Update on ASTM

C150/AASHTO M 85
Harmonization
Justin Lashley, Lafarge
Joe Clendenen, Holcim
 Outline/Purpose
„ Antitrust
„ Background of Harmonization
„ What needed to be harmonized?
„ How did we harmonize?
„ Example Material Certification
„ MnDOT Perspective – Maria Masten
What is a specification?
 What is a specification?
„ Represents agreement based upon:
„ Owner
„ User

„ Producer
 Background of Harmonization
„ Joint effort between:
„ Owners/Specifiers – Transportation Officials,
Engineers
„ Users – Concrete Producers, Contractors

„ Cement Producers

„ Effective July 2009 Editions of ASTM C150 and

AASHTO M 85
 Cement Market Drivers
„ Owner Expectations
„ Durability, Economy
„ Product Performance Demands
„ Environmental Regulation/Sustainability
„ Clinker/ton (CO2) Reduction
„ Reduction in emissions, embodied energy, etc.
 Why Harmonize?
„ Two Specifications – One Purpose
„ ASTM C150
„ AASHTO M 85

„ Problem: Cement crosses borders, limited

number of products can be supplied, so cement
is designed to meet both, generally.
„ Solution: Have consistent requirements that
meet collective needs.
 Why Harmonize?
„ ASTM – American Society of Testing and
Materials
„ Composed of all aspects of industry

„ AASHTO – American Association of State

Highway and Transportation Officials
„ Highway and Transportation Officials
 Specification Differences
AASHTO ASTM
Provision M 85-04 C150-04a
Max Fineness (Blaine):

Single Sample 420 [I, II, IV, V] No Limit

Average of 5 400 [I, II, IV, V] No Limit

Type II max C3S 58 No Limit

Processing No Prescriptive Limit

Additions Max 1%
Use of Limestone Not permitted Up to 5%
 Specifications Differences
„ Process Additions?
„ Organic: Typically grinding Aids
„ Inorganic: Slag, fly ash, etc.
 How do we Harmonize?
„ Can we agree on specifications and how?
„ We want to know what is in our cement and what
the effects could be!!
„ Industry Steering Committee
„ National Cooperative Highway Research Program
NCHRP Report 607
 NCHRP Report 607
„ Literature Review
„ Testing
„ Cement paste
„ Mortars

„ Concrete

„ Over $500,000
„ Almost 2 years to complete
NCHRP Report 607 Conclusions
„ Process Additions
„ Found no effects at 1% or less (Inorganic and
Organic)
„ Virtually no detrimental effects up to 5% (Inorganic)

„ Additions can typically benefit early performance by:

„ Acting as nucleation sites
„ Densification of the interfacial zone
 NCHRP Report 607
We have the process addition results and we agree that
additions should be allowed, now let’s

Harmonize

But we still want to know what is in our cement and what

the impact on performance will be
 Harmonize
ASTM C150 and AASHTO M 85
„ Processing additions
„ Inorganic Process Additions (IPA): Slag, fly ash, etc.
„ Must qualify if >1%
„ Maximum 5%
„ Only 1 IPA allowed
„ Must list on mill report
„ Organic Process Additions (OPA): Typically grinding aids
„ Must qualify
„ Maximum 1%

„ What does qualify mean?

 Qualify?
„ ASTM C465/AASHTO M 327
„ Equivalent documents

„ Industrial Trial-plant testing

„ Special grind
„ Cement with addition compared to cement without
addition (control cement)

„ Involved process-not easy

 Qualify?
„ Results compared to cement without addition

„ Cement Testing
„ Setting time
„ Mortar strength

„ Concrete Testing
„ Compressive strengths
„ Flexural strength
 Harmonized
„ We agree on process additions
„ Inorganic Process Additions (IPA): Slag, fly ash, etc.
„ Must qualify if >1%
„ Maximum 5%
„ Only 1 IPA allowed
„ Must list on mill report

„ Organic Process Additions (OPA): Typically grinding aids

„ Must qualify
„ Maximum 1%

„ Same chemical and physical requirements as before

 Current Specifications
AASHTO ASTM AASHTO M 85-09
Provision M 85-04 C150-04a ASTM C150-09
Max Fineness (Blaine):

Single Sample 420 [I, II, IV, V] No Limit 430 [II (MH)*, IV]
Average of 5 400 [I, II, IV, V] No Limit None

Type II max C3S 58 No Limit Type II(MH)

4.75C3A+C3S≤100

Processing No Prescriptive Organic ≤ 1%

Additions Max 1% Limit Inorganic ≤ 5%
Use of Limestone Not permitted Up to 5% Up to 5%

*Exemption for low heat index Type II (MH) 4.75C3A+C3S≤90

Example Mill Cert