TESTING OF CEMENT

Why do we have to conduct the

tests?
To ensure the quality of cement
To determine the properties of cement
– Chemical properties
– Physical properties
Test should be conducted according to
the relevant standard
MS 522 Pt. 1, 2, 3 – OPC
BS 12
Tests of Cement
Chemical composition
Fineness
Setting time
Soundness
Strength
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
To determine the amount
of C3S, C2S, C3A, C4AF
Conducted at the cement
factory
For research – need to be
conducted
 FINENESS
Rate of hydration depends on
the fineness of cement
Specific surface (m2/kg)
Can be determined by the air
permeability Lea and Nurse or
Blaine methods
 SETTING TIME
Describing the stiffening of cement
paste OR the change from fluid to a
rigid state
Cement paste = cement + water
Setting is mainly caused hydration of
C3A and C3S together with C2S
Accompanied by increase in
temperature (heat)
Type of Setting

Initial set – corresponds to rapid

rise of temperature
Final set – corresponds to the peak
temperature/strength
False set – sometimes occurs within
a few minutes of mixing with water,
no heat is evolved, concrete can be
remixed
 Cont.
Flash set – caused by the rapid reaction
between C3A and water

Prevented by the addition of gypsum

 Setting Time
For OPC and RHPC:
– Initial setting time – not less than 45
minutes
– Final setting time – Not more than 600
minutes
Setting time is affected by: temperature
and relative humidity
 SOUNDNESS
It is important that the cement paste,
after setting, does not undergo a large
change in volume i.e. expansion
Expansion may occur due to reactions
of free lime, magnesia, and calcium
sulphate
Cement exhibits expansion is classified
as unsound
Can be determined by Le Chattelier test
 STRENGTH
Strength test is
not made on neat
cement
Two methods:
– Mortar test
– Concrete test
 Mortar Test
Mortar = cement + sand = water
Mass of water = 10% of the mass of the
dry materials
Sand – standard sand, one size,
spherical shape
Cube size of 71 mm
Materials are mixed and compacted
using vibrating table
 Cont.
After 24 hours demould the mortar cubes
and cure in water until the day of test
Average of three samples
According to MS 522: Pt. 1
– OPC – 23 MPa at 3 days
41 MPa at 28 days
– RHPC – 29 MPa at 3 days
46 MPa at 28 days
Curing Tank
 CONCRETE CUBE
Concrete = cement + aggregates +
water
W/C ratio : 0.6, 0.55, 0.45
Cube size of 100 mm
Preparation procedures are the same as
mortar test
– OPC – 11.5 MPa at 3 days
26 MPa at 28 days
– RHPC – 18 MPa at 3 days
33 MPa at 28 days
Thank You