A proposed new ASTM International standard, ASTM WK22233, Test Method for Indication of Concrete’s Ionic Conductivity, describes a five-minute nondestructive test that has the potential to replace a destructive six-hour test requiring several hours of preparation time.
The proposed standard is being developed by Subcommittee C09.66 on Concrete’s Resistance to Fluid Penetration, part of ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates.
“On a practical basis, the proposed test method is a quick nondestructive means to get an idea how permeable a concrete is to chloride ingress,” says Dr. Neal Berke, research and development fellow, Grace Construction Products, and a longtime ASTM member. “The impetus behind the development of ASTM WK22233 is a growing set of data indicating that concrete conductivity is related to the diffusion of chloride and movement of water through concrete.”
Berke notes that bulk conductivity is useful for the design of cathodic protection systems, and for concrete used in stray voltage applications. Specifiers and users of concrete, as well as testing laboratories and researchers would be primary users of ASTM WK22233.
Subcommittee C09.66 invites interested volunteers to participate in its activities, which include an upcoming interlaboratory test for ASTM WK2233. Other work includes the development of proposed standard techniques related to fluid flow and chloride ingress that can be used to obtain data for use in life cycle prediction models.
For technical Information, contact Dr. Neal Berke, Grace Construction Products, Cambridge, Mass. (phone: 617-498-4827; neal.s.berke@grace.com). Committee C09 meets June 14-17 during June committee week in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. ASTM’s open consensus process, using advanced Internet-based standards development tools, ensures worldwide access for all interested individuals. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, please contact Scott Orthey, ASTM International (phone: 610-832-9730; sorthey@astm.org).
Release #8246/May2009
