T 131 METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING
Standard Method of Test for
Time Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle
AASHTO DESIGNATION: T 131-93
(ASTM DESIGNATION: C 191-92)
1. SCOPE 3.2 Weights-The permissible variations TABLE 1 Permissible Variations on
on weights in use in weighing the cement Weights
shall be as prescribed in Table 1. The PermissibleVariations on
Weight, g
1.1 This method covers determination of permissible variations on new weights Weights in UsePlus or Minus,g
the time of setting of hydraulic cement by shall be one-half of the values in Table 1.
500 0.18
means of the Vicat needle. 300 0.15
3.3 Glass Graduates-200 or 250 mL 250 0.13
1.2 This standard may involve hazardous capacity and conforming to the 200 0.10
materials, operations, and equipment. requirements of AASHTO M 210. 100 0.07
This standard does not purport to address 50 0.04
all of the safety problems associated with 3.4 Vicat Apparatus-The Vicat apparatus
20 0.02
its use. It is the responsibility of whoever shall consist of a frame, A, Figure 1,
10 0.02
uses this standard to consult and establish bearing a movable rod, B, weighing 300
5 0.01
appropriate safety and health practices g, one end, C, the plunger end, being 10 2 0.01
and determine the applicability of mm in diameter for a distance of at least 1 0.01
regulatory limitations prior to use. 50 mm and the other end having a
removable steel needle, D, 1 mm in
diameter and 50 mm in length. The rod B 4. TEMPERATURE AND
NOTE 1-For the method for determining time is reversible, and can be held in any HUMIDITY
of setting by Gilmore needles, see the Standard desired position by a set screw, E, and
Method of Test for Time of Setting of
has an adjustable indicator, E which
Hydraulic Cement by Gilimore Needles 4.1 The temperature of the air in the
(AASHTO T 154). moves over a scale (graduated in
vicinity of the mixing slab, the dry
millimeters) attached to the frame, A.
cement, molds, and base plates shall be
The paste is held in a conical ring, G,
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS maintained between 20 and 27.5°C (68
resting on a glass plate, H, about 100 mm
and 81.5°F). The temperature of the
square. The ring shall be made of a
mixing water and of the moist closet or
noncorroding, nonabsorbing material,
2.1 AASHTO Standards: moist room shall not vary from 23°C
and shall have an inside diameter of 70
M 210 Apparatus for Use in (73.4°F) by more than t 1.7°C (3°F).
mm at the base and 60 mm at the top and
Measurement of Length a height of 40 mm. In addition, to the 4.2 The relative humidity of the
Change of Hardened Cement above the Vicat apparatus shall conform laboratory shall be not less than 50
Paste, Mortar, and Concrete to the following requirements: percent. The moist closet or moist room
R 11 Indicating Which Places of shall be so constructed as to provide
Figures Are To Be storage facilities for test specimens at a
Considered Significant in Weight of 000 ± 0.5 g (0.661 lb 8 relative humidity of not less than 90
Specified Limiting Values plunger grains) percent.
(Rounding-Off Method) Diameter of 10 - 0.05 mm (0.394 ±
T 129 Normal Consistency of larger end of 0.002 in.)
5. PREPARATION OF CEMENT
plunger
Hydraulic Cement PASTE
T 154 Time of Setting of Hydraulic Diameter of 1 ± 0.05 mm (0.039 0.002
Cement by Gilimore Needles needle in.)
5.1 Mix 650 g of cement with the
T 162 Mechanical Mixing of Inside diameter 70 ± 3 mm (2.36 T 0.12 in.) percentage of mixing water required for
Hydraulic Cement Pastes and of ring at normal consistency following the
bottom
Mortars of Plastic procedure described in Section 5 of
Consistency Inside diameter 60 ± 3 mm (2.36 - 0.12 in.) AASHTO T 162, Mechanical Mixing of
of ring at top Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of
Height of ring 40 ± 1 mm (1.57 ± 0.04 in.) Plastic Consistency. Distilled water is
3. APPARATUS
preferable and shall be used for all
Graduated scale The graduated scale, when referee or cooperative tests.
3.1 Scales-The scales shall conform to compared with a
standard scale accurate 5.2 The test specimen used for
the following requirements: On scales in to within 0.1 mm at all determination of normal consistency may
use the permissible variation at a load of points, shall not show a be used for the additional determination
1,000 g shall be plus or minus 1.0 g. The deviation at any point of time of setting by Vicat needle
permissible variation on new scales shall greater than 0.25 mm following the procedure described in
be one-half of this value. The sensibility Section 6.2.
reciprocal shall be not greater than twice
the permissible variation.
195
T 131 METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING
6. PROCEDURE less is obtained. For the penetration test,
lower the needle D of the rod B until it 7. PRECISION AND BIAS
rests on the surface of the cement paste.
6.1 Molding Test SpecimenQuickly form Tighten the set screw, E, and set the
the cement paste, prepared as described indicator, E at the upper end of the scale, 7.1 Precision:
in Section 5, into a ball with the gloved or take an initial reading. Release the rod
hands and toss six times from one hand to quickly by releasing the set screw, E, and
the other maintaining the hands about 6 7.1.1 The single-operator (within-
allow the needle to settle for 3 seconds;
in. (152 mm) apart. Press the ball, resting laboratory) standard deviation has been
then take the reading to determine the
in the palm of the hand, into the larger found to be 12 minutes for the initial time
penetration. (If the paste is obviously
end of the conical ring, G, Figure 1, held of setting, throughout the range of 49 to
quite soft on the early readings, the fall of
in the other hand, completely filling the 202 minutes, and 20 minutes for the final
the rod may be retarded to avoid bending
ring with paste. Remove the excess at the time of settings throughout the range of
the 1-mm needle, but the rod shall be
larger end by a single movement of the 185 to 312 minutes. Therefore, results of
released only by the set screw when
palm of the hand. Place the ring on its two properly conducted tests by the same
actual determinations for the setting time
larger end on a glass plate, H, and slice operator on Vicat initial time of setting of
are made.) No penetration test shall be
off the excess paste at the smaller end at similar paste should not differ from each
made closer than '/4 in. (6.4 mm) from
the top of the ring by a single oblique other by more than 34 minutes and on
any previous penetration and no
stroke of a sharpedged trowel held at a Vicat final time of setting of similar
penetration test shall be made closer than
slight angle with the top of the ring. pastes should not differ from each other
3/3 in. (9.5 mm) from the inside of the
Smooth the top of the specimen, if by more than 56 minutes.
mold. Record the results of all
necessary, with one or two light touches penetration tests and, by interpolation, 7.1.2 The multilaboratory (between-
of the pointed end of the trowel. During determine the time when a penetration of laboratory) standard deviation has been
the operation of cutting and smoothing, 25 mm is obtained. This is the initial found to be 16 minutes for the initial time
take care not to compress the paste. setting time. The final setting time is of setting throughout the range of 49 to
Immediately after molding, place the test when the needle does not sink visibly 207 minutes and 43 minutes for the final
specimen in the moist closet or moist into the paste. time of setting throughout the range of
room and allow it to remain there except 185 to 312 minutes. Therefore, results of
when determinations of time of setting 6.3 Precautions-All the apparatus shall be
two properly conducted tests from two
are being made. The specimen shall free from vibration during the penetration
different laboratories on Vicat initial time
remain in the conical mold, supported by test. Take care to keep the 1-mm needle
of setting of similar pastes should not
the glass plate, H, throughout the test straight, and the needle must be kept
differ from each other by more than 45
period. A time of set specimen and an clean as the collection of cement on the
minutes, and on Vicat final time of
autoclave bar may be made from the sides of the needle may retard the
setting of similar pastes should not differ
same batch. penetration, while cement on the point
from each other by more than 122
may increase the penetration. The time of
6.2 Time of Setting Determination-Allow minutes.
setting is affected not only by the
the time of setting specimen to remain in percentage and the temperature of the 7.2 Bias-Since there are no accepted
the moist cabinet for 30 minutes after water used and the amount of kneading reference materials suitable for
molding without being disturbed. the paste received, but also by the determining the bias for the procedure in
Determine the penetration of the 1-mm temperature and humidity of the air, and this test method, no statement on bias is
needle at this time and every 15 minutes its determination is therefore only presented.
thereafter (every 10 minutes for Type III approximate.
cements) until a penetration of 25 mm or
196
