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Time Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle

This test method determines the initial and final setting times of hydraulic cement pastes using a Vicat needle apparatus. The initial setting time is defined as the time when the needle fails to sink 25 mm into the paste. The final setting time is defined as the time when the 5 mm needle leaves no visible impression. Portland cement should have an initial setting time of at least 30 minutes and final setting time of no more than 10 hours. Quick setting cement should have initial and final setting times of no less than 5 minutes and no more than 30 minutes, respectively.

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2K views14 pages

Time Setting of Hydraulic Cement by Vicat Needle

This test method determines the initial and final setting times of hydraulic cement pastes using a Vicat needle apparatus. The initial setting time is defined as the time when the needle fails to sink 25 mm into the paste. The final setting time is defined as the time when the 5 mm needle leaves no visible impression. Portland cement should have an initial setting time of at least 30 minutes and final setting time of no more than 10 hours. Quick setting cement should have initial and final setting times of no less than 5 minutes and no more than 30 minutes, respectively.

Uploaded by

April Lyn Santos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Standard Test Method for Time setting of

Hydraulic Cement by Vicat needle


ASTM C191 - 04
Scope of the test
This test is carried out to find whether a cement sets at a rate suitable for a particular
work. There is no necessary relationship between the time of setting and that
of hardening or attaining the maximum strength. A slow setting cement may harden
more rapidly than a quick setting one, and vice versa. The hardening of cement is
actually a continuation of the chemical action which began with setting. If the cement is
placed in the mold. After initial setting time the cement mold can be detached and after
final setting time the Vicat’s apparatus plunger gives no impression. .
The initial setting time can be defined as “time taken by paste to stiffen to such an
extent that the Vicat’s needle is not permitted to move down through the paste
through 25 mm.”.
The final setting time can be defined as “it is the time after which the paste becomes so
hard that Vicat’s 5mm needle doesn’t sinks visibly and leave no impression”.
With Portland cement and rapid hardening cement the normal initial setting time
should not be less than 30 minutes and the final setting time should not be more than
10 hours. With quick setting cement the initial setting time should not be less than 5
minutes and the final setting time should not be more than 30 minutes.
Apparatus:
Weights and
Weighing Devices
The weights and weighing
devices shall conform to the
requirements of
Specification C 1005. The
weighing device shall be
evaluated for precision and
accuracy at a total load of
1000 g.
Graduated
Cylinder
200 or 250-mL capacity, and
conforming to the
requirements of Practice
C490
Vicat
Apparatus
The end of the rod used for
measuring penetration shall
have a removable needle, D,
with a diameter of 1.00 6
0.05 mm and length no less
than 50 mm
Materials:
Portland Cement Water
Theory
This test is carried out to find whether a cement sets at a rate suitable for a particular
work. There is no necessary relationship between the time of setting and that
of hardening or attaining the maximum strength. A slow setting cement may harden
more rapidly than a quick setting one, and vice versa. The hardening of cement is
actually a continuation of the chemical action which began with setting. If the cement is
placed in the mold. After initial setting time the cement mold can be detached and after
final setting time the Vicat’s apparatus plunger gives no impression. .
The initial setting time can be defined as “time taken by paste to stiffen to such an
extent that the Vicat’s needle is not permitted to move down through the paste
through 25 mm.”.
The final setting time can be defined as “it is the time after which the paste becomes so
hard that Vicat’s 5mm needle doesn’t sinks visibly and leave no impression”.
With Portland cement and rapid hardening cement the normal initial setting time
should not be less than 30 minutes and the final setting time should not be more than
10 hours. With quick setting cement the initial setting time should not be less than 5
minutes and the final setting time should not be more than 30 minutes.
Procedure :
Preparation of Cement Paste:
Weigh out 650g of cement and place on the mixing plate. Form crater in the center and add
a measured quantity of water. (The water required for normal consistency for ordinary
cement ranges from 22 to 30% by weight).
1. Turn the material at the outer edge into the crater within 30sec with a trowel.
2. After an additional interval of 30sec for the absorption of the water, complete the
operation by continuous, vigorous mixing, squeezing and kneading with the hands
for 1.5min.
Procedure for Initial Setting Time Test:
For determining the initial setting time of cement paste, set the 1mm. diameter needle on
the lower end of the rod.
Now release the rod for 30 seconds and note the time at which the needle was released,
record this in the table along with the penetration of needle in the paste.
After periodic time again release the rod for 30 seconds note the penetration of
the needle in paste.
Repeat the above step until the penetration becomes just 25 mm. which is ASTM
standard. Calculate the total time up to this step, which will be the initial setting time of the
cement. Compare it with the standard time and give comments.
Procedure for Final Setting Time Test:
For determining the final setting time of cement paste, set the 5 mm diameter needle on
the lower end of the rod.
Now again repeat the above steps for noting the final setting time of cement.
The final setting time will be noted when the needle if released doesn’t sink visibly and
leaves no impression on the surface of the paste.
Then compare it with the ASTM standard time. The final setting time can be found by
the formula:
Final setting time = 90 + 1.2 (initial setting time)

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