Pitch Black® FAQ: ASTM Specs and the 0.00 ppm PAH Result, Explained

The Pitch Black® Technical Bulletin is dense with ASTM numbers and a third-party PAH test result that most spec readers have never seen on a sealer datasheet. This short FAQ answers the questions we get most often from contractors, HOAs, and municipal buyers in MT, ID, WA, ND, and SD.

Download the Source Documents

Before reading further, grab the three manufacturer PDFs this post references — every spec and claim below comes directly from them:

- 📄 Pitch Black® Technical Bulletin (Concentrate) — PDF — ASTM specifications, surface prep, application guide, and the full PRI EPA Method 8310 PAH lab report (pages 4–5).

- 📄 Pitch Black® Slurry Technical Bulletin — PDF — Slurry-grade mix design, Polytex® polymer additive ratios, drying and cure times.

- 📄 Pitch Black® Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — PDF — GHS hazard classification, PPE, storage, spill response, and OSHA-compliant handling.

ASTM Specs — Plain English

What does "cone penetration 340mm" mean?

ASTM D-217 (see the Technical Bulletin, §2A) measures how thick the sealer is at 77°F by dropping a standard cone into it. Lower number = thicker body. Pitch Black holds a 340mm floor, which is on the firm end of the asphalt-emulsion sealer range. In the field, that means the coating doesn't slump out of pavement pores on a hot lot and holds its film build under squeegee pressure.

Why is 50% solids content the line that matters?

ASMA A-1 nonvolatile content (per the Technical Bulletin, §2B) tells you how much of the drum stays on the pavement after the water flashes. Pitch Black is specified at a 50% minimum — the slurry grade runs even denser at 10.0 lbs/gal. Commodity sealers often dip below the 50% line batch-to-batch, which is why two "identical" 275-gallon totes from a generic supplier can give you two different coverage rates.

What is wet track abrasion (ASTM D-3910)?

A wet abrasion head is dragged over a cured film for 5 minutes and the lost material is weighed. Pitch Black's ceiling is 35 grams of loss (Technical Bulletin, §2G) — the same bar DOTs use to qualify slurry seals. Most driveway-grade sealers are never tested against it at all.

What does "75 KU viscosity" tell me?

Krebs Units (ASTM D-562, Technical Bulletin §2I) determine how the material sprays, squeegees, and brushes. 75 KU minimum means Pitch Black is sprayable through a standard wand rig at the published 15–25% water dilution without over-thinning. Below that, you start losing film build.

What is the wind-driven rain spec?

Federal Spec TT-C-551B simulates 98-mph wind-driven rain on the cured film. Pitch Black passes (see the spec table in the Technical Bulletin) — which is the spec that matters most in Montana and the Dakotas, where November squalls hit lots that were sealed in late September.

The PAH Result — Why It's a Big Deal

What does "0.00 ppm total PAH" mean?

PRI Asphalt Technologies tested Batch 1071 of Pitch Black under EPA Method 8310 for all 18 regulated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. None of the 18 compounds were detected above the method detection limit. Total PAH was reported as 0.00 ppm. The full PRI lab report is included on pages 4–5 of the Technical Bulletin PDF, with the complete compound-by-compound appendix on page 5.

How does that compare to coal-tar sealer?

Coal-tar sealers — still legal in much of the country — routinely test in the thousands of ppm of PAHs. That's why coal tar is banned in Washington State, Minneapolis, Austin, the District of Columbia, and dozens of municipal watersheds. Pitch Black is an asphalt-emulsion sealer (not coal tar), so it was always going to be low — but the third-party PRI report inside the Technical Bulletin at 0.00 ppm is the difference between "probably fine" and "documented for the HOA board, the school district, and the municipal RFP."

Is Pitch Black approved in jurisdictions that have banned coal tar?

Yes. The 0.00 ppm EPA 8310 result (documented in the Technical Bulletin) is what those jurisdictions ask for. We provide the PRI report on request for any municipal, school, or HOA bid.

Does "0.00 ppm" mean zero risk?

It means none of the 18 EPA-regulated PAH compounds were detected above the method detection limit on the tested batch. It does not eliminate the need for normal jobsite PPE — see the Pitch Black SDS for handling and PPE guidance.

Common Follow-Up Questions

Do I need to ask for a batch-specific test?

For most commercial and municipal work, the published PRI report (pages 4–5 of the Technical Bulletin) is sufficient. For high-sensitivity sites — schools adjacent to surface water, projects under specific watershed permits — Summit can request a batch-specific lab letter from the manufacturer.

What temperature can it be applied at?

Ambient air ≥55°F and rising, surface ≥60°F (per §3 and §4 of the Technical Bulletin, and confirmed in the Slurry Technical Bulletin). No precipitation in the cure window. On hot days, fog-coat to pre-dampen the surface. Two coats minimum, three for heavy-traffic lanes.

How should drums and totes be stored?

Above freezing — a single freeze in the container ruins the emulsion. Sealed, out of direct sun, away from ignition. Shelf life is one year unopened (Slurry Technical Bulletin, §8). Full handling, PPE, and spill-response details are in the Pitch Black SDS.

Where do I get the documents?

All three are linked directly on the Pitch Black product page and throughout this post: the Technical Bulletin, the Slurry Technical Bulletin, and the Safety Data Sheet.

Talk to a Distributor

Summit Surface Partners is the regional Pitch Black® distributor for MT, ID, Eastern WA, ND, and SD. We stock concentrate and slurry-grade in drums and totes, with the Technical Bulletin, PRI PAH report, and SDS on file for every order. Call (406) 309-SEAL or request wholesale pricing.