Designation: C418 – 05

Standard Test Method for

Abrasion Resistance of Concrete by Sandblasting1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C418; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope C779/C779M Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Hori-

1.1 This test method covers determination of the abrasion zontal Concrete Surfaces
resistance characteristics of concrete by subjecting it to the C944 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Concrete or
impingement of air-driven silica sand. It is intended for use as Mortar Surfaces by the Rotating-Cutter Method
a basis for the development of informed judgment. C1138 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Concrete
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the (Underwater Method)
standard. Inch-pound units are shown for information purposes 3. Significance and Use
in parentheses.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address the safety 3.1 This test method covers the laboratory evaluation of the
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility relative resistance of concrete surfaces to abrasion. This
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and procedure simulates the action of waterborne abrasives and
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory abrasives under traffic on concrete surfaces. It performs a
limitations prior to use. cutting action that tends to abrade more severely the less
resistant components of the concrete.
NOTE 1—Users of this test method are advised that there are known
safety hazards associated with the use of silica as a blasting media. 4. Apparatus
Consult the silica manufactures MSDS to insure that the latest recom-
mended health and safety practices are being followed.
4.1 Scales—The scale shall have a capacity of 5000 g or
NOTE 2—Other procedures are available for measuring abrasion resis- more. The permissible variation at a load of 5000 g (11 lb) shall
tance of concrete surfaces in addition to subjecting it to air driven silica be 6 0.5 g (0.2 oz).
sand. Consideration should be given to other methods of testing as 4.2 Weights—The permissible variations on weights used in
outlined in ASTM C779/C779M, ASTM C944, and ASTM C1138. The weighing shall be as prescribed in Table 1. The permissible
test method most closely representing service conditions should be used. variations on new weights shall be one half of the values given
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes in Table 1.
which are provided as explanatory material. These notes and 4.3 Sand Blast Apparatus—The sand blast apparatus shall
footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be consist of an injector-type gun. The gun shall have a high-
considered as requirements of this standard. velocity air jet fed by a suitably controlled rate of flow for the
abrasive material. The nozzle shown in Fig. 1 shall consist of
2. Referenced Documents cold-rolled bar stock, 40 mm (1.5 in.) long, or hardened tool
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 steel HRC 48 6 2 as determined by Test Methods E18, drilled
C127 Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific to 6.40 6 0.02 mm (0.250 6 0.001 in.) approximately 700 kPa
Gravity), and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate (100 psi) through the center. The walls of the nozzle shall have
C778 Specification for Standard Sand a 45° bevel on the inside at the upper end. A compressed air
supply of approximately 100 psi (690 kPa) shall be available
1
and equipped with a pressure-control device. Provision shall be
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee made to collect the spent abrasive and dust. Suitable jigs and
C09.62 on Abrasion Testing of Concrete. clamps shall be provided to hold the test specimen in a fixed
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2005. Published February 2005. Originally position with relation to the discharge end of the nozzle. For
approved in 1958. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as C418 – 98. DOI:
10.1520/C0418-05.
laboratory wear testing of concrete specimens a commercial
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or sand blast cabinet may be selected similar to that shown in Fig.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM 2.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 C418 – 05
TABLE 1 Permissible Variations on Weights NOTE 4—A ball valve between the abrasive supply and the gun inlet has
Permissible Variations on been found satisfactory for adjusting the flow of abrasive.
Weight, g
Weights in Use, g
6.2 The abrasive shall be regraded or replaced after every 60
1000 60.50 min of operating time in order to maintain a uniform grading.
500 60.35
300 60.30 6.3 A cold-rolled steel nozzle shall be replaced every 60 min
250 60.25 of operating time. A hardened tool steel nozzle shall be
200 60.20 changed as required to maintain the original uniform flow and
original blast pattern.

7. Procedure
7.1 Place the specimen with the surface to be tested normal
to the nozzle axis and at a distance of 75 6 2.5 mm (3.0 6 0.1
in.) from the end. Clamp the specimen, with shield attached,
firmly in place. Expose the surface to the blast for a period of
1 min. Repeat this on at least eight different spots on the
surface. Determine the abraded volume by filling the abrasion
cavities with an oil base modeling clay. Press the clay into the
cavities manually with a moderate amount of finger pressure
and level flush with a straight edge. Determine the mass of the
clay supply before and after the cavities are filled to the
tolerance listed in Table 1 instead of removing the clay from
the filled cavities. Repeat filling with clay at least once on each
specimen to ensure reproducible results.

8. Calculation
8.1 Calculate the mass of clay, Wc, as follows:
Wc 5 W i 2 W f

where:
Wi = mass, initial supply, and
Wf = mass, final supply.
8.2 Calculate the specific gravity of clay, D, as follows:
NOTE—All dimensions are approximate except where tolerances are D 5 B / ~B 2 C!
shown. Inch-pound dimensions shown here for clarity purposes only.
FIG. 1 Gun Nozzle Assembly where:
B = mass of clay in air, g, and
4.4 Shield—The shield shall be square or circular, 150 mm C = mass of clay in water, g.
(6 in.) on a side or diameter, made from zinc-coated steel sheet NOTE 5—Appendix X1 of Test Method C127 provides guidance on the
or equivalent, having a thickness in the range of 0.90 to 1.90 development of the equations used in the calculation of specific gravity
mm (0.035 to 0.075 in.). The shield shall have an opening (relative density to water) using the mass of clay in air and the mass of
28.70 6 0.25 mm (1.13 6 0.01 in.) in diameter in the center clay when suspended in water.
(See Note 3). 8.3 Calculate the volume of clay, V, per cavity in cubic
NOTE 3—An opening of 28.7 mm (1.13 in.) is equivalent to 6.45 cm2 (1 centimetres, as follows:
in.2). The purpose of the opening in the shield is to limit the abraded area V5W/D
to approximately 1 in.2
4.5 Abrasive—The abrasive shall conform to Specification where:
C778 for 20–30 sand (predominantly graded to pass an 850-µm W = mass of clay in cavity, and
(No. 20) sieve and be retained on a 600-µm (No. 30) sieve). D = specific gravity of clay.
8.4 Calculate the abrasion coefficient loss on a volumetric
5. Preparation of Specimens basis, expressed in cubic centimetres per square centimetre, in
5.1 Immerse the specimens in water for 24 h and then order to compensate for variable densities of specimens, as
surface dry with a damp cloth to obtain a saturated, surface-dry follows:
condition at the time of test. Ac 5 V / A

6. Calibration of Apparatus where:

6.1 Adjust the air pressure to 410 6 1 kPa (59.5 6 1 psi) Ac = abrasion coefficient, cubic centimetres per square
and collect the abrasive for a period of 1 min. Adjust the rate centimetre, and
A = area of surface abraded, square centimetres.
of flow of abrasive to 600 6 25 g/min (See Note 4).

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 C418 – 05

FIG. 2 Sand Blast Cabinet

9. Report the same material using the same equipment should not differ
9.1 Report the following information: by more than 25.8 %3 of their average.
9.2 Report the abrasion coefficient loss to the nearest 0.01 10.2 On a limited sampling (Note 6), the multi-operator
cm3/cm2. coefficient of variation has been found to be 10.3 %.3 There-
9.3 Report the location of the concrete where the specimen fore, results of two properly conducted tests by two operators
was obtained and other characteristics of the concrete, if on the same material using the same equipment should not
known. differ from each other by more than 29.1 %3 of their average.
NOTE 6—The data, on file at ASTM Headquarters, involve two opera-
10. Precision and Bias tors performing the tests on samples made from the same batch and
10.1 On a limited sampling (Note 6), the single-operator repeated on another day. Two concrete mixtures having different expected
abrasion resistance were also used. The tests were conducted in one
coefficient of variation has been found to be 9.1 %.3 Therefore, laboratory using the same equipment. As more laboratories become more
results of two properly conducted tests by the same operator on equipped and capable of performing the test, a more detailed interlabora-
tory test program will be conducted.
10.3 Since there is no acceptable reference material suitable
3
These numbers represent, respectively, the (1s %) and (d2s %) limits as for determining bias for the procedure in this test method, no
described in Practice C670 for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test
Methods for Construction Materials. statement of bias is being made.

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