Module 5-A
Standard Test Methods for Time of Setting of
hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle
Note: All Standards, Equipment, Apparatus
cited on this presentation conforms to the
ASTM Standards and Specifications.
These test methods determine the time of setting of hydraulic cement by
means of the Vicat needle. Two test methods are given; Method A is the
Reference Test Method using the manually operated standard Vicat
apparatus, while Method B permits the use of an automatic Vicat machine
that has, in accordance with the qualification requirements of this method,
demonstrated acceptable performance.
1. Vicat Apparatus
2. Reference Masses and Devices for Determining Mass
3. Glass Graduates
4. Plane non-absorptive plate
5. Flat Trowel
6. Conical Ring
7. Mixer, Bowl and Paddle
A –Frame
B – Removable Rod
C – Plunger
D – Steel Needle
E – Set Screw
F – Adjustable Indicator
G – Conical Ring
H – Glass Plate
Standard Test Method for Normal Consistency of
Hydraulic Cement
This test method covers the determination of the normal
consistency of hydraulic cement
The cement paste used for the determination of the time of setting is obtained from one of
the following methods:
1. Prepare a new batch of paste by mixing 650 g of cement with the percentage of mixing
water required for normal consistency (T 129), following the procedure described in T 162.
2. For Method A, at the option of the tester, use the test specimen used for determining
normal consistency (Note 2).
3. At the option of the tester, use the paste remaining from the batch used for the autoclave
specimen (ASTM C 151) or from the normal consistency determination (T 129)
Molding Test Specimen
1. Quickly form the cement paste, prepared as described in the section on
preparation of cement paste, into a ball with gloved hands and toss six times
from one hand to the other, maintaining the hands about 150 mm (6 in.)
apart.
2. Press the ball, resting in the palm of the hand, into the larger end of the
conical ring, held in the other hand, completely filling the ring with paste.
Molding Test Specimen
3. Remove the excess at the larger end by a single movement of the palm of
the hand.
4. Place the ring on its larger end onto a non-absorptive plate, and slice off
the excess paste at the smaller end at the top of the ring by a single oblique
stroke of the trowel held at a slight angle with the top of the ring.
5. Smooth the top of the specimen, if necessary, with one or two light
touches of the pointed end of the trowel. During the operation of cutting and
smoothing, take care not to compress the paste.
6. Immediately after molding, place the test specimen in the moist closet or
moist room and allow it to remain there except when penetration
measurements are being made. The specimen shall remain in the conical
mold, supported by the non-absorptive plate throughout the test period.
Center the paste confined in the ring, resting on
the plate, under the rod B, Fig. 1, the plunger end
C of which shall be brought in contact with the
surface of the paste, and tighten the set-screw E.
Then set the movable indicator F to the upper
zero mark of the scale, or take an initial reading,
and release the rod immediately. This must not
exceed 30 s after completion of mixing. The
apparatus shall be free of all vibrations during the
test. The paste shall be of normal consistency
when the rod settles to a point 10 ±1 mm below
the original surface in 30 s after being released.
Time of Setting Determination
1. Allow the time of setting specimen to remain in the moist cabinet for 30
minutes after molding without being disturbed.
2. Determine the penetration of the 1-mm needle at this time and every 15
minutes thereafter (every 10 minutes for Type III cements) until a penetration
of 25 mm or less is obtained.
3. Perform the penetration test by lowering the needle, of the rod until it rests
on the surface of the cement paste. Tighten the set screw, and set the
indicator, at the upper end of the scale, or take an initial reading.
Time of Setting Determination
4. Release the rod quickly by releasing the set screw, and allow the needle
to settle for 30 seconds; then take the reading to determine the penetration.
At the option of the tester, if the paste is obviously quite soft on the early
readings, retard the fall of the rod to avoid bending the 1-mm needle, but
when actual penetration measurements to determine the time of setting are
made, release the rod only by the set screw.
Time of Setting Determination
5. Make each penetration test at least 5 mm away from any previous
penetration and at least 10 mm away from the inner side of the mold.
Record the results of all penetration tests and, by interpolation, determine
the time when a penetration of 25 mm is obtained. The elapsed time
between the initial contact of cement and water and the penetration of 25
mm is the Vicat time of setting or Vicat initial time of setting.
1. Determine the Vicat final time of setting end point to be the first
penetration measure that does not mark the specimen surface with a
complete circular impression.
2. Verify final set by performing two additional penetration measurements on
different areas of the specimen surface. Obtain verification measurements
within 90 s of the first “final set” measurement. The elapsed time between
the initial contact of cement and water and the end point determination
above is the Vicat final time of setting.
𝑯−𝑬
𝑽𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆𝑶𝒇𝑺𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 = 𝒙 𝑪 − 𝟐𝟓 +𝑬
𝑪−𝑫
E = time in minutes of last penetration greater than 25 mm,
H = time in minutes of first penetration less than 25 mm,
C = penetration reading at time E, and
D = penetration reading time at time H
Calculate the Vicat final time of setting by determining the elapsed time
between the time of the initial contact between cement and water and the
time when the needle does not sink visibly into the paste, rounded to the
nearest five minutes.
END OF PRESENTATION
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