Designation: C 672/C 672M – 03

Standard Test Method for

Scaling Resistance of Concrete Surfaces Exposed to
Deicing Chemicals1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 672/C 672M; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 3. Significance and Use

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the resis- 3.1 This test method can be used to evaluate the effect of
tance to scaling of a horizontal concrete surface exposed to mixture proportioning, surface treatment, curing, or other
freezing-and-thawing cycles in the presence of deicing chemi- variables on resistance to scaling.
cals. It is intended for use in evaluating this surface resistance 3.2 This test method is not intended to be used in determin-
qualitatively by visual examination. ing the durability of aggregates or other ingredients of the
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units concrete.
are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, the 3.3 No relationship has been established between the frost
inch-pound units are shown in brackets. The values stated in immunity of specimens cut from hardened concrete and
each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system specimens prepared in the laboratory.
shall be used independently of the other.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 4. Apparatus
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4.1 Freezing Equipment—A chest or room of sufficient size
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- to hold the specimens and capable of lowering the temperature
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- of the specimens to −18 6 3°C [0 6 5°F] within 16 to 18 h and
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. maintaining this temperature with a full load of specimens.
4.2 Molds, of the proper size for the test specimens to be
2. Referenced Documents used, and conforming to the requirements of Practice C 192/
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 C 192M.
C 143/C 143M Test Method for Slump of Hydraulic Ce- 4.3 Tamping Rod, conforming to the requirements of Test
ment Concrete Method C 143/C 143M.
C 156 Test Method for Water Retention by Concrete Curing 4.4 Small Tools—Wood strike-off board, steel trowel, and
Materials moderately stiff bristle brush suitable for providing the desired
C 173/C 173M Test Method for Air Content of Freshly texture of the test surface.
Mixed Concrete by the Volumetric Method 4.5 Slump Cone, conforming to the requirements of Test
C 192/C 192M Practice for Making and Curing Concrete Method C 143/C 143M.
Test Specimens in the Laboratory 4.6 Air Meter, conforming to the requirements of Test
C 231 Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Method C 173/C 173M or Test Method C 231.
Concrete by the Pressure Method 4.7 Scales, conforming to the requirements of Practice
C 233 Test Method for Air-Entraining Admixtures for Con- C 192/C 192M.
crete 4.8 Concrete Mixer, conforming to the requirements of
C 511 Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets, Practice C 192/C 192M.
Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the
Testing of Hydraulic Cements and Concretes 5. Proportioning and Mixing
5.1 Proportioning—The air content, cement factor, slump,
water-to-cement ratio, and other characteristics of the concrete
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on and its ingredients shall be those appropriate for the purposes
Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
C09.67 on Resistance of Concrete to Its Environment. for which the tests are to be made. Concrete with the following
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2003. Published January 2004. Originally characteristics has been found useful for the purposes for
published as C 672 – 71 T. Last previous edition C 672 – 92.
2
which this test method is generally used, such as evaluation of
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
a surface treatment for prevention of scaling: (a) non-air-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on entrained; (b) cement content, 335 6 5 kg/m3[565 6 10 lb/
the ASTM website. yd3]; (c) slump, 75 6 15 mm [3 6 0.5 in.]; and (d) durable

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

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 C 672/C 672M – 03
aggregate (Note 1) of 25-mm [1-in.] maximum size. If air- 7.2 Remove the specimens from the molds at an age of 20
entrained concrete is to be used for comparative purposes, it to 24 h after addition of water to the mix and place in moist
shall have the same proportions as that with which it is being storage as provided for in Specification C 511.
compared and the air content shall be 6 6 1 % (Note 2). 7.3 If concretes with differing rates of strength gain are to be
NOTE 1—Care should be taken to use an aggregate which has a good compared, maintain the specimens in moist storage until such
performance record in freezing and thawing exposure. time as the desired strength level has been obtained. When the
NOTE 2—For additional information pertaining to air-entrained con- desired strength level has been reached, remove the specimens
crete proportions, see Test Method C 233. from moist storage and store in air for 14 days at 23.0 6 2.0°C
5.2 Mixing and Testing of Freshly Mixed Concrete— [73.5 6 3.5°F] and 45 to 55 % relative humidity.
Machine mix and test in conformance with the applicable 7.4 For all other concretes, remove the specimens from
provisions of Practice C 192/C 192M. moist storage at the age of 14 days and store in air for 14 days
at 23.0 6 2.0°C [73.5 6 3.5°F] and 45 to 55 % relative humid-
6. Specimens
ity.
6.1 Specimens shall have a surface area of at least 0.045
m2[72 in.2] and be at least 75 mm [3.0 in.] in depth. At least 8. Protective Coatings
two duplicate specimens for each combination of variables to
be tested shall be made. 8.1 If protective coatings are to be evaluated, apply them in
6.2 Fabrication of Specimens: accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations regard-
6.2.1 Coat the inside surface of the mold with a light coat of ing quantity and method of application at the age of 21 days.
mineral oil or a suitable nonreactive release material just prior When a material proposed as dual-purpose curing compound/
to fabrication of the specimens. protective coating is being evaluated, apply it at the proper
6.2.2 Fill the mold in one layer. Rod one time for each 1400 time of application for curing compounds, as described in Test
mm2[2 in.2] of surface, leaving a slight excess of material after Method C 156.
the final rodding. Tap the mold to close any voids and spade NOTE 3—When evaluating penetration-type coatings for application to
around the periphery with a flat trowel. Level the surface with pavement surfaces subject to traffic wear, it may be desirable to abrade the
several passes of a wood strike-off board. treated surface of the test specimens by sufficient wire brushing to break
6.2.3 After the concrete has stopped bleeding, finish the any films remaining on the surface after drying.
surface with three sawing-motion passes of a wood strike-off
board. Brush the surface with a medium-stiff brush as a final 9. Procedure
finishing operation unless another method of surface finishing 9.1 After completion of moist and air curing, cover the flat
such as steel-troweled surface, burlap drag, or a troweled-in surface of the specimen with approximately 6 mm (1⁄4 in.) of
surface treatment is to be evaluated. a solution of calcium chloride and water, having a concentra-
6.2.4 After the finishing operation, place a dike about 25 tion such that each 100 mL of solution contains 4 g of
mm [1 in.] wide and 20 mm [3⁄4 in.] high along the perimeter anhydrous calcium chloride.
of the top surface of the specimens. The dike may be made of
any material that will adhere to the specimen and serve to NOTE 4—Other chemical deicers and different concentrations may be
used when there is a need to evaluate their specific effect. In addition, a
maintain the brine pond on top of the specimen throughout the variation in the procedure may be adopted whereby the deicer is added
period of the test. If the dike is of mortar, it shall be applied directly to the ice produced by freezing a 6 mm (1⁄4 in.) layer of fresh
immediately after the final finishing operation, and the surface water during the freezing portion of the cycle, discarding and flushing the
where the mortar is to be applied shall be roughened to provide resulting solution off the surface at the end of the thawing portion of the
a mechanical bond. If an epoxy mortar dike is to be formed or cycle and then repeating the cycle. If this procedure is adopted, it should
a proven satisfactory bonding material is used to bond the dike be recognized that about 100 cycles or more will be required to evaluate
a surface treatment.
to the surface, the dike may be applied after the concrete has
set. Any pre-applied coating shall be removed from the bond 9.2 Place specimens in a freezing environment for 16 to 18
area prior to the application of the dike. h. At the end of this time remove them from the freezer and
6.2.5 Test specimens may also be slabs meeting the test area place them in laboratory air at 23 6 2.0°C [73.5 6 3.5°F] and
requirements cut from hardened concrete in a structure. In this a relative humidity of 45 to 55 % for 6 to 8 h. Add water
case, the specimens shall not be cut or damaged on the surface between each cycle as necessary to maintain the proper depth
to be tested and should not be allowed to dry to a moisture of solution. Repeat this cycle daily, flushing off the surface
condition below that of the structure from which they have thoroughly at the end of each 5 cycles. After making a visual
been taken. This may be accomplished by wrapping the examination, replace the solution and continue the test.
specimens in some waterproof material or by other suitable
means. NOTE 5—Generally, 50 cycles are sufficient to evaluate a surface or
surface treatment. However, where comparative tests are being made, it is
7. Curing recommended that the tests be continued beyond the recommended
minimum number of cycles if differences have not developed.
7.1 Except where the method of curing is an element of
study or is otherwise specified, cover the specimens with a 9.3 Either keep specimens frozen during any interruption in
polyethylene sheet immediately after finishing. The sheet shall the daily cycling or maintain them in a damp condition after
not be permitted to contact the concrete surface. removal of solution and flushing surfaces.

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 C 672/C 672M – 03
10. Report 10.1.6 If the test specimens are cut from hardened concrete,
10.1 Report the following: the size, shape, orientation of the specimens in the structure,
10.1.1 Cement content, water-cement ratio, the kind and and any other pertinent information available shall be included
amount of any admixture, slump, and air content of mix, in the report, and
10.1.2 Curing and drying if other than standard, 10.1.7 Photographs or a word description of the surface, or
10.1.3 Type of surface treatment, time of application, and both, also should be included where possible.
rate of application,
11. Precision and Bias
10.1.4 Type of deicer, whether solution or solid, concentra-
tion of the solution if used, rate of application, and time of 11.1 In statistical analyses of data obtained by the use of this
application, test method, it is necessary to recognize that the ratings are
10.1.5 Visual rating of the surface after 5, 10, 15, 25, and ranks, and as such, may not be appropriately subjected to
every 25 cycles thereafter in accordance with the following analyses based on the calculation of averages and standard
scale: deviations nor to other techniques that assume continuous
Rating Condition of Surface
distribution of measurement on at least an interval scale. If
0 no scaling groups of similar specimens are to be reported or compared
1 very slight scaling (3 mm [1⁄8 in.] depth, max, no coarse with other groups, such nonparametric quantities as the median
aggregate visible)
2 slight to moderate scaling
and the range may be used.
3 moderate scaling (some coarse aggregate visible)
4 moderate to severe scaling 12. Keywords
5 severe scaling (coarse aggregate visible over entire surface)
12.1 concrete-weathering tests; deicing chemicals; freezing
and thawing; resistance-frost; resistance-scaling

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