type of material in

service,, it would appear that the results of the laboratory tests

corroborated the field performance in regard to soiling and cleaning.

It was reported that the staining and cleaning properties of the

Spectra-Glaze units produced from 1949 to 1955 were not entirely

satisfactory. However, samples of this material were not available

for direct comparison with the Spectra-Glaze being currently produced,

as stated in letter from the Burns and Russell Company in Appendix I. Therefore, the new Spectra-Glaze was compared with units of the type

produced since 1957. It is understood that installations of units of

this type have been observed by representatives of the sponsoring

agencies, as indicated in Appendix I. However,, it has not been

established whether this material has been entirely satisfactory in

service from a soiling and cleaning point of view.

The results of the experiments indicated that neither of the two

types of Spectra-Glaze units were seriously soiled by the non-oily,

non-greasy stains., as Stain D (Raw Umber, Fluorescent Powder, Water).

This soil was completely removed from each specimen with less than 20

cycles of the washability machine.

The results of the experiments using oily or greasy soils (of

petroleum origin), as Stains A and B, indicated that the regular units

(Spectra-Glaze R) performed better than the SG units (Spectra-Glaze SG),

in each case regardless of the cleaning procedure employed. However,

the results also indicated that the stains could be completely or almost

completely removed from either specimen if sufficient scrubbing was used

The most pronounced difference in the staining properties of the

two types of Spectra-Glaze units was evidenced by the degree of

removal, of stain C (Oil, Lanolin, Oil-Soluble Dye). The units

(Spectra-Glaze SG) , which are currently being produced, appeared to

be superior to the regular units (Spectra-Glaze R) in regard to the ease of removal of this stain. The Spectra-Glaze SG had only a trace

of the soil appearing after 80 cycles using cleaning agent B (liquid

detergent) and 80 cycles using cleaning agent A (Bon Ami type), while

the Spectra-Glaze R still evidenced pronounced staining after the same series of cleaning operations.

7

The resistance of the two types of Spectra-Glaze units to soiling

by the common stains used (pencil, crayon, etc.) was approximately

equal. The results of the tests indicated that the stains could be

completely removed from each sample using cleaning agent A (mild abrasive).

Although the results of the accelerated aging and cleaning tests

indicated that slight differences existed between the types of Spectra*

Glaze in respect to the ease of removal of a given stain after exposure

to the simulated service conditions, it was felt that the change was

not significant enough to predict alterations in these properties which

may occur in service,

Neither the contents of this report nor the fact that the study was made by the National Bureau of Standards shall be used for advertisement

or promotional purposes.

USCOMM-NBS-DC

APPENDIX I

LETTER FROM THE BURNS & RUSSELL COMPANY

P.O. Box 6063

Baltimore 31, Md

.

December 15, 1960

Mr. William Cullen

Industrial Building

National Bureau of Standards

Connecticut Avenue & VanNess Street, N. W

Washington 25, D. C.

Dear Mr „ Cullen:

In response to your inquiry concerning identification of

SPECTRA-" GLAZE units sent to your office for evaluation, I hereby submit

the following information:

1 . SPECTRA-GLAZE units marked "REG.” represent SPECTRA-GLAZE units

as they have been produced since approximately 1957 SPECTRA-GLAZE units

of this quality were supplied in buildings such as: Verwyn Heights Elementary School, Berwyn Heights Dial Center and the Kiplinger "Editors"

Building These buildings were inspected by Mr. Frank. Reali, U. S. C. of

E , Mr. Howard M. Williams, Chief, Specs. & Estimating Branch, U. S C.

of E., Jo Glenn Whitman and John C Morris of the Burns & Russell Company

on September 16, 1960. The projects were found to be entirely satisfactory

in the owners' opinion.

2. SPECTRA-GLAZE units marked "S-G" represent block incorporating our most recent improvement; namely, resistance to non-removable staining

from greasy or oily substances. This particular characteristic has been

a request of the U. S. C. of E.

3. SPECTRA-GLAZE units of the quality produced from 1949 to approximately

1955 which we did not claim complied with ASTM C-126, and were used in the

construction of:

District Heights School, supplied - 1949

Manufactured by - General Shale Products Corporation

Hollywood School, supplied - 1951

Manufactured by - General Glaze Corporation

(continued on next page)
.
- 2 -

Continuation of Letter from The Burns & Russell Co.

Hillcrest Heights School, supplied - 1955

Manufactured by - Concrete Pipe & Products Co«, Inc.

are no longer available Therefore, samples of such units could not be

provided

.

I sincerely hope the above information is complete; if not, please

do not hesitate to request additional information

Very truly yours,

/ s/ John A. Sergovic

John A. Sergovic

Vice-President

JAS : gb

ccj Dr. W. W. Walton

a true copy/lc

USCOMM-NBS-DC

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Frederick H. Mueller, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

A. V. Astin, Director

THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

The scope of activities of the National Bureau of Standards at its major laboratories in Washington, D.C., and

Boulder, Colo., is suggested in the following listing of the divisions and sections engaged in technical work. In

general, each section carries out specialized research, development, and engineering in the field indicated by its

title. A brief description of the activities, and of the resultant publications, appears on the inside of the front cover. WASHINGTON, D.C. ELECTRICITY. Resistance and Reactance. Electrochemistry. Electrical Instruments. Magnetic Measurements.

Dielectrics. METROLOGY. Photometry and Colorimetry. Refractometry. Photographic Research. Length. Engineering

Metrology. Mass and Scale. Volumetry and Densimetry.

HEAT. Temperature Physics. Heat Measurements, Cryogenic Physics. Rheology. Molecular Kinetics. Free

Radicals Research. Equation of State. Statistical Physics. Molecular Spectroscopy.

RADIATION PHYSICS. X-Ray. Radioactivity. Radiation Theory. High Energy Radiation. Radiological

Equipment. Nucleonic Instrumentation. Neutron Physics.

CHEMISTRY. Surface Chemistry. Organic Chemistry. Analytical Chemistry. Inorganic Chemistry. Electrodeposition. Molecular Stnicture and Properties of Gases. Physical Chemistry. Thermochemistry. Spectrochemistry. Pure Substances. MECHANICS. Sound. Pressure and Vacuum. Fluid Mechanics. Engineering Mechanics. Combustion Controls. ORGANIC AND FIBROUS MATERIALS. Rubber. Textiles. Paper. Leather. Testing and Specifications.

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Physics.

DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS. Components and Techniques. Digital Circuitry. Digital Systems. Analog

Systems. Applications Engineering. i ATOMIC PHYSICS. Spectroscopy. Radiometry. Mass Spectrometry. Solid State Physics. Electron Physics.

Atomic Physics.

INSTRUMENTATION. Engineering Electronics. Electron Devices. Electronic Instrumentation. Mechanical

Instruments. Basic Instrumentation.

Office of Weights and Measures. BOULDER, COLO.

CRYOGENIC ENGINEERING. Cryogenic Equipment. Cryogenic Processes. Properties of Materials. Gas

Liquefaction.

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