SCAT Kit Surface Contamination Analysis Test Kit

Overview

SCAT Kit (Surface Contamination Analysis Test Kit) provides the necessary equipment to analyze surfaces for the presence of chlorides, soluble ferrous salts, and alkaline/acidic contaminants.The protective coatings industry is recognizing the role of these "unseen" contaminants in causing premature corrosion and untimely coating failures such as undercutting, metallic corrosion, accelerated degradation of paints, and blistering and premature failure of coatings and linings in immersion service.SCAT Kit is simple to use and offers the convenience of field portability, while providing the reliability of laboratory analysis. The kit contains a graduated cylinder, beakers, tweezers, water demineralizer, cotton swabs, chloride ion titrator in­dicator strips, ferrous ion indicator strips, pH paper, ruler and instructions. All items are packaged in a lightweight rugged durable carrying case.SCAT Kit (Surface Contamination Analysis Test Kit) provides the necessary equipment to conduct analyses of surfaces for the presence of chlorides, soluble ferrous salts, and alkaline/acidic contaminants.

Evaluation of Chloride and Ferrous Ion Results

The charts on the test strips give the concentration of chloride and ferrous ion as parts per million (ppm) which, for aqueous solutions, is the same as micrograms/milliliter (µg/ml). Therefore, the actual amount of ion extracted is obtained by multiplying the ppm by the volume of water used. For example, if 10 ml of water was used, and the Quantab read 62 ppm, then 620 µg of chloride were extracted. A microgram (µg) is one millionth of a gram; 454 grams equals 1 lb.By knowing the area swabbed the concentration can now be determined by simple division. If, for example, in the above case, a 6 cm x 9 cm (54 cm²) area was used the chloride concentration is 620 micrograms/54cm²= 11.5 micrograms/cm². Furthermore, this can be convened to milligrams/meter² by multiplying by 10. (11.5 µg/ cm² x 10 = 115 mg/m²).If a 6 " x 6" area (15 cm x 15 cm) and 22.5 ml of water are used, the concentrations determined in ppm are identical to milligrams/meter², with no further calculations needed.

pH

pH is determined with the pH paper included in the kit. The pH can be determined on the water extract obtained in the above section by dipping the strip into the extract and comparing the resulting color with that on the color scale included with the paper. Alternately, the pH of the steel surface itself can be determined by placing a small strip of the paper on the surface (e.g., 1-1/2 ") and moistening it with 1 or 2 drops of deionized water, making sure that the pH paper is in intimate contact with the steel surface. Again, compare the resulting color with the color chart. It is always a good practice to check the pH of the water used, since this may or may not be 7 (neutral).