Shop/Field Testing of

Abrasives for Conformance

to SSPC Abrasive Standards
William Corbett, SSPC PCS
KTA-Tator, Inc.

Webinar Content
Review of Abrasive Types
Review of SSPC Abrasive Standards
Abrasive Qualification Tests
Abrasive Conformance Tests
Abrasive Sampling Frequencies
Benefits of Pre-production Testing

Abrasive Types (not

exhaustive)

Minerals and Slags

Silica sand
Garnet
Olivine
Staurolite
Coal slag
Copper Slag
Nickel slag
Post-consumer
crushed glass
Glass beads

Metallic
Steel grit
Steel shot
Aluminum oxide

Agricultural (ground)
Corn cobs
Walnut shells
Peach pits

Encapsulated Media
Compressible matrix

SSPC Abrasive Standards

SSPC-AB 1, Mineral and Slag Abrasives
(January 2015)
SSPC-AB 2, Cleanliness of Recycled Ferrous
Metallic Abrasives (March 2015)
SSPC-AB 3, Ferrous Metallic Abrasive
(November 2004)
SSPC-AB 4, Recyclable Encapsulated
Abrasive Media (September 2009)

Hierarchy of Testing
Qualification Testing
(Manufacturer)

Conformance Testing
(Purchaser)

Quality Control Testing

(End User)

SSPC-AB 1, Mineral and Slag

Abrasives

Two Types
Type I: Natural Mineral Abrasives
Type II: By-product or Manufactured Abrasives

Three Classes (crystalline silica content)

Class A: < 1.0%
Class B: < 5.0%
Class C: Unrestricted

Five Grades (surface profile ranges)

Grade
Grade
Grade
Grade
Grade

1:
2:
3:
4:
5:

0.5
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0

1.5
2.5
3.5
5.0
6.0

mils
mils
mils
mils
mils

(13-38 m)
(25-64 m)
(51-89 m)
(75-127 m)
(102-152 m)

SSPC-AB 1, Mineral and Slag

Abrasives

Qualification Tests
1. Specific Gravity (ASTM C128) Minimum 2.5
2. Hardness Minimum 6 Mohs
3. Weight Change on Ignition
Maximum weight loss is 1.0%
Maximum weight gain is 5.0%

4. Water soluble contaminants (ASTM D4940)

Maximum 1000 S/cm
5. Moisture Content (ASTM C566)
Maximum 0.5% by weight

6.
7.
8.
9.

Oil Content (ASTM D7393) No visible

Crystalline silica content (Class A, B or C)
Surface Profile Yield (Grade 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5)
Particle Size Distribution (ASTM C136)
Per supplier sieve distribution

10. TCLP for Hazardous Materials Content

Less than EPA limits

SSPC-AB 1, Mineral and Slag

Abrasives

Conformance Tests
If purchaser requires batch/lot testing
1. Hardness (laboratory)
2. Weight Change on Ignition (laboratory)
3. Water Soluble Contaminants (shop/field or
lab)
4. Moisture Content (laboratory)
5. Oil Content (shop/field or lab)
6. Particle Size Distribution (laboratory)

SSPC-AB 1, Mineral and Slag

Abrasives

Quality Control Tests

One test every 50 bags, or three tests per bulk

shipment

End-user shall perform

1. Water Soluble Contaminants (300
mL/sample)
2. Oil Content (125 mL/sample)

Water Soluble Contaminants

ASTM D4940

Verify accuracy of conductivity

meter
Add 300 mL of distilled water to
300 mL of abrasive
Stir 1 minute
Let sit for 8 minutes
Stir 1 minute
Filter & discard 10 mL
Filter remaining liquid
Test conductivity of source water
and extract
Deduct conductivity of source
water
Acceptance: Maximum 1000S/cm

Water Soluble
Contaminants

Calculations:
Conductivity of Abrasive Extract:
358 S/cm
Conductivity of Source Water:
- 4 S/cm
Corrected Conductivity of Abrasive Extract:
354 S/cm
Note: 1mS/cm = 1000 S/cm

Chloride Ion-specific
Testing

Kit contains:
Cups for measurement
of abrasive quantity
Proprietary extraction
solution (premeasured)
Chloride ion indicator
tubes

Results in PPM
Four tests per kit

Oil Content

ASTM D7393

Tap water 68-95F (>

1 above abrasive)
Shake for 1 minute
Sit up to 5 minutes
Visual assessment of
water surface for
sheen
Acceptance: No
visually detectable oil

SSPC-AB 1 Appendices (nonmandatory)

Appendix A: Cleaning and Consumption
Rate; Abrasive Breakdown Test Procedures
Appendix B: Additional Worker Safety and
Hazardous Waste Testing

Friability
Crystalline Silica Content
Hazardous Waste Minimization
Quality Assurance Provisions

Appendix D: Checklists for Abrasive Tests

Test

AB 1
Section

Manufacturer
AB 1 w/
Append. B

AB 1
only

Conformance
(Purchaser)

Specific Gravity

4.1.1

Mohs Hardness

4.1.2

Weight Change
on Ignition

4.1.3

X (if required by
App. B)

Water Soluble
Contaminants

4.1.4

Moisture
Content

4.1.5

Oil Content

4.1.6

Crystalline Silica

4.1.7

Surface Profile

4.1.8

Particle Size
Distribution

4.1.9

4.1.10.1

Not Hazardous
Waste per TCLP

Field
(enduser)

SSPC-AB 2, Cleanliness of
Recycled Ferrous Metallic
Abrasives

Requirements Prior to First use at Project

Site:
Lead Content (ASTM D3335): Maximum 1,000 PPM
Water Soluble Contaminants (ASTM D4940)
Maximum 1000 S/cm

Oil Content (ASTM D7393): No visible oil

Particle Size Distribution (SSPC-PA 17)
Capable of achieving/maintaining specified surface
profile

SSPC-AB 2, Cleanliness of
Recycled Ferrous Metallic
Abrasives

Requirements: 12-hour intervals or once per

shift (whichever shorter)
Water Soluble Contaminants (ASTM D4940)
Maximum 1000 S/cm

Oil Content (ASTM D7393): No visible oil

Particle Size Distribution (SSPC-PA 17)
Capable of achieving/maintaining specified surface
profile

SSPC-AB 3, Ferrous Metallic

Abrasives

Draft revision under committee review

Quality Assurance Tests (Supplier)

Particle Size: ASTM C136

Specific Gravity: ASTM C128
Chemical composition: ASTM E1019 & E350
Hardness (ASTM E384)
Durability (Ervin Test Machine or equivalent)
Abrasive Cleanliness (dust, oil, corrosion, non-magnetic
material
Water Soluble Contaminants (ASTM D4940)
Maximum conductivity 1,000 S/cm

SSPC-AB 4, Recyclable
Encapsulated Abrasive Media

Qualification Tests (manufacturer)

1. Grit Requirements (per SSPC-AB 1 or SSPC-AB 3)
If Aluminum Oxide: 95% content; Minimum S.G.
3.60
2. Dust Control
Per EPA Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors
After 10 cycles, below 0.02 kg/kg of total particulate
After 10 cycles, below 0.004 kg/kg of PM-10

3. Surface Profile Yield

4. Water soluble contaminants (ASTM D4940)
Maximum 1000 S/cm
5. Oil Content (ASTM D7393) No visible
6. Health & Safety Requirements

SSPC-AB 4, Recyclable
Encapsulated Abrasive Media

Conformance Tests (purchaser)

1. Grit Requirements (per SSPC-AB 1 or SSPC-AB 3)
If Aluminum Oxide: 95% content; Minimum S.G.
3.60
2. Water soluble contaminants (ASTM D4940)
Maximum 1000 S/cm
3. Oil Content (ASTM D7393) No visible

SSPC-AB 4, Recyclable
Encapsulated Abrasive Media

Quality Control Tests (end user)

1. Surface Profile Yield (per specification)
2. Particle Size Distribution
All particles through ANSI #3 screen
Maximum 10% pass through ANSI #20 screen
3. Classifier Efficiency
Two hours after start-up
Repeat every two hours for a total of 3 tests
Thereafter every 10 hours of operation
4. Water soluble contaminants (ASTM D4940)
Three samples collected at 3 different times in 8-hours
Maximum 1000 S/cm
5. Oil Content (ASTM D7393) No visible

Additional Information

Referenced Requirements in SSPC Abrasive

Blast Cleaning Standards
Abrasive Cleanliness
Compressed Air Cleanliness (ASTM D4285)
Removal of grease/oil per SSPC-SP 1 Solvent
Cleaning

Pre-production Recommendations
Establish a project-specific cleanliness standard
Measure the surface profile to verify yield

Shop/Field Testing of
Abrasives for Conformance
to SSPC Abrasive Standards
William Corbett, SSPC PCS
KTA-Tator, Inc.

Questions?