ASTM C40/C40M-20

Standard Test Method for Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregates for Concrete

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This test method is used in making a preliminary determination of the acceptability of fine aggregates with respect to the requirements of Specification C33/C33M that relate to organic impurities.  
4.2 The principal value of this test method is to furnish a warning that injurious amounts of organic impurities may be present. When a sample subjected to this test produces a color darker than the standard color it is advisable to perform the test for the effect of organic impurities on the strength of mortar in accordance with Test Method C87/C87M.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Jan-2020
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.20 - Aggregates

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: C40/C40M − 20 American Association State
Highway and Transportation Officials Standard
AASHTO No.: T 21
Standard Test Method for
1
Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregates for Concrete
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C40/C40M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method covers two procedures for an approxi- 3.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to
mate determination of the presence of injurious organic impu- Terminology C125.
rities in fine aggregates that are to be used in hydraulic cement
4. Significance and Use
mortar or concrete. One procedure uses a standard color
4.1 This test method is used in making a preliminary
solution and the other uses a glass color standard.
determination of the acceptability of fine aggregates with
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
respect to the requirements of Specification C33/C33M that
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
relate to organic impurities.
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
4.2 The principal value of this test method is to furnish a
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
warning that injurious amounts of organic impurities may be
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
present. When a sample subjected to this test produces a color
with the standard.
darker than the standard color it is advisable to perform the test
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
for the effect of organic impurities on the strength of mortar in
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
accordance with Test Method C87/C87M.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
5. Apparatus
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5.1 Bottles—Colorless glass or plastic graduated bottles,
approximately 240 to 470-mL [8 to 16-oz] nominal capacity,
2. Referenced Documents
equipped with watertight stoppers or caps, not soluble in the
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
specified reagents. In no case shall the maximum outside
C33/C33M Specification for Concrete Aggregates
thickness of the bottles, measured along the line of sight used
C87/C87M Test Method for Effect of Organic Impurities in
for the color comparison, be greater than 63.5 mm [2.5 in.] or
Fine Aggregate on Strength of Mortar
less than 38.1 mm [1.5 in.]. Replace bottles when no longer
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
colorless due to use.
gregates
5.2 Standard Color Solution Level—75 mL [2.5 oz (U.S.
C702/C702M Practice for Reducing Samples of Aggregate
fluid)],
to Testing Size
5.3 Fine Aggregate Level—130 mL [4.5 oz (U.S. fluid)], and
D75/D75M Practice for Sampling Aggregates
D1544 Test Method for Color of Transparent Liquids (Gard-
5.4 NaOH Solution Level—200 mL [7 oz (U.S. fluid)].
ner Color Scale)
5.5 Glass Color Standard
5.5.1 Glass standard colors shall be used as described in
Table 1 of Test Method D1544.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
NOTE 1—A suitable instrument consists of five glass color standards
Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
mounted in a plastic holder. Only the glass identified as Gardner Color
C09.20 on Aggregates.
Standard No. 11 is to be used as the Glass Color Standard in 10.2.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2020. Published February 2020. Originally
approved in 1921. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as C40/C40M–19. DOI:
6. Reagent and Standard Color Solution
10.1520/C0040_C0040M-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
6.1 Reagent Sodium Hydroxide Solution (3 %)—Dissolve 3
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
parts by mass of reagent grade sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in 97
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. parts of water.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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C40/C40M − 20
6.2 Standard Color Solut
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: C40/C40M − 19 C40/C40M − 20 American Association State
Highway and Transportation Officials Standard
AASHTO No.: T 21
Standard Test Method for
1
Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregates for Concrete
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C40/C40M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers two procedures for an approximate determination of the presence of injurious organic impurities
in fine aggregates that are to be used in hydraulic cement mortar or concrete. One procedure uses a standard color solution and
the other uses a glass color standard.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C33/C33M Specification for Concrete Aggregates
C87/C87M Test Method for Effect of Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregate on Strength of Mortar
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
C702/C702M Practice for Reducing Samples of Aggregate to Testing Size
D75/D75M Practice for Sampling Aggregates
D1544 Test Method for Color of Transparent Liquids (Gardner Color Scale)
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology C125.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This test method is used in making a preliminary determination of the acceptability of fine aggregates with respect to the
requirements of Specification C33/C33M that relate to organic impurities.
4.2 The principal value of this test method is to furnish a warning that injurious amounts of organic impurities may be present.
When a sample subjected to this test produces a color darker than the standard color it is advisable to perform the test for the effect
of organic impurities on the strength of mortar in accordance with Test Method C87/C87M.
5. Apparatus
5.1 Bottles—Colorless glass or plastic graduated bottles, approximately 240 to 470-mL [8 to 16-oz] nominal capacity, equipped
with watertight stoppers or caps, not soluble in the specified reagents. In no case shall the maximum outside thickness of the
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.20 on
Aggregates.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2019Jan. 15, 2020. Published February 2019February 2020. Originally approved in 1921. Last previous edition approved in 20162019
as C40/C40M–16.–19. DOI: 10.1520/C0040_C0040M-10.10.1520/C0040_C0040M-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C40/C40M − 20
bottles, measured along the line of sight used for the color comparison, be greater than 63.5 mm [2.5 in.] or less than 38.1 mm
[1.5 in.]. Replace bottles when no longer colorless due to use.
5.2 Standard Color Solution Level—75 mL [2.5 oz (U.S. fluid)],
5.3 Fine Aggregate Level—130 mL [4.5 oz (U.S. fluid)], and
5.4 NaOH Solution Level—200 mL [7 oz (U.S. fluid)].
5.5 Glass Color Standard
5.5.1 Glass standard colors shall be used as described in Table 1 of Test Method D1544.
NOTE 1—A suitable instrument consists of five glass color standards mounted in a plastic holder. Only the glass identified as Gardner Color Standard
No. 11 is to be used as the Glass Color Standard in 10.2.
6. Reagent and Standard Color Solution
6.1 Reagent Sodium Hydroxide Solution (3 %)—Dissolve 3 par
...