Cement Group Laboratory Report
1. Introduction
This report outlines the tests carried out on cement to assess its quality and suitability for
construction. The tests are aimed at determining different physical properties of cement
such as standard consistency, setting times, soundness, fineness, strength, and specific
gravity. Only specific gravity and standard consistency were performed in the lab, while the
rest are explained for completeness.
2. Standard Consistency
Standard consistency is a physical property that determines the amount of water required
to prepare a cement paste of standard viscosity (plasticity). It is measured using the Vicat
apparatus and is expressed as the percentage of water (by weight of dry cement) needed to
achieve a paste that allows the Vicat plunger (10 mm diameter) to penetrate to a depth
of 5–7 mm from the bottom of the mould.
Apparatus used
- Vicat apparatus
- Weighing balance
- Cement
- Measuring cylinder
- Mixing tools
Procedure
1. Prepared a paste of 300g of cement with a known percentage of water.
2. Filled the Vicat mould with the paste and levelled the surface.
3. Lowered the Vicat plunger gently to just touch the surface of the paste and released it.
4. Noted the penetration depth.
5. Repeated with different water contents until the plunger penetrated 5–7 mm from the
bottom of the mold.
Result
The test was performed but the result was inconclusive or not recorded.
3. Specific Gravity
Specific Gravity is a fundamental physical property of cement that represents the ratio of
the density of cement to the density of water at a specified temperature. It is a
dimensionless quantity that helps determine the quality and purity of cement.
Specific gravity is used in mix design calculations, as a quality indicator and in volume
calculations.
Apparatus
- Le Chatelier flask
- Weighing scale
- Cement
- Paraffin
Procedure
1. Weighed the empty Le Chatelier flask (M1).
2. Added cement and weighed the flask (M2).
3. Filled the flask with paraffin and weighed it (M3).
4. Emptied the flask, cleaned it and filled it with only paraffin and weighed (M4).
Observation and Calculation
Given:
M1 = 99.4 g (Empty flask)
M2 = 143.1 g (Flask + cement)
M3 = 341.1 g (Flask + cement + paraffin)
M4 = 308.8 g (Flask + paraffin)
From the formular below, the specific gravity was calculated.
Gs = (M2 - M1) / [(M2 - M1) - (M3 - M4)] × 0.79
Gs = (143.1 - 99.4) / [(143.1 - 99.4) - (341.1 - 308.8)] × 0.79
Gs = 2.40
Result
Specific gravity of the cement = 2.40
Conclusion
The measured specific gravity of 2.40 falls significantly below the standard range (3.10-
3.15) for Portland cement, indicating potential quality issues. This deviation could result
from adulteration, manufacturing defects, or testing errors. Since specific gravity affects
concrete mix design and performance, this batch requires retesting and verification of other
key properties before approval for structural use.
4. Initial and Final Setting Times
Setting refers to the process by which fresh cement paste transitions from a plastic,
workable state to a rigid, solid state due to a chemical reaction called hydration. This
process marks the initial hardening of cement, after which it gains strength over time
(hardening).
Apparatus
- Vicat apparatus
- Weighing balance
- Measuring cylinder
- Cement
Procedure
1. Prepared a cement paste using 0.85 times the water required for standard consistency.
2. Filled the Vicat mold and place it under the Vicat needle.
3. Recorded the time taken for the needle to penetrate 5 mm from the bottom (initial setting
time).
4. Repeated the procedure until the needle failed to penetrate 0.5 mm (final setting time).
5. Soundness Test
Soundness refers to the ability of cement to retain its volume after setting and hardening,
without undergoing significant expansion or cracking due to internal chemical reactions. It
indicates the stability of cement when exposed to moisture over time.
Apparatus
- Le Chatelier mould
- Glass sheets
- Weighing scale
- Cement
- Measuring cylinder
Procedure
1. Mix cement paste of standard consistency.
2. Fill the Le Chatelier mould.
3. Cover with glass plates and immerse in water at 27±2°C for 24 hrs.
4. Measure the separation between mould arms before and after boiling.
5. The expansion must not exceed 10 mm.
6. Fineness Test
Fineness refers to the particle size distribution of cement and is a measure of how finely the
cement is ground. It influences key properties like hydration rate, strength development,
workability, and heat generation.
Apparatus
- 90 µm sieve
- Weighing scale
- Brush
- Cement
Procedure
1. Weigh 100g of cement.
2. Sieve it through a 90 µm sieve for 15 minutes.
3. Weigh the residue.
Fineness (%) = (residue weight / initial weight) × 100
7. Compressive Strength
Compressive strength is the ability of cement (or concrete) to resist axial loads without
cracking or failing. It is the most critical property of cement, determining its structural load-
bearing capacity and durability.
Apparatus
- Mortar cube moulds
- Compression testing machine
- Cement, sand, water
Procedure
1. Prepare a standard mortar mix (1:3 cement: sand by weight) with a water-cement ratio
of 0.40 and mechanically mix for at least 4 minutes to ensure uniformity
2. Fill 40 x 40 x 160mm cube moulds in 3 layers, compacting each layer with 25
strokes using a standard tamping rod and cure for 24 hrs.
3. Remove the hardened concrete cubes from the molds and cured them in water for 7 or
28days.
4. Teste the cubes in the compression machine and recorded the loads at failure.
