DETERMINATION OF EFFLORESCENCE OF BRICKS APPARATUS

DETERMINATION OF EFFLORESCENCE OF BRICKS

APPARATUS

Ø  Dish

Ø  Scale

SPECIMEN

One number of whole bricks from each samples collected for testing should be taken.

PROCEDURE

Ø  Distilled water to be filled in a dish of suitable size.

Ø  The dish should be made of glass, porcelain or glazed stone ware.

Ø  Place the end of the bricks in the dish, the depth of immersion in water being 25 mm.

Ø  Place the whole arrangements in a warm (for example, 20 to 30oC) well ventilated room until all the water in the dish is absorbed by the specimen and the surface water evaporate.

Ø  Cover the dish with suitable cover, so that excessive evaporation from the dish may not occur.

Ø  When the water has been absorbed and bricks appear to be dry, place a similar quantity of water in the dish and allow it to evaporate as before.

Examine the bricks for efflorescence after the second evaporation and report the results as:

a)      NIL – When there is no perceptible deposit of efflorescence.

b)      SLIGHT- Not more than 10% area of the brick covered with a thin deposit of salt.

c)      MODERATE- Covering up to 50% area of the brick.

d)     HEAVY- Covering 50% or more but unaccompanied by powdering or flacking of the brick surface.

e)      SERIOUS- When, there is a heavy deposit of salts accompanied by powdering and/or flacking of the exposed surfaces

TESTING

CALCULATION

The average of result shall be reported.