CE 2106: Sessional on Engineering Materials 47

TIME OF SETTING OF HYDRAULIC CEMENT BY VICAT NEEDLE

1. SCOPE

This test method covers the determination of the time of setting of hydraulic cement by means of
the Vicat needle.

2. REFERENCES

ASTM C187 Normal Consistency of Hydraulic Cement

ASTM C305 Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic
Consistency

3. THEORY

Cement, when mixed with water, forms slurry which gradually becomes less plastic with the
passage of time and finally a hard mass is obtained. In this process, a stage is reached when the
cement paste is sufficiently rigid to withstand a definite amount of pressure. Cement, at this stage
is to have set and the time required to reach this stage is termed "setting time".

The term "initial setting time" indicates the beginning of the setting process of cement paste when
cement paste starts losing its plasticity. The "final setting time" is the time elapsed between the
moment the water is added to cement and the time when the paste completely lost its plasticity
and attained sufficient stability to resist certain definite pressure.

This test method conforms to the ASTM standard requirements of specification C 191. As per
ASTM C150, Ordinary Portland Cement-should have the initial setting time not less than 45
minutes and final setting time not more than 375 minutes.

4. APPARATUS

Vicat apparatus – Consists of a frame, a movable rod weighing

300 g with a 10 mm plunger on one end and a 1 mm
removable needle on the other end.
Conical Ring
Glass Plate
Balance – 0.01g resolution.
Timer – 0.5s resolution.

5. MATERIALS
Hydraulic Cement ~ 650 g. Vicat apparatus
Water (23°C)

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6. PROCEDURE

Preparation of cement paste

6.1 Mix 650 g of cement with the required amount of clean mixing water to obtain a paste of
normal consistency (C187 & C305).

a) Place all the mixing water in the mixing bowl.

b) Add the cement to the water and allow 30 s for the absorption of water.

c) Start the mixer and mix at slow speed (140 rpm) for 30 s.

d) Stop the mixer for 15 s; during this rest period scrap down into the batch any paste that
may have collected on the sides of the bowl.

e) Start the mixer at medium speed (285 rpm) and mix for 1 minute.

Note: Approximately 170 g of mixing water is a good starting point to determine the normal
consistency of the cement.

Molding of test specimen

6.2 Quickly form the cement paste prepared above into the approximate shape of a ball with
gloved hands. Then toss six times through a free path of about 6 inches from one hand to the
other producing a nearly spherical ball shaped mass.

6.3 Press the ball, resting in the palm of one hand, into the larger end of the conical ring held in
the other hand, completely filling the ring with paste. Remove the excess at the larger end by
a single movement of the palm of the hand. Place the ring on its larger end on the glass plate,
and slice off the excess paste on the smaller end at the top of the ring by a single oblique
stroke of a sharp edge trowel. Smooth the top if necessary.

Consistency determination

6.4 Center the paste specimen under the 10 mm end of the Vicat apparatus. Lower the movable
rod until the 10 mm end makes contact with the paste. Zero the indicator. Release the
movable rod. A “normal consistency” is obtained when the penetration, below the original
surface after 30 seconds, is 10 mm +/- 1 mm.

6.5 Repeat this process, using fresh cement, with varying percentages of water until the normal
consistency is obtained.

6.6 Prepare a normal consistency paste, using the previously determined amount of water. Mix
and place the paste specimen in the ring using the procedure outlined in Steps 1 through 3
above.

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 CE 2106: Sessional on Engineering Materials 49

6.7 Place the prepared specimen in a moist closet for 30 minutes after molding without being
disturbed.

6.8 Determine the 30-second penetration using the 1 mm needle at 30 minutes and every 15
minutes thereafter until a penetration of 25 mm or less is obtained. All post 30-minute
penetrations shall not be made closer than ¼ inch to a previous penetration or closer than
¼ inch to the conical mold. Place the specimen back in the moist closet between readings.
Also, clean the needle between readings to remove any paste residue. Record the penetration
values and determine the time for 25 mm penetration using interpolation. This is the initial
setting time.

6.9 Determine the final setting time as the time when the needle does not sink visibly into the
paste.

7. REPORT

7.1 The initial setting time to the nearest 5 minutes.

7.2 The final setting time to the nearest 5 minutes.

8. DISCUSSION

8.1 Discuss possible sources of error in test procedure or calculations which may have affected
the test results.
8.2 Compare your value with the other groups and also with the standard value of normal
consistency for OPC. Mention the variation.

9. QUESTIONS:
9.1 Does this cement satisfy ASTM standard requirements for initial setting time?
9.2 What is the significance of setting time?
9.3 Distinguish between 'hardening' and setting.
9.4 What is quick setting cement?
9.5 How does the fineness affect the time of setting?
9.6 What is the function of a retarder?
9.7 Describe the factors affecting the initial setting time of cement.

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 CE 2106: Sessional on Engineering Materials 50

DATA SHEET

Name: ___________________________ Roll No.: _________________ Date: _____________

Name of Experiment:____________________________________________________________

Sample I.D.:

Weight of Cement (g):

Weight of Water (g): (for Normal Consistency)

Initial Set (min):

Final Set (min):

____________________________
(Signature of the course teacher)

Department of Civil Engineering, KUET