ISO 11127-5:2020

Overview

ISO 11127-5:2020 specifies a laboratory test method for determining the level of free moisture in non‑metallic blast‑cleaning abrasives used for preparation of steel substrates before painting. The method quantifies moisture by measuring mass loss on heating (oven drying). ISO 11127-5:2020 is part of the ISO 11127 series of test methods, which together with ISO 11126 define sampling, properties and test procedures for non‑metallic abrasives.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Measurement of free moisture in non‑metallic blast abrasives by mass loss on heating.
• Apparatus: heat‑resistant dish/plate, oven controllable to (110 ± 5) °C, balance accurate to 0.01 g, dessiccator with a drying agent (e.g., silica gel).
• Sample size & preparation: representative sample per ISO 11127‑1; roughly 100 g test portion spread in a thin layer in the dish.
• Procedure summary:
  • Dry and cool the dish (110 ± 5 °C for 15 min) in the dessiccator; weigh to 0.01 g.
  • Place ~100 g sample in the dish; agitate to spread the sample.
  • Oven dry at (110 ± 5) °C for at least 1 hour.
  • Cool in dessiccator and reweigh to determine dried mass.
• Calculation: moisture content M (%) = (m0 − m1) / m0 × 100, where m0 is mass before heating and m1 is mass after heating.
• Quality control: perform the determination in duplicate; if duplicate results differ by more than 0.05% (absolute), repeat the test. Report the average to 0.01% precision.
• Reporting requirements: identification of product, reference to ISO 11127‑5:2020, test result, deviations from method, unusual observations, date and tester’s name.

Applications and who uses it

ISO 11127-5:2020 is used for quality control, acceptance testing and specification compliance where moisture in abrasives can affect process performance. Typical users:

• Abrasive manufacturers and suppliers - to certify moisture levels before shipment.
• Coating and surface‑preparation laboratories - for incoming inspection of abrasives.
• Blast contractors and specifiers - to ensure blasting media meet project requirements.
• Quality assurance/inspection personnel - to validate storage, handling and on‑site suitability of abrasives.

Proper moisture measurement helps prevent clogging, reduced cutting efficiency, inconsistent surface profile and potential coating defects associated with contaminated or damp abrasives.

Related standards

• ISO 11126 series - specifications for various non‑metallic abrasives (see Annex A of ISO 11127‑5).
• ISO 11127‑1 - Sampling of non‑metallic blast‑cleaning abrasives.
• Other ISO 11127 parts (granulometry, bulk density, hardness, chloride and soluble contaminants tests) for comprehensive abrasive characterization.