This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: C566 − 19

Standard Test Method for

Total Evaporable Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C566; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the per- 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
centage of evaporable moisture in a sample of aggregate by C29/C29M Test Method for Bulk Density (“Unit Weight”)
drying both surface moisture and moisture in the pores of the and Voids in Aggregate
aggregate. Some aggregate may contain water that is chemi- C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
cally combined with the minerals in the aggregate. Such water gregates
is not evaporable and is not included in the percentage C127 Test Method for Relative Density (Specific Gravity)
determined by this test method. and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate
C128 Test Method for Relative Density (Specific Gravity)
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
standard.
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
NOTE 1—Sieve size is identified by its standard designation in D75/D75M Practice for Sampling Aggregates
Specification E11. The alternative designation given in parentheses is for E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test
information only and does not represent a different standard sieve size.
Sieves
1.3 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes 2.2 Other Document:
that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes National Research Council Report SHRP-P-6193
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
as requirements of this standard. 3. Terminology
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.1 Definitions:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- to Terminology C125.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 4. Significance and Use
For specific precautionary statements, see 5.3.1, 7.2.1, and
4.1 This test method is sufficiently accurate for usual
7.3.1.
purposes, such as adjusting batch quantities of ingredients for
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor- concrete. It will generally measure the moisture in the test
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- sample more reliably than the sample can be made to represent
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the the aggregate supply. In cases where the aggregate itself is
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- altered by heat, or where more refined measurement is
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical required, the test should be conducted using a ventilated,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. controlled temperature oven.

1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, [Link], or
Concrete and Concrete Aggregatesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee contact ASTM Customer Service at service@[Link]. For Annual Book of ASTM
C09.20 on Aggregates. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved June 1, 2019. Published July 2019. Originally approved the ASTM website.
3
in 1965. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as C566 – 13. DOI: 10.1520/ Available from the National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Ave., N.W.,
C0566-19. Washington, DC 20418.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 C566 − 19
4.2 Large particles of coarse aggregate, especially those 7. Procedure
larger than 50 mm, will require greater time for the moisture to 7.1 Determine the mass of the sample to the nearest 0.1 %.
travel from the interior of the particle to the surface. The user
of this test method should determine by trial if rapid drying 7.2 Dry the sample thoroughly in the sample container by
methods provide sufficient accuracy for the intended use when means of the selected source of heat, exercising care to avoid
drying large size particles. loss of any particles. Very rapid heating may cause some
particles to explode, resulting in loss of particles. Use a
5. Apparatus controlled temperature oven when excessive heat may alter the
character of the aggregate, or where more precise measurement
5.1 Balance—A balance or scale accurate, readable, and is required. If a source of heat other than the controlled
sensitive to within 0.1 % of the test load at any point within the temperature oven is used, stir the sample during drying to
range of use. Within any interval equal to 10 % of the capacity accelerate the operation and avoid localized overheating. When
of the balance or scale used to determine mass, the load using a microwave oven, stirring of the sample is optional.
indication shall be accurate within 0.1 % of the difference in 7.2.1 Caution—When using a microwave oven, occasion-
masses. ally minerals are present in aggregates that may cause the
5.2 Source of Heat—A ventilated oven capable of maintain- material to overheat and explode. If this occurs it can damage
ing the temperature surrounding the sample at 110 6 5°C. the microwave oven.
Where close control of the temperature is not required (see 7.3 When a hot plate is used, drying can be expedited by the
4.1), other suitable sources of heat may be used, such as an following procedure. Add sufficient anhydrous denatured alco-
electric or gas hot plate, electric heat lamps, or a ventilated hol to cover the moist sample. Stir and allow suspended
microwave oven. material to settle. Decant as much of the alcohol as possible
5.3 Sample Container—A container not affected by the heat, without losing any of the sample. Ignite the remaining alcohol
of sufficient volume to contain the sample without danger of and allow it to burn off during drying over the hot plate.
spilling, and of such shape that the depth of sample will not 7.3.1 Warning—Exercise care to control the ignition op-
exceed one fifth of the least lateral dimension. eration to prevent injury or damage from the burning alcohol.
5.3.1 Precaution—When a microwave oven is used, the
7.4 The sample is thoroughly dry when further heating
container shall be nonmetallic.
causes, or would cause, less than 0.1 % additional loss in mass.
NOTE 2—Except for testing large samples, an ordinary frying pan is 7.5 Determine the mass of the dried sample to the nearest
suitable for use with a hot plate, or any shallow flat-bottomed metal pan
is suitable with heat lamps or oven. Note the precaution in 5.3.1. 0.1 % after it has cooled sufficiently not to damage the balance.
5.4 Stirrer—A metal spoon or spatula of convenient size.
8. Calculation
6. Sampling 8.1 Calculate total evaporable moisture content as follows:
6.1 Sample in accordance with Practice D75/D75M, except p 5 100 ~ W 2 D ! /D (1)
for the sample size. where:
6.2 Secure a sample of the aggregate representative of the p = total evaporable moisture content of sample, percent,
moisture content in the supply being tested and having a mass W = mass of original sample, g, and
not less than the amount listed in Table 1. Protect the sample D = mass of dried sample, g.
against loss of moisture prior to determining the mass. 8.2 Surface moisture content is equal to the difference
between the total evaporable moisture content and the
absorption, with all values based on the mass of a dry sample.
TABLE 1 Sample Size for Aggregate Absorption may be determined in accordance with Test
Nominal Maximum Size Mass of Normal Weight
Method C127 or Test Method C128.
of Aggregate, mm (in.)A Aggregate Sample, min, kgB
4.75 (0.187) (No. 4) 0.5 9. Precision and Bias
9.5 (3⁄8) 1.5
12.5 (1⁄2) 2 9.1 Precision:
19.0 (3⁄4) 3 9.1.1 The within-laboratory single operator standard devia-
25.0 (1) 4 tion for moisture content of aggregates has been found to be
37.5 (11⁄2) 6
50 (2) 8 0.28 % (Note 3). Therefore, results of two properly conducted
63 (21⁄2) 10 tests by the same operator in the same laboratory on the same
75 (3) 13 type of aggregate sample should not differ by more than 0.79 %
90 (31⁄2) 16
100 (4) 25 (Note 3) from each other.
150 (6) 50 9.1.2 The between-laboratory standard deviation for mois-
A
Based on sieves meeting Specification E11. ture content of aggregates has been found to be 0.28 % (Note
B
Determine the minimum sample mass for lightweight aggregate by multiplying 3). Therefore, results of properly conducted tests from two
the value listed by the dry-loose unit mass of the aggregate in kg/m3 (determined
using Test Method C29/C29M) and dividing by 1600. laboratories on the same aggregate sample should not differ by
more than 0.79 % (Note 3) from each other.

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 C566 − 19
9.1.3 Test data used to derive the above precision indices [Link] The bias of moisture tests overall on both aggregate
were obtained from samples dried to a constant mass in a materials has been found to have a mean of +0.03 %. The bias
drying oven maintained at 110 6 5°C. When other drying of individual test values overall from both aggregate materials
procedures are used, the precision of the results may be has been found with 95 % confidence to lie between −0.12 %
significantly different than that indicated above. and +0.18 %.
NOTE 3—These numbers represent, respectively, the 1s and 2s limits as 9.2.2 Test data used to derive the above bias statements
described in Practice C670. were obtained from samples dried to a constant mass in a
9.2 Bias: drying oven maintained at 110 6 5°C. When other drying
9.2.1 When experimental results are compared with known procedures are used, the bias of the results may be significantly
values from accurately compounded specimens, the following different than that indicated above.
has been derived.
[Link] The bias of moisture tests on one aggregate material NOTE 4—These precision and bias statements were derived from
aggregate moisture data provided by 17 laboratories participating in the
has been found to have a mean of +0.06 %. The bias of SHRP Soil Moisture Proficiency Sample Program which is fully described
individual test values from the same aggregate material has in the National Research Council Report SHRP-P-619. The samples tested
been found with 95 % confidence to lie between −0.07 % which relate to these statements were well-graded mixtures of fine and
and +0.20 %. coarse aggregate with moisture contents ranging from air dry to saturated
[Link] The bias of moisture tests on a second aggregate surface dry.
material has been found to have a mean of < +0.01 %. The bias
of individual test values from the same aggregate material has 10. Keywords
been found with 95 % confidence to lie between −0.14 % 10.1 aggregate; drying; moisture content
and +0.14 %.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee C09 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (C566–13)
that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved June 1, 2019.)

(1) Added Section 1.3.

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