Laboratory Experiment: 6: Fineness of Cement I. Objectives

Fineness of Cement
Laboratory Experiment: 6
I. Objectives:
Calculates the fineness of cement by sieving. The fineness of cement has an important bearing on the
rate of hydration and hence on the rate of gain of strength and also on the rate of evolution of heat.
II. Apparatus:
90 micron sieve
Lid
Weighing balance
Cement sample
Scoop
Mould / pan
III. Set – Up:

IV. Theory of Discussion:
V. Procedure:
1. Weight accurately 100 gm of cement and place it in 90 micron sieve. Breakdown any air
lumps in a sample with fingers without rubbing them on sieve.
2. Place weigh cement on the sieve, being careful to avoid loss. Disperse any
agglomerates. Fit the lid over the sieve.
3. Continuously sieve sample by holding the sieve in both hand and giving wrist
motion until no more fine material possess through it.
4. Weigh the residue left on the sieve after sieving and note down it
5. Repeat all the process that has done in the previous steps and take average of them
VI. Data and Results:
Description Values
Weight of cement, gm 100gm
Weight of cement retained on 90 micron IS sieve, gm 3.38 gram
% weight of residue (2/1 x 100) 3.38
Average value 3.38 %
VII. Sample Computation:
% weight of residue= (2/1 x 100)

% weight of residue= (3.38 gram/100gram x 100)
% weight of residue= (0.0338gram x 100)

% weight of residue= 3.38 %
Average value= 3.38 %/1

Average value= 3.38 %
VIII. Observation and Interpretation:
As an observation, the fineness of cement is just one of the properties of cement that needs to be
observed and followed in order to maximize and to be consistent to where the cement is to be used.
And the fineness of cement is a measure of the size of the cement-particles. In the sieve analysis of the
cement, the fineness of cement is calculated by using the ratio of the weight of the cement to the
samples which are retained on the sieve with the total weight of the cement to the sample. Thus, there
is no unit in the fineness of cement. The researcher in the video we have watched found presence of
residue after sieving the sample cement within a given minute time frame. The residues appeared
larger, and varied in shape than the cement that had pass through the sieve. After the sieving, I have
also observed that the cement became smoother and finer in texture. As shown within the
computations, the weight of the residue is an essential variable to measure the fineness of the cement.
With one trial, they managed to obtain the acceptable percentages of the fineness of cement.
Additionally, I have observed that some fine cement stick to the sides of the sieve; hence, it should be
removed for the weight of the residue to not be affected which is done by the researcher. Also, no
cement leaked through the instruments because of the proper fitting of the cement. As an
interpretation, the finer the cement, the quicker it reacts to the water and it has a fast development of
strength. And the fineness of cement is a measure of the cement particle size and it is denoted as
terms of the specific surface area of the cement. The fineness test of the cement is done by sieving the
cement sample through the standard IS sieve. The weight of the particles of the cement whose sizes
are greater than the ninety-micron sieve is then determined and the percentage of the retained
cement particles are also calculated. This is known as the fineness of cement. The fineness of cement is
the property of cement which indicates the particle size of the cement and the specific surface area
and thus it is indirectly affecting the heat of the hydration. The fineness of cement affects the hydration
rate, hence the rate of the strength gained.
IX. Conclusion:
My conclusion after the experiment was that I was able to determine the fineness of the cement by
using the sieve method. Based on our results, I have also concluded that the sieving process should be
done properly and carefully. In our data, the average fineness of the fineness of the cement which is in
percent means it has passed the standard because it is clearly not less than the standard percent.
Other sources of errors could come from the carelessness while sieving and from the wrong
calculations, but none of that happened. My other conclusion after the experiment was performed was
that its intention to determine the fineness of cement by sieve method was achieved and all the
necessary data about it were gathered that includes the weight of the sample of the cement and the
weight of the residues which are left on the sieve. Using the formula for determining its fineness, it is
known that the sample of the cement is suitable to be used for the construction as it meets the
standards set by the ASTM. I also conclude that it is very important to know the sieve method of
determining the fineness of cement. It is to assure that the quality of the cement bought from the
manufacturers is in the good condition. Considering the heavy load bearing structures like the bridges,
it is necessary to know whether the cement that will be used in the concrete could provide the
required strength to ensure the safety of those that will be using such structures. One should not just
rely only on the information given by the manufacturers. As a conclusion, I should also compare the
values I have gotten with the standard values from the type of the cement used and give my comments
on the suitability of using the used sample of cement for the purposes of construction. Additionally, as
a conclusion the given sample of the cement contains the weight of the materials coarser than that of
the ninety-micron sieve. Therefore, it satisfies the criterion as specified by the IS code. Furthermore,
the Conclusion of result is that the fineness of cement passes the standard one. The results of the data
for the test conclude that the sample of the cement would be applicable and recommended for the
concrete design according to the Portland Cement Association or in short also known as the PCA and to
the ASTM standards. The lab test had minimal to no error and it followed the outlined procedures by
the ASTM requirements, and had outputted the successful results. As a conclusion of the observation
and remarks, the researcher in the video we have watched found presence of residue after sieving the
sample cement within a given minute time frame. The residues appeared larger, and varied in shape
than the cement that had pass through the sieve. As shown within the computations, the weight of the
residue is an essential variable to measure the fineness of the cement. With one trial, they managed to
obtain the acceptable percentages of the fineness of cement. With the observation and analysis, the
following conclusions were drawn. First, I conclude that the fineness of cement is dependent on how
much residue is present. Lastly, I conclude that the time and the process of the sieving are the two
influential factors in obtaining the greater fineness of cement. Percentage errors included systematic,
technical and instrumental errors. Also, no cement leaked through the instruments because of the
proper fitting of the cement. As fineness of cement laboratory experiment conclusion, the fineness of
cement test conclusion is that the fineness of cement has an important bearing on the rate of the
hydration and hence on the rate of the gain of the strength and also on the rate of the evolution of
heat. The finer cement offers a greater surface area for hydration and hence the faster the
development of the strength. Lastly, as a conclusion, the influence of fineness of cement on the
structural characteristics of normal concretes is that their setting times are shortened as the cement
particle fineness increases. This is due to the fact that the particles of the coarse cement require less
hydration to achieve the equivalent set than the particles of the finer cement. The workability of the
concrete increases with an increase in the fineness of cement. The compressive and the split tensile
strengths of the concrete increases as the particles of the cement increase in fineness from zone to
zone. Also, the finer the cement, the higher the reactiveness of its particle. The compressive strength of
the cement mortar is also increased with an increase in the fineness of the cement particle sizes.

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Fineness of Cement

III. Set – Up:

VI. Data and Results:

VII. Sample Computation:

% weight of residue= (2/1 x 100)

% weight of residue= (0.0338gram x 100)

Average value= 3.38 %/1

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