Initial Setting Time of Cement with Vicats Apparatus

Experiment no. Date of Performance Date of Submission 1. SCOPE Description of Test CEM 1.2

Section : CEMENT Subject : Initial Setting Time Name Student ID Semester/Section

Cement 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 said to have set and the time required to reach this stage is termed "initial setting time". 2. APPARATUS AND MATERIALS Apparatus Electronic Balance: Sensitive to 0.1 mg. Glass Graduates: 3 in number. Capacity should be 200 or 250 ml. Mixing Machine Small trowel Three 4-in glass plates Vicat Apparatus

Materials Cement (650 g) Potable Water

3. PROCEDURE Preparation of Cement-Paste Weight out 650 gm of cement and place on the mixing bowl of mixing machine. Form crater in the centre and add measured quantity of water (the water required for normal consistency for ordinary cement ranges from 22 to 30% by weight). Allow the cement 30 seconds for absorption of water. Run the machine for next 30 seconds at 1st spr...Then keep it stop for 15 seconds. Again run the machine for 1 minutes at 2 spr. Molding the Specimen Quickly form the cement paste into the approximate shape of a ball with gloved hands. Then toss six times through a free path of about 150 mm from one hand to another so as to produce a nearly spherical mass that may be easily inserted into the Vicat ring with a minimum amount of additional manipulation. Press the ball, resting in the palm of one hand, into the larger end of the conical ring G (Fig 1.1), 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.

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Place the ring on its larger end on a plane, nonabsorptive plate H, and slice off the. excess paste at the smaller end at the tupol" the ring by a single oblique stroke of a sharp-edged trowel held at a slight angle with the top of the ring and smooth the top, if necessary, with a few light touches of the pointed end of the trowel. During these operations of curing and smoothing lake care not to compress the paste. Immediately after molding, place the test specimen in the moist closet or moist room and allow it to remain there except when determination of time of setting are being made

Time of setting determination Allow the time of setting specimen to remain in the moist cabinet for 30 min after molding without being disturbed. Determine the penetration of the 1-mm needle at this time and every 15 min thereafter for Ordinary Portland Cement (Type I and every 10 min for Rapid Hardening Cement, Type III) until a penetration of 25 mm or less is obtained. For the penetration test, lower the needle D of the rod B until it rests on the surface of the cement paste. Tighten the set screw, E, and set the indicator, F, at the upper end of the scale and take an initial reading. Release the rod quickly by releasing the set screw, E, and allow the needle to settle for 30 sec; then take the reading to determine the penetration. No penetration test shall be made closer than 1/4 in. (6.4 mm) from any previous penetration and no penetration test shall be made closer than 3/8 in. (9.5 mm) from the inside of the mold. Record the results of all penetration tests and, by interpolation or by plotting penetration vs. setting lime curve, determine the time when a penetration of 25 mm is obtained. This is the initial selling lime. The final setting-time is when the needle does not sink, visibly into the paste. PRECAUTIONS All the apparatus shall be free from vibration during the penetration test. Take care to keep 1-mm needle straight, and the needle must be kept clean as the collection of cement on the sides of the needle may retard the penetration, while cement on the point (tip) may increase the penetration. The time of setting is affected not only by the percentage and the temperature of the water used and or kneading the paste received, but also by the temperature and humidity of the air, and its determination is therefore only approximate

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DATA SHEET

Initial Setting Time of Cement with Vicats Apparatus

Section : CEMENT Subject : Initial Setting Time

Weight of Cement: Percentage of Water: Time (min) Penetration (mm)

Reporting Result:

Group no.: Name: Student ID: Semester: Date Signature of Class Teacher CEM 1.2 Initial Setting Time of Cement with Vicats Apparatus

Section:

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4. RESULT AND CALCULATION 4.1 Calculation

4.2 Reporting Result:

CEM 1.2 Initial Setting Time of Cement with Vicats Apparatus

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5. DISCUSSION

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6. ADDED INFORMATION Reference : ASTM C187 7. ASSIGNMENT 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Does this cement satisfy ASTM standard requirements for initial setting time? What is the significance of setting time? Distinguish between hardening and setting. What is a quick setting cement? How des the fineness affect the time of setting? Name a retarder using in cement manufacture. What is the function of a retarder? Describe the factors affecting the initial setting time of a cement. What should be the minimum distance between two adjacent penetrations of the needle?

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