Designation: C974 − 87 (Reapproved 2015)

Standard Practice for

Preparing Test Specimens from Basic Refractory Castable
Products by Casting1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C974; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 3.3 Vibration Table, spring or air-cushioned, with a pneu-

matic or electric driver.2
1.1 This practice covers a procedure for preparing test
specimens from a basic refractory castable by casting prepared 3.4 Oven, air circulating.
material in a mold. Specimens prepared in accordance with this
procedure are intended for use in ASTM test methods. 4. Procedure
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 4.1 Store the material to be tested at 85 6 2°F (29.5 6 1°C)
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical for 24 h prior to testing.
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only 4.2 Reduce the sample to the desired batch size with a
and are not considered standard. sample splitter or by quartering, taking precautions to prevent
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the segregation. Sufficient material should be batched to provide at
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the least a 10 % excess over test specimen requirements.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.3 Add the weighed, dry batch to the mixer and dry-mix at
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- low speed for 30 s. Continue to mix at low speed while adding
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. the required amount of water (see 4.3.1) within 30 s. Wet-mix
at low speed for 4 min.
2. Significance and Use 4.3.1 Use the amount of water and mixing time (if different
2.1 This practice defines a procedure that ensures consistent from above) recommended by the manufacturer. The water
preparation of specimens for product testing and evaluation. must be potable and at a temperature of 85 6 2°F (29.5 6
1°C). Measure the water addition to the nearest 0.1 % by
2.2 This practice can be used in the laboratories of weight.
producers, users, and general-interest parties for research and
4.4 Specimens should be cast in a mold immediately after
development or quality-control work. It is particularly useful
the batch is mixed so that all specimens made from a batch are
for interlaboratory comparisons or products, for repetitive
cast at the same time. The mold should be securely clamped to
evaluations or comparisons of products or product quality, and
the vibration table top. Fill the mold to overflowing distributing
in specifying a uniform preparation practice for specimens for
the material uniformly between each cavity. Vibrate in accor-
acceptance testing.
dance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Approximately 15
2.3 In using this practice it must be recognized that the s before the end of the vibration period, remove excess material
structure of laboratory-cast specimens may differ significantly (approximately flush with top of mold).
from the structure of material cast in field applications. 4.4.1 If the batch is too wet, water will run off the specimens
while if the batch is too dry, the material will not fill the mold.
3. Apparatus In either case the batch must be discarded and another run
made at a suitable water content.
3.1 Mixer, bench-type, Hobart or equivalent.
4.5 Test specimens should be air-dried in the molds a
3.2 Steel Molds. minimum of 16 h and a maximum of 24 h, and then removed
from the molds and dried for a minimum of 8 h at 225 6 5°F
(107 6 2.5°C) in a circulating air dryer prior to testing.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C08 on Refractories
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C08.09 on Monolithics.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2015. Published October 2015. Originally
2
approved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as C974 – 87 (2009). Martin Engineering Model CV35 or Syntron Model VP-80 has been found
DOI: 10.1520/C0974-87R15. suitable.

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

1
 C974 − 87 (2015)
5. Calculation and Report
5.1 In the report on specimen preparation, include the
percent water addition, drying time, and test specimen size.

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