Category: Durability & service life

A powder sample is obtained from hardened concrete by drilling or grinding (Profile Grinder) or obtained from the fresh concrete. The sample is mixed with a specific amount of extraction liquid that is designed to remove disturbing ions, such as sulfide ions, and to extract the chloride ions in the sample.  After 5 minutes, a chloride ion selective electrode is submerged into the solution to determine the amount of chloride ion by means of a calibrated chart, which is expressed as percentage of concrete mass.

Two methods can be used: The RCT (Rapid Chloride Test) is used to determine the amount of acid-soluble chlorides. The RCTW (Rapid Chloride Test Water) is used to determine the amount of water-soluble chlorides.

Rapid Chloride Content Test.

The test results can be used for:

• Establishing the chloride ion profile for service life estimation
• Establishing the depth of removal of a chloride ion contaminated surface layer 
• Diagnosing a structure for corrosion activity, in combination with other test systems such the Mini Great Dane, the GalvaPulse and the Deep Purple or Rainbow Indicators 
• Monitoring the chloride ion content during electrochemical removal of chlorides 
• Measuring the chloride ion content of fresh concrete or its constituents.

Rapid Chloride Content Test.

• Input Impedance: 1,012 Ohm
• Battery Type / Life: 1 x 9V / approx. 150 hours 
• Auto-off after 20 minutes of non-use 
• Environment: 0 to 50°C; RH max 95%
• Temperature and pH measuring capacity (pH electrode and temperature probe are sold separately) 

RCT-500 Kit

Includes:

Item	Order #
RCT chloride selective electrode	RCT-770
Electrometer for mV, pH and ºC	RCT-990
Electrode wetting agent, 80 mL, with spout	RCT-1000
Distilled water, spray bottle	RCT-1001
Polishing strips for electrode	RCT-1002
Plastic bags for powder sampling	RCT-1003
Powder collecting bowl	RCT-1004
Powder collecting pan, circular	RCT-1005
Powder collecting square w. clip	RCT-1006
Adjustable pliers	RCT-1007
Set of anchoring tools	RCT-1008
Mandrel	RCT-1009
Hammer	RCT-1010
Powder compression pin	RCT-1011
Powder weighing ampoules, 6 pcs	RCT-1012
Digital pocket balance, 115 x 0.01 g	RCT-2700
Calibration liquid, 0.005 % Cl–	RCT-1013
Calibration liquid, 0.020 % Cl–	RCT-1014
Calibration liquid, 0.050 % Cl–	RCT-1015
Calibration liquid, 0.500 % Cl–	RCT-1016
Cleaning tissues	RCT-1017
Calibration sheets for hardened concrete	RCT-1018
Calibration sheets for fresh concrete	RCT-1019
Rubber ball dust remover	RCT-1020
Pencil and ruler	RCT-1021
Measuring tape	RCT-1022
Extraction vials, hardened concrete, 10 pcs	RCT-1023
Manual	RCT-1024
RCT testing cases and applications, binder	RCT-1025
Attaché case	RCT-1026

Consumables

Extraction liquids for RCT testing for acid-soluble chlorides in hardened concrete or fresh concrete:

Extraction liquids for RCTW testing for water-soluble chlorides in hardened concrete or fresh concrete:

To be ordered separately

• Range: 0.0 to 12.0 pH • Temperature: -5.0 to 70.0°C • Meter resolution: 0.01 pH • Meter accuracy: ±0.01 pH	• Range: -20.0 to 120.0°C / -4.0 to 248.0°F • Meter resolution: 0.1°C / 0.1°F • Meter accuracy: ±0.4°C / ±0.8°F

• Technical data sheet
• RCT Certificate
• Publications

• AASHTO T 260: “Standard Method of Test for Sampling and Testing for Chloride Ion in Concrete and Concrete Raw Materials”
• ASTM C114: “Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic Cement”
• ASTM C1152: Standard Test Method for Acid-Soluble Chloride in Mortar and Concrete
• ASTM C1218: Standard Test Method for Water-Soluble Chloride in Mortar and Concrete
• EN 14629: “Products and systems for protection and repair of concrete structures – Test methods – Determination of chloride content in cured concrete”

A high-performance grinding bit (18 mm in diameter) attached to a grinding machine, pulverizes the concrete into a fine powder at exact depth increments, which can be selected between 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm. The grinding area is 73 mm in diameter and the maximum depth is 40 mm. 

For every depth increment of 1 mm, approximately 9 grams of powder is obtained for analysis. It takes 4 to 6 minutes to obtain each sample and about 5 minutes to determine the chloride content using the RCT Kit.

For in-situ testing, the Profile Grinder can be attached to horizontal or vertical surfaces using the anchor bolts and clamping pliers. 

Concrete sampling chloride measurements.

To obtain concrete powder samples:

• After immersion of specimens in a chloride solution in the laboratory, e.g., according to NT Build 443 “Concrete, hardened: Accelerated Chloride Penetration” or ASTM C1556-11a “Test Method for Determining the Apparent Chloride Diffusion Coefficient of Cementitious Mixtures by Bulk Diffusion” 

• Directly on-site on structures that have been exposed to chloride ion ingress.
• On cores taken from an existing concrete structure
• For chemical analysis of other potential deleterious ions or substances present in concrete 

• No-load speed: 2,500 – 8,700 rpm
• Rated input power: 950 W
• Output power: 510 W
• Thumbwheel for speed selection
• Electronic overload protection
• Electronic safety motor shutdown in case of unexpected stop
• Grinding diamond bit diameter: 18 mm
• Depth increments: 0.5 to 2.0 mm (± 2 %)
• Maximum grinding depth: 40 mm
• Grinding area: 4,185 mm2 (73 mm diameter)
• Powder sample: ≈ 9 g per each mm of grinded depth 

Profile Grinder Kit (PF-1100)

Includes:

Item	Order #
Grinder unit consisting of grinding machine, housing, handle cover with flange and counter nut, two handles and grinding diamond bit	PF-1101
Grinding support plate with green felt	PF-1102
Grinding bench plate with screws and nuts	PF-1103
Attachment ring and two bolts	PF-1104
Allen key, 4 mm	CC-25
2 adjustable clamping pliers	C-102-3
Set of anchoring tools	CC-30
2 seating rubber rings	PF-1105
Plastic bags, 50 pcs	PF-1106
Brush	PF-1107
Measuring tape	RCT-1028
14 and 17 mm wrenches	C-155/151
Sponge	PF-1108
Dust mask	PF-1109
Silicone oil bottle	L-24
Spare green felt	PF-1111
User Manual	PF-1112

To be ordered separately

• Technical datasheet

• Publications about “Rapid Chloride Test System”

More documentation is available upon request

• ASTM C1556-11a (2016): “Standard Test Method for Determining the Apparent Chloride Diffusion Coefficient of Cementitious Mixtures by Bulk Diffusion”
• AASHTO T 260: “Standard Method of Test for Sampling and Testing for Chloride Ion in Concrete and Concrete Raw Materials”
• ASTM C114-18: “Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic Cement”
• EN 14629: 2007: “Products and systems for protection and repair of concrete structures – Test methods – Determination of chloride content in cured concrete”