Field Tests on Cement for Quality Control Purpose

There are some field tests which gives some basic idea about the quality of the cement without elaborate
facility of laboratory in the field. These tests are as given under
Field test on cement
1.Date of manufacture should be seen on the bag. It is important because the strength reduces with age.
2.Open the bag and see that lumps should not be present in the bag. It will ensure that no setting has
taken place.
3.Trust your hand into the cement bag and it should give cool feeling. It indicates that no hydration
reaction is taking place in the bag.
4.Take a pinch of cement between the fingers. It should give smooth feeling.
5.Throw handful of cement on water. It should float initially before finally settling.
6.Take 100g of cement and make a stiff paste. Prepare a cake with sharp edges and put on the glass
plate. Immerse this plate in water. Observe that the shape shouldnt get disturbed while settling. It
should be able to set and attain strength. Cement is capable of setting under water also and that is why
it is also called Hydraulic Cement.

HOW TO CHECK QUALITY OF SAND IN FIELD ?

1.Take a glass of water and add some quantity of sand in it. Then shake it vigorously and allow it to
settle. If clay is present in sand, it will form a distinct layer at the top of sand.
2.In order to detect presence of organic impurities in sand, add sand to the solution of sodium
hydroxide or caustic soda and then stir it. If colour of solution changes to brown, it indicates the
presence of organic impurities.
3.Take a pinch of sand and taste it. If tasted salty then there exist some salt in sand.
4.Take sand and rub it against the fingers. If fingers are stained, it indicates that sand contains earthy
matter.
5.The colour of sand will indicate the purity of sand. The size and sharpness of grains may be examined
by touching and observing visually.
For knowing fineness, durability, void ratio, etc; the sand should be examined by mechanical analysis.

WHAT IS STANDARD SAND USED FOR CEMENT TEST?

Standard Sand
Standard sand is used to assess the quality of cement, lime, pozzolana and other mineral admixture
used in construction industry. Previously it was imported from U.K. Now it is available at Ennore,
Madras.

Characteristics
Standard sand shall be of quartz material
Colour of the standard sand is light grey or whitish
It should be free from silt
The sand grains should be angular, but a small percentage of flaky or rounded particle is permissible

Particle Size Distribution of Standard Sand

All the particles of standard sand fall within the size range of 2 mm to 90 micron (as mentioned in the
table below)Particle Size
Percentage
2 mm to 1 mm
33.33%

1 mm to 500 micron 33.33%

500 micron to 90 micron
33.33%
INITIAL AND FINAL SETTING TIME OF CEMENT-10+ IMPORTANT NOTES TO REMEMBER
1.It is essential that cement set neither too rapidly nor too slowly. In the first case there might be
insufficient time to transport and place the concrete before it becomes too rigid. In the second case too
long a setting period tends to slow up the work unduly, also it might postpone the actual use of the
structure because of inadequate strength at the desired age.
o Setting should not be confused with hardening, which refers to the gain in mechanical strength after
the certain degree of resistance to the penetration of a special attachment pressed into it.
o

Setting time is the time required for stiffening of cement paste to a defined consistency.

o Indirectly related to the initial chemical reaction of cement with water to form aluminum-silicate
compound.
o

Initial setting time is the time when the paste starts losing its plasticity.

Initial setting time test is important for transportation, placing and compaction of cement concrete.

Initial setting time duration is required to delay the process of hydration or hardening.

Final setting time is the time when the paste completely loses its plasticity.

o It is the time taken for the cement paste or cement concrete to harden sufficiently and attain the
shape of the mould in which it is cast.
o

Determination of final setting time period facilitates safe removal of scaffolding or form.

During this period of time primary chemical reaction of cement with water is almost completed.