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PART 5-1988)
Suryakanta | May 4, 2013 | Cement, Materials, Tests On Cement | 18 Comments
OVERVIEW
Initial setting time is that time period between the time water is added to cement and time at which 1 mm square
section needle fails to penetrate the cement paste, placed in the Vicats mould 5 mm to 7 mm from the bottom of the
mould.
Final setting time is that time period between the time water is added to cement and the time at which 1 mm needle
makes an impression on the paste in the mould but 5 mm attachment does not make any impression.
APPARATUS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NAME CAPACITY ACCURACY
/ RANGE / SIZE / LEAST COUNT
Vicat apparatus Should be made as
per IS:5513
Balance 1000 g 1g
OTHER APPARATUS
Glass plate, enamel tray, trowel
Vicat Apparatus
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION
Temperature 27 20 C
PROCEDURE
(A)TEST BLOCK PREPARATION
1. Before commencing setting time test, do the consistency test to obtain the water required to give the paste normal
consistency (P).
2. Take 400 g of cement and prepare a neat cement paste with 0.85P of water by weight of cement.
3. Gauge time is kept between 3 to 5 minutes. Start the stop watch at the instant when the water is added to the
cement. Record this time (t1).
4. Fill the Vicat mould, resting on a glass plate, with the cement paste gauged as above. Fill the mould
completely and smooth off the surface of the paste making it level with the top of the mould. The
cement block thus prepared is called test block.
CALCULATION
Initial setting time=t2-t1
Where,
t3=Time when the needle makes an impression but the attachment fails to do so.
PRECAUTIONS
Release the initial and final setting time needles gently.
The experiment should be performed away from vibration and other disturbances.
Needle should be cleaned every time it is used.
Position of the mould should be shifted slightly after each penetration to avoid penetration at the
same place.
Test should be performed at the specified environmental conditions.
STANDARD SPECIFICATION
Type/Name Of Referenced Initial Final
Cement Indian Setting Setting
Stanadard Time, Time,
mints mints
(min.) (max.)
OPC(33) IS:269 30 600
TECHNICAL DISCUSSION
It is essential that cement set neither too rapidly nor too slowly. In the first case there might be
insufficient time to transport and place the concrete before it becomes too rigid. In the second case
too long a setting period tends to slow up the work unduly, also it might postpone the actual use of
the structure because of inadequate strength at the desired age.
Setting should not be confused with hardening, which refers to the gain in mechanical strength after
the certain degree of resistance to the penetration of a special attachment pressed into it.
Setting time is the time required for stiffening of cement paste to a defined consistency.
Indirectly related to the initial chemical reaction of cement with water to form aluminum-silicate
compound.
Initial setting time is the time when the paste starts losing its plasticity.
Initial setting time test is important for transportation, placing and compaction of cement concrete.
Initial setting time duration is required to delay the process of hydration or hardening.
Final setting time is the time when the paste completely loses its plasticity.
It is the time taken for the cement paste or cement concrete to harden sufficiently and attain the
shape of the mould in which it is cast.