Topic No.

2: Testing Procedures for Cement by Latrell Castro

Sub Topics:
1. Fineness Test
 The pace of hydration, the rate of heat evolution, and the rate of strength
development are all governed by the fineness of the cement. Calculations are used
to determine the weight of cement particles larger than 90 microns and the
proportion of retained particles. This is referred to as cement's fineness. Sieve
testing or an air permeability test can be used to assess the cement's fineness.

 Sieve Test - The cement is sieved continuously in a circular and vertical

motion for 15 minutes as part of the sieve test, which breaks up air-set
lumps. For regular cement, the residue that remains on the sieve is
weighed and should not be more than 10%. Usually, this test used to
measure fineness of cement. According to IS 4031 (Part 1) - 1996,
cement's fineness is measured using a 90 μm IS sieve. According to IS
Recommendations, the standard value of cement fineness should be less
than 10% or should not be higher than 10%.

 Air Permeability Test - The specific surface, which is represented by the

total surface area in sq.cm/g of cement, is determined using Blaine's Air
Permeability Test. Finer particles have a larger surface area. The
fundamental concept behind the air permeability method is to time how
long it takes for a certain amount of air to pass through a bed of
compacted cement with a specific size and porosity.

2. Consistency Test
 This test is carried out to determine the cement setting times using the Vicat's
apparatus, a common consistency test device. The water content that allows a
Vicat plunger with a 10 mm diameter and 50 mm length to penetrate depths of 33-
35 mm during 3–5 minutes of mixing is the standard consistency of cement paste.

 The testing process is easy. The Vicat mold is filled with the quick-to-make paste
and shook to remove any air. The typical needle is rapidly released after being
lowered to contact the paste's surface and allowed to sink into the substance under
the weight of itself. The penetration's depth is indicated. The amount of water
needed to generate cement paste with a specified consistency is thus that
percentage of water that only permits the plunger to penetrate to a depth of 33–35
mm.
  Three instances must successfully complete the test, with the amount of water
added to the cement each time changing from 24 to 27% of the cement's weight.
This test should be carried out at an average humidity of 20% and temperature of
25°C or 29°C. Consistency Test of Cement IS Codes: IS: 4031 (Part 4) - 1988, IS:
5513-1976. Cement paste typically has a consistency that ranges from 25 to 35%.

3. Setting Time Test

 Cement's initial setting time and ultimate setting time are determined using Vicat's
instrument. The initial setting time of cement provides a general sense of how
quickly cement may begin to lose its flexibility, while the final setting time of
cement provides a general indication of how long cement needs to lose all of its
fluidity and develop some strength to withstand pressure.

 Initial Setting Time of Cement - It is the period of time that passes between the
point at which water is introduced to cement to the point at which the paste begins
to lose its flexibility. A needle measuring 1 mm square is used for this test.
According to the consistency test, the paste is a combination of water and cement,
and the needle is authorized to pierce it. The first setup time is defined as the
amount of time needed to penetrate 33-35 mm of depth.

 Final Setting Time of Cement - It is the amount of time that has passed between
the addition of water to the cement and the point at which the cement paste has
become sufficiently firm to withstand a specific amount of pressure. For this test,
the needle may only pierce the paste 0.5 mm deep after it has reached the desired
hardness. The ultimate setup time is defined as the point at which the needle does
not pierce more than 0.5 mm.

 According to IS: 4031 (Part 5) from 1988. Utilizing a VICAT device that
complies with IS: 5513 - 1976, the initial and ultimate setting times of cement are
computed. For OPC cement, the first setting time should be shorter than 30
minutes in accordance with specifications. For OPC cement, however, it shouldn't
be longer than 600 minutes.

4. Soundness Test
 This test is done using Le Chatelier's equipment to find out if cement contains
uncombined lime and magnesia. The stability of any cement throughout the
volume change during the setting and hardening processes is indicated by the
soundness of the cement. After setting and hardening, if the volume change in
cement is unstable, the concrete element can crack, which can lower the quality of
the building or possibly result in major accidents. This is referred to as having
poor dimensional stability.
  The consistency of the water is used to make the cement paste. The cylinder is
filled with cement material and set atop a glass plate. On top of it, another glass
plate covers it. The entire assembly is submerged in 24-35°C water for 24 hours.
The difference between the indicators is calculated after 24 hours.

 Once more submerged in water, the mold containing the specimen is cooked for
30 minutes. The mold is removed and let to cool after an hour of boiling. After
cooling has finished, the distance between the indicators is once more measured.
The widening of the gap is an indication of cement expansion.

 IS Code 4031-Part 3-1988 governs the soundness test of cement. For various
types of cement Ordinary or OPC, Rapid, Low Heat, PPC, and High Alumina
cement, the soundness estimated L1-L2 should not exceed 10mm.

5. Heat of Hydration Test

 Chemical reactions cause heat to be created as cement is hydrating. Concrete

might reach a high temperature of 50°C as a result of this heat. Low-heat cement
must be used in large-scale construction to prevent problems.

 This test is conducted using a calorimeter that uses the concept of calculating heat
gain. According to the study's findings, low-heat cement shouldn't produce 65
calories per gram in 7 days or 75 calories per gram in 28 days. For assessing the
heat of hydration of cement, use IS 4031-1968.

6. Specific Gravity Test

 The amount of cement in a given volume divided by the mass of water in the
same volume is known as the specific gravity of cement. It may alternatively be
described as the ratio of cement density to water density for a given volume. The
following are the procedures for specific gravity test of cement.
i. Clean the Lechatlier flask before use. It should be free from moisture.
ii. Now, Take the weight of the empty flask as W1.
iii. Take around 50 gm of cement and fill in the flask.
iv. Fix the stopper on the flask and weigh the flask with cement as W2.
v. Now fill the kerosene in the flask up to the neck of the bottle.
vi. Thoroughly mix cement and kerosene in the flask taking care no air
bubble is left in it. Record this weight as W3.
vii. Empty the flask and clean it. Now fill the kerosene in it up to the neck of
the bottle and record the weight as W4.
  The Specific Gravity Test IS code is IS 2720-Part 3. Cement has a specific gravity
of 1440 kg/m3. The Specific Gravity of Cement is regarded as being standard and
adequate for building around this amount.

7. Chemical Composition Test

 The quantity of various cement ingredients is measured using a variety of assays.
The specifications are founded on IS: 269-1998. Lime or limestone, silica (SiO2),
alumina (Al2O2), magnesia (MgO), and silica (Al2O2) are the components used
for producing cement as a finished product.
 The ratio of the percentage of alumina to that of iron oxide should not be
less than 0.66.
 Lime Saturation Factor (LSF), i.e., the ratio of the percentage to that of
alumina, iron oxide and silica should not be less than 0.66 and not be
greater than 1.02.
 Total loss on ignition should not be greater than 4%.
 Total sulphur content should not be greater than 2.75%.
 Weight of insoluble residue should not be greater than 1.50%.
 Weight of magnesia should not be greater than 5%.
 The tools used to determine the components of cement include the flame
photometer and the ELE flame photometer. For monitoring cement's chemical
composition, IS 269-1998 is advised.

8. Other Cement Tests - Field Tests of Cement

I. Colour Test of Cement - There shouldn't be any differences in the cement's color.
It should be a consistent tint of pale greenish grey.
II. Presence of Lumps - There shouldn't be any firm lumps in the cement. These
lumps are created by the atmosphere's moisture content being absorbed. In
building, lumpy cement bag should be avoided.
III. Cement Adulteration Test - When you rub the cement between your fingertips, it
ought to be smooth. If not, sand has been added as an adulterant.
IV. Float Test - Before sinking, cement granules should float freely in water for a
while.
V. Date of Manufacturing - Because cement loses strength over time, it is crucial to
verify the date of manufacture. It is preferable to utilize cement within three
months of when it was manufactured.

REFERENCE:
Builders Smart. (2019, April 17). 8 Types of Tests on Cement to Check the Quality.
https://www.buildersmart.in/blogs/tests-on-cement/
Institute For Civil Engineers. (2021, August). Laboratory Tests On Cement: 8 Different Types Of Cement Test.
https://www.lceted.com/2021/08/laboratory-tests-on-cement.html
Mahajan, Bhushan. (n.d.). 8 Different Types of Cement Test. https://civiconcepts.com/blog/cement-test

VIDEOS REFERENCE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4kKLvLitSk