5/9/2016

ASTM C191
Standard Test Method for Time of Setting of Hydraulic
Cement by Vicat Needle

Understanding ASTM International Test Procedures

for Cement and Concrete - Staying Up to Standard

Anthony F. Bentivegna, Ph.D., P.E.

May 9, 2016

Outline

Objectives
Related Procedures
Scope/Summary Test Method/Significance and Use
Apparatus
Procedure Manual Vicat
Procedure Automatic Vicat
Calculation
Understand Limitations of Procedure

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Objectives

Define Key Terminology

Identify Necessary Equipment
Understand Sources of Errors
Understand Limitations of Procedure

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Related Procedures

ASTM C150 Specification for Portland Cement

ASTM C151 Test Method for Autoclave Expansion of
Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C183 Practice for Sampling and the Amount of
Testing of Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C187 Test Method for Amount of Water Required
for Normal Consistency of Hydraulic Cement Paste
ASTM C219 Terminology Relating to Hydraulic Cement
ASTM C266 Test Method for Time of Setting of Hydraulic-
Cement Paste by Gillmore Needles
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Related Procedures
ASTM C305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic
Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
ASTM C511 Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist
Cabinets, Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in
the Testing of Hydraulic Cements and Concretes
ASTM C595 Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements
ASTM C1005 Specification for Reference Masses and
Devices for Determining Mass and Volume for Use in the
Physical Testing of Hydraulic Cements
ASTM C1157 Performance Specification for Hydraulic
Cements
ASTM D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
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Scope

These test methods determine the time of

setting of hydraulic cement by means of the
Vicat needle. Two test methods are given;
Method A is the Reference Test Method using the
manually operated standard Vicat apparatus, while
Method B permits the use of an automatic Vicat
machine that has, in accordance with the qualification
requirements of this method, demonstrated
acceptable performance.

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Summary of Test Method

A paste that is proportioned and mixes to

normal consistency is molded and placed in a
moist cabinet and allowed to start setting
Periodic penetration tests are performed on
this paste by allowing a 1-mm Vicat needle to
settle into the past

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Summary of Test Method

Initial time of set is the time elapsed between

the initial contact of cement and water and the
time when the penetration is measured to be 25
mm
Final time of set is the time elapsed between
the initial contact of cement and water and the
time when the needle does not leave a complete
circular impression in the paste surface

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Significance and Use

This test method provides a means of

determining compliance with a specification limit
for Vicat time of setting.
Time of setting measured by this method will not
necessarily provide the same results as the time
of setting by other methods.

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Apparatus

Vicat Apparatus
Scale: accuracy up to a total load of 1000 g
Glass graduates: 200 or 250 mL capacity
Plane non-adsorptive plate: 100 5 mm square
Flat Trowel: with blade 100 to 150 mm in length
Conical Ring: rigid, non-corroding, non-absorbent
Mixer, bowl, and paddle
Specimen Mold

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Apparatus: Vicat

Manual Vicat Automatic Vicat

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Reagents and Materials

Mixing water
Potable water is satisfactory for routine tests
For referee and cooperative tests use water
conforming to ASTM D1193 for Type III or Type IV
grade reagent water

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Conditioning

Maintain the temperature of the air in the

vicinity at 23.0 3.0C
Maintain the temperature of the mixing water
at 23.0 2.0C
The relative humidity of the mixing room shall
not be less than 50%
The moist cabinet shall be in accordance with
ASTM C511

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Preparation of Cement Paste

Can prepare a new batch of paste by mixing 650 g

of cement with the proper percentage of water
required for normal consistency (ASTM C187)
Can use the specimen used for determining normal
consistency for Method A only

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Molding the test

specimen
Quickly form the cement
paste into a ball and toss
six times from one
hand to the other
maintaining hands about
150 mm apart

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Molding the test

specimen
Press the ball into the
larger end of the conical
ring, completely filling the
ring with paste

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Molding the test

specimen
Remove the excess at the
larger end by a single
movement of the palm

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Molding the test

specimen
Place the ring on its
larger end onto the
non-absorptive plate

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Molding the test

specimen
Slice off the excess paste
at the smaller end of at the
top of the ring by a single
stroke of the trowel

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Molding the test

specimen
Smooth the top of the
specimen with one or two
light touches of the
pointed end of the trowel
During the operation of
cutting and smoothing
take care not to compress
the paste

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Immediately after molding, place the test

specimen in the moist cabinet or moist room
Keep it there except when penetration
measurements are being made
The test specimen will remain in the conical
mold and supported by the non-absorptive plate
throughout the testing

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Time of setting determination

Determine the penetration of the 1-mm needle after
30 minutes,
and every 15 minutes thereafter until a penetration of
25 mm or less is obtained
Every 10 minutes for Type III cements

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

C
A: frame
B
B: movable rod
C: plunger end of rod
F
D: removable steel needle
E: set screw E

F: adjustable indicator D A
A
G: conical ring G

H: non-absorptive plate H

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

C
Penetration Test
B
Lower needle D of the
rod B until it rests on
the cement paste
F

D A
A
G

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

C
Penetration Test
B
Tighten the setscrew E
and set the indicator F
at the upper end of the
F
scale
Or take an initial E
reading
D A
A
G

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

C
Penetration Test
B
Release the rod quickly
by releasing the
setscrew E
F
Allow the needle to
settle for 30 seconds E

Take a reading to D A
A
determine penetration
G

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Time of setting determination

Make each penetration test at least 5 mm away from
any previous penetrations and at least 10 mm away
from the inner side of the mold

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Time of setting determination

Record the results of all penetration tests and by
interpolation determine the time when a penetration
of 25 mm is obtained.
The elapsed time between the initial contact of
cement and water and the penetration of 25 mm is
the Vicat time of setting or Vicat initial time of setting

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Final time of setting determination

The end point to be the first penetration measurement
that does not mark the specimen surface with a
complete circular impression
Verify the final set by performing two additional
penetration measurements on different areas within
90 seconds of the first recorded final set
The elapsed time between the initial contact of
cement and water and end point determination is the
Vicat final time of setting

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Method A Manual Vicat Needle Apparatus

Precautions
Keep all the apparatus free from vibration during
testing
Keep the 1-mm needle straight and clean
To prevent cement from adhering to the sides of the needle and
decreasing penetration
To prevent cement from adhering to the point and increasing
penetration

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Method B Automatic Vicat

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