Much of the time the so-called water
penetration test is well-suited for the determination of the condition of the blasting process and the
blasting media in regard of conceivable contamination by oils and greases. For this test an underlying
blasting media sample is taken from the air flow separator at the blasting system. With the water
penetration test, faucet water is essentially permitted to dribble onto a heap of blasting media. Water
quickly penetrates a heap of oil and grease-free blasting shot. Recently casted shot is in every case
liberated from oil and grease.
Because of the low surface pressures of oily blasting media, the water stays as drops on top of the heap.
Generally speaking, the more it stays, the more prominent is the contamination due to oil or grease.
In the running activity, the water penetration test ought to be done routinely for measure control, for
instance in the preparation of anti-corrosion coatings.