Tests on Cement

Fineness Test
There are three methods for testing fineness:

1. The SIEVE METHOD

2. The AIR PERMEABLE METHOD (Nurse and Blains method)
3. The SEDIMENTATION METHOD (Wagner Turbidimeter method)
Fineness Test
Sieve Method : 100 g of cement sample is taken and air-set lumps, if any, in the
sample are broken with fingers. The sample is placed on a 90 micron sieve and
continuously sieved for 15 minutes. The residue should not exceed the limits
specified below:
Fineness Test
Air Permeability Method :The fineness of cement is represented by specific
surface, i.e. total surface area in cm2 per gram or m2 per kilogram of cement
and is measured by Lea and Nurse apparatus or by wagner turbidimeter..
The Lea and Nurse apparatus shown in the figure essentially consists of a
permeability test cell—where cement is placed and air pressure is applied,
flowmeter—to determine the quantity of air passing per second through its
capillary tube per unit difference of pressure, and manometer—to measure the
air pressure.
Fineness Test
Fineness Test
Wagner Turbidimeter Method: L.A.Wagner developed a turbidimeter to
estimate the surface area of one gram of cement. The cement is dispersed
uniformly in a rectangular glass tank filled with kerosene. Then, parallel light
rays are passed through the solution which strike the sensitivity plate of a
photoelectric cell.
The turbidity of the solution at a given instant is measured by taking readings of
the current generated by the cell. By recording the readings at regular intervals
while the particles are falling in the solution, it is possible to secure information
regarding the grading in surface area and in size of particle. Readings are
expressed in sq. cm per gram.
Consistency Test
This is a test to estimate the quantity of mixing water to form a paste of normal consistency
defined as that percentage water requirement of the cement paste, the viscosity of which will
be such that the Vicat’s plunger penetrates up to a point 5 to 7 mm from the bottom of the
Vicat’s mould.

Importance: The water requirement for various tests of cement depends on the normal
consistency of the cement, which itself depends upon the compound composition and fineness
of the cement.
Consistency Test
Test Procedure: 300 g of cement is mixed with 25 per cent
water. The paste is filled in the mould of Vicat’s apparatus
and the surface of the filled paste is smoothened and
levelled.
A square needle 10 mm x 10 mm attached to the plunger
is then lowered gently over the cement paste surface and
is released quickly.
The plunger pierces the cement paste. The reading on the
attached scale is recorded. When the reading is 5-7 mm
from the bottom of the mould, the amount of water added
is considered to be the correct percentage of water for
normal consistency.
Consistency Test
Determination of Initial and Final Setting Times
When water is added to cement, the resulting paste starts to stiffen and gain
strength and lose the consistency simultaneously. The term setting implies
solidification of the plastic cement paste.
The initial setting time may be defined as the time taken by the paste to stiffen
to such an extent that the Vicat’s needle is not permitted to move down through
the paste to within 5 ± 0.5 mm measured from the bottom of the mould.
The final setting time is the time after which the paste becomes so hard that the
angular attachment to the needle, under standard weight, fails to leave any
mark on the hardened concrete.
Consistency Test
Test Procedure: A neat cement paste is prepared by gauging cement with 0.85
times the water required to give a paste of standard consistency. The stop watch
is started at the instant water is added to the cement. The mould resting on a
nonporous plate is filled completely with cement paste and the surface of filled
paste is levelled smooth with the top of the mould. The test is conducted at
room temperature of 27± 2°C.
Consistency Test
The mould with the cement paste is placed in the Vicat’s apparatus and the
needle is lowered gently in contact with the test block and is then quickly
released. The needle thus penetrates the test block and the reading on the
Vicat’s apparatus graduated scale is recorded.

The procedure is repeated until the needle fails to pierce the block by about 5
mm measured from the bottom of the mould. The stop watch is pushed off and
the time is recorded which gives the initial setting time. The cement is
considered to be finally set when upon applying the needle gently to the surface
of test block, the needle makes an impression, but the attachment fails to do so.
Soundness Test
It is essential that the cement concrete does not undergo large change in
volume after setting. This is ensured by limiting the quantities of free lime and
magnesia which slake slowly causing change in volume of cement.
Soundness can be tested using:
1. LE-CHATELIER METHOD
2. AUTOCLAVE METHOD
Soundness Test
Test Procedure
Before conducting the test lightly oil the apparatus such as Le-
Chatelier mould, Glass plates(2)
Take required amount of cement 200g.
Prepare a cement paste by adding 0.78 times the water required
for standard consistency.
Mix the cement paste well using the trowel.
Now place the lightly oiled Le-Chatelier mould on the glass panel.
Fill the mould with the prepared cement paste up to the top.
While placing the cement hold the mould edges gently together.
Now place another glass plate on the top and put weight on it.
Soundness Test
Submerge the whole assembly into the water pot at a room
temperature and keep it undisturbed for 24 hours.
Now remove the whole assembly from water and measure the
distance between the mould edges. Note that distance as L1. The
measuring pointers should indicate to the nearest 0.5 mm
Submerge the mould again into the water and bring it to the boiling
point and cool down it to room temperature.
Now again measure the mould edges distance as L2.
Calculation
Soundness of Cement = L1 – L2.
This value must not exceed 10 mm for Ordinary or OPC, Rapid, Low
Heat, PPC and High alumina cement.
An autoclave is a pressure chamber that is used to sterilize equipment and
supplies. When these items are placed inside the autoclave they are exposed to
high temperature steam (usually around 132 degrees Celsius or 270 degrees
Fahrenheit) for about twenty minutes. These times vary based on the amount
and physical size of the equipment that needs sterilized. This hot steam will kill
germs that simple detergent or boiling water could not.
Thinly cover the mould with mineral oil. Then attach the reference points so as to get an
effective length of 250 mm.
Take 500 g of cement and mix with sufficient water to give a paste of standard consistency.
After mixing fill the mould in one or two layers by pressing the paste into corners by thumb.
Smoothen the top layer by trowel.
After completion of preparation of the mould, store it in a moist room for a period of 24 hours.
After 24 ± ½ hrs after moulding, remove the specimen from the moist atmosphere, measure its
length (L1) and place it in the autoclave at room temperature in a rack so that the four sides of
each specimen is exposed to saturated steam vapour during the entire period of test.
To permit air to escape from the autoclave during the early portion of the heating period, left
the vent valve open until steam begins to escape.
Then close the vent valve and raise the temp of the autoclave at such a rate, so as to make the
gauge pressure of the steam to 2.1 N/mm2 in 1 to 1.5 hrs from the time heat turned on. This
pressure is maintained for 3 hrs.
After 3 hrs switch off the autoclave, and let it be cooled at the rate so as to make the pressure
less than 0.1 N/mm2 in one hour and bring it to atmospheric pressure by opening vent valve.
Then remove the specimen from autoclave and place it in water maintained at a temp of 900C.
Then cool the water to 27±20C in 15 minutes. Dry the surface of the specimen and measure its
length (L2).
CALCULATION
Soundness of cement=L1-L2,
Where,
L1=Length measured after curing for a period of 24 hrs in a moist room.
L2=Length measured after completion of autoclave test.
A contraction (negative expansion) is indicated by prefixing a (–)sign to the percentage
expansion reported.
Specific Gravity Test
The specific gravity of hydraulic cement is
obtained using Le-Chatelier flask
Test Precedure: The flask is filled with either
kerosene free of water, or naphtha having a
specific gravity not less than 0.7313 to a point on
the stem between zero and 1-ml mark.
The flask is immersed in a constant temperature
water bath and the reading is recorded. A weighed
quantity of cement (about 64 g of Portland
cement) is then introduced in small amounts at
the same temperature as that of the liquid.
Specific Gravity Test
After introducing all the cement, the stopper is placed in the flask and the flask
rolled in an inclined position, or gently whirled in a horizontal circle, so as to free
the cement from air until no further air bubbles rise to the surface of the liquid.
The flask is again immersed in the water-bath and the final reading is recorded.
The difference between the first and the final reading represents the volume of
liquid displaced by the weight of the cement used in the test.