Scribd
Upload
161 views28 pages

Lecture #4&5 Time Setting and Soundness of Portland Cement

This document discusses the setting time and soundness of Portland cement. It defines setting time as the process where a plastic cement paste becomes rigid. There are three stages of setting: hydrolysis and hydration, colloidization, and crystallization. Factors like temperature, water content, and humidity affect setting time. The document outlines procedures to determine initial and final setting times using Gillmore needles according to ASTM standards. Soundness refers to cement's ability to retain its volume after hardening. Causes of unsoundness include excess lime, magnesia, inadequate burning, and excess calcium sulfate. The Le Chatelier test is used to determine soundness according to Indian standards.

Uploaded by

Rome Lauren Javier
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
161 views28 pages

Lecture #4&5 Time Setting and Soundness of Portland Cement

This document discusses the setting time and soundness of Portland cement. It defines setting time as the process where a plastic cement paste becomes rigid. There are three stages of setting: hydrolysis and hydration, colloidization, and crystallization. Factors like temperature, water content, and humidity affect setting time. The document outlines procedures to determine initial and final setting times using Gillmore needles according to ASTM standards. Soundness refers to cement's ability to retain its volume after hardening. Causes of unsoundness include excess lime, magnesia, inadequate burning, and excess calcium sulfate. The Le Chatelier test is used to determine soundness according to Indian standards.

Uploaded by

Rome Lauren Javier
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 28

TIME SETTING AND SOUNDNESS OF

PORTLAND CEMENT

Engr. Nald Ruzle Esmeralda, CE152P-2


Construction Materials and Method of Testing
OBJECTIVES
At the end of today’s lecture, you will:

● To determine initial and final setting time of cement paste using


Gillmore needles
● To determine whether the values satisfy ASTM standard C266
● To determine if the cement complies with a specification limit on
Gillmore time of setting
TIME SETTING OF CEMENT

● The conversion of a plastic paste of cement to a non-plastic and rigid mass is


known as Setting of cement.

● And the time required for this process to take place is known as the setting
time of cement.

● This change from a plastic mass to a non-plastic mass may take any time
between a few minutes to an hour or more.
Hydrolysis and Hydration Stage

● It is the first stage and starts immediately after addition of water.

● In this process the four compounds of cement (C3S, C2S, 3CA1,


4CAFe) get hydrated.

● The first compound also undergoes hydrolysis.

● As a result complex hydro silicates are formed.


Colloidisation Stage
● In this stage, the intricate system of hydro silicate crystals formed as
above separates out in the form of a gel which gets gradually
thickened and acts as glue around other particles.

● Thereby initiating the setting of the cement.

● During this stage, the mortar (cement-water-sand paste) becomes


fully saturated and can take no more water.
Crystallization Stage

● In this stage, most of the components get transformed from a gel or


colloidal state to a crystalline state.

● The least stable colloids of tri-calcium hydro aluminate and calcium


hydroxide are first to pass into a stable crystal phase.

● This nearly simultaneous development of crystals and hardening of


gel results into a strong and inter-grown mass of crystals and gels.
SETTING TIME OF CEMENT

● Hardening of cement is different than the setting of cement.

● It may be defined as the capacity of the set cement to withstand


loads without disintegrating or cracking.

● Cement may require only a few minutes and hours to set, it may


become sufficiently hard only after a considerable time, measured in
days, weeks, months and even in years
SETTING TIME OF CEMENT
● Some types of cement set quickly, within a few minutes whereas others
may take comparatively longer time.
● The initial setting time of cement is 30 minutes for Ordinary Portland
Cement.
● The final setting time of cement is 600 minutes or 10 hours on average
for Ordinary Portland Cement.
● The setting is not an abrupt process which may complete immediately
after its start; it is rather a progressive phenomenon, which has a
beginning, full development, and an end.
Factors that affects Time Setting
(i) Temperature at which cement paste is allowed to set; very cold
temperatures retard the time of setting.

(ii) Percentage of water mixed to the cement (water-cement ratio) in


making the paste; it must be the right quantity for complete hydration
and crystal formation. Less water will result in incomplete hydration;
extra-quantity will bleed out after the cement is set.

(iii) The humidity of the atmosphere in which setting is allowed to take


place. It acts through temperature and moisture conditions.
TIME SETTING OF CEMENT APPARATUS

Weighing Balance of 1000g


Gillmore Needle
with 1g Accuracy
TIME SETTING OF CEMENT APPARATUS

Glass Plate Measuring Cylinder 200 mL


Procedure for Time Setting of Cement
(i) Initial Setting Time of Cement:

1.Fix the specified needle (for the initial setting time of cement) with the rod.
2. Place the mold with the test specimen under the rod and lower the rod gently till it
comes into contact with the block. Then quickly release the rod.
3. Note the depth to which the needle penetrates the paste.
4. Repeat the experiment (of releasing the rod) till the depth of penetration is 35 mm
above the base of the mold. This means, the needle penetrates up to 35 mm and cannot
penetrate the last 5 mm at the base of the mold.
When this happens. Note the time once again. Let it be “T1”.

The time that has elapsed between “T1″ and “T2″ is the initial setting time for that sample
of the cement.
Procedure for Time Setting of Cement
(ii) Final Setting Time of Cement:

1. The needle with a circular cutting edge is used for this purpose. It is attached to the rod.
2.Using the same sample that has been used for finding the initial setting time, the rod with
this needle is released again and again after bringing in contact with the paste in the mold.
3.Initially, the needle along with the cutting edge may pierce in the paste but a time would
come when it fails to pierce at all. The time is noted when the needle fails to penetrate the
specimen but only makes a slight impression (and the Cutting edge does not even make
that impression). Let this time be “T3”.
4. Then the time that has elapsed from T1 to T3 is the FINAL SETTING TIME OF CEMENT.
SETTING TIME OF CEMENT
OBJECTIVES
At the end of today’s lecture, you will:

● Learn the soundness test of cement and its significance to our course
and in construction
● Learn what are the causes of the unsoundness of cement
● Differentiate cracking, distortion, and disintegration
What is Soundness of Cement?

● Various properties of cement mainly influence the properties of hardened


concrete or mortar

● Once the concrete or mortar gets hardened, they do not go under expansion
or contraction. (i.e. the volume of concrete or mortar does not change, once
they are set.)
What is Soundness of Cement?

● Soundness of Cement refers to the ability of cement to retain its volume after
it has hardened.

● After the drying of cement mortar or concrete, it should not undergo any
appreciable change in volume.

● If there is a change in the volume, it will cause the cement to expand or


contract.
Causes of Unsoundness of Cement

01. Excess Lime

● Excess lime hydrates very slowly and forms slaked lime that occupies
a larger volume than the original free calcium oxide. The slow
hydration process affects the properties of hardened concrete.
Causes of Unsoundness of Cement

02. Excess Magnesia

● Cement can also be unsound due to the presence of magnesium


oxide (MgO), which reacts with water in a manner similar to the lime
and affects the rate of hydration
Causes of Unsoundness of Cement

03. Inadequate Burning

● During the manufacturing process of cement, raw materials are fed


into the kiln.

● If burning and cooling processes are not done satisfactorily, then


excess lime will remain in a free condition. It will lead to the unsound
cement.
Causes of Unsoundness of Cement

04. Excess Calcium Sulphate

● Gypsum is added to cement clinker to prevent flash setting of


cement. But if gypsum is present in an excess amount it will react
with C3A during setting and forms calcium sulfoaluminate. This
sulfoaluminate leads to the expansion in hardened concrete.
SOUNDNESS TEST OF CEMENT APPARATUS

Weighing Balance of 1000g


with 1g Accuracy Oven
SOUNDNESS TEST OF CEMENT APPARATUS

Glass Plate Measuring Cylinder 200 mL


CRACKING VS DISTORTION VS DISINTEGRATION

Cracking is the process of


breaking down certain
Distortion is the act of Disintegration is the
twisting or altering breaking down of something
hydrocarbons into simpler ones
something out of its true, into small particles or into its
of lower boiling points by means
natural, or original state constituent elements
of excess heat, distillation under
pressure, etc.,
KEY TAKEAWAYS
● Before using cement in construction, the soundness of cement must be checked.

● In Indian standards, Le Chatelier apparatus test is given, which is used to determine the
soundness of cement.

● The manufacturers of cement must also do the quality control, to produce sound
cement.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
● Online Homework 1: Construction Materials and Method of Testing (deadline
will be on November 18, Friday @11:59PM)

● Laboratory Report 1: Fineness Test of Portland Cement (deadline will be on


November 19, Saturday @11:59PM)

● Laboratory Report 2: Normal Consistency of Portland Cement (deadline will


be on November 21, Monday @11:59PM)

● Principle of Concrete Mix Design

You might also like