ASTM C88-99a

Standard Test Method for Soundness of Aggregates by Use of Sodium Sulfate or Magnesium Sulfate

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the testing of aggregates to estimate their soundness when subjected to weathering action in concrete or other applications. This is accomplished by repeated immersion in saturated solutions of sodium or magnesium sulfate followed by oven drying to partially or completely dehydrate the salt precipitated in permeable pore spaces. The internal expansive force, derived from the rehydration of the salt upon re-immersion, simulates the expansion of water on freezing. This test method furnishes information helpful in judging the soundness of aggregates when adequate information is not available from service records of the material exposed to actual weathering conditions.  
1.2 The values given in parentheses are provided for information purposes only.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address the safety problems 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Mar-1999
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.20 - Aggregates

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM C88-05 - Standard Test Method for Soundness of Aggregates by Use of Sodium Sulfate or Magnesium Sulfate
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2005
• Referred By: ASTM F2747-19 - Standard Guide for Construction of Sand-based Rootzones for Golf Putting Greens and Tees
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1999
• Referred By: ASTM F2396-11(2019) - Standard Guide for Construction of High Performance Sand-Based Rootzones for Athletic Fields
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1999
• Referred By: ASTM C567/C567M-19 - Standard Test Method for Determining Density of Structural Lightweight Concrete
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E2788/E2788M-18 - Standard Specification for Use of Expanded Shale, Clay and Slate (ESCS) as a Mineral Component in the Growing Media and the Drainage Layer for Vegetative (Green) Roof Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1999

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:C88–99a
Standard Test Method for
Soundness of Aggregates by Use of Sodium Sulfate or
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Magnesium Sulfate
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationC 88;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
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1. Scope D 75 Practice for Sampling Aggregates
D 3665 Practice for Random Sampling of Construction
1.1 This test method covers the testing of aggregates to
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Materials
estimate their soundness when subjected to weathering action
E 11 Specification for Wire Cloth Sieves for Testing Pur-
in concrete or other applications. This is accomplished by
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poses
repeated immersion in saturated solutions of sodium or mag-
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E 100 Specification for ASTM Hydrometers
nesium sulfate followed by oven drying to partially or com-
E 323 Specification for Perforated-Plate Sieves for Testing
pletely dehydrate the salt precipitated in permeable pore
4
Purposes
spaces. The internal expansive force, derived from the rehy-
dration of the salt upon re-immersion, simulates the expansion
3. Significance and Use
of water on freezing. This test method furnishes information
3.1 This test method provides a procedure for making a
helpful in judging the soundness of aggregates when adequate
preliminary estimate of the soundness of aggregates for use in
information is not available from service records of the
concrete and other purposes. The values obtained may be
material exposed to actual weathering conditions.
compared with specifications, for example Specification C 33,
1.2 The values given in parentheses are provided for infor-
that are designed to indicate the suitability of aggregate
mation purposes only.
proposedforuse.Sincetheprecisionofthistestmethodispoor
1.3 This standard does not purport to address the safety
(Section 12), it may not be suitable for outright rejection of
problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the
aggregates without confirmation from other tests more closely
user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
related to the specific service intended.
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
3.2 Values for the permitted-loss percentage by this test
tions prior to use.
methodareusuallydifferentforfineandcoarseaggregates,and
2. Referenced Documents attention is called to the fact that test results by use of the two
salts differ considerably and care must be exercised in fixing
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 properlimitsinanyspecificationsthatincluderequirementsfor
C 33 Specification for Concrete Aggregates
these tests. The test is usually more severe when magnesium
C 136 Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse
2 sulfate is used; accordingly, limits for percent loss allowed
Aggregates
when magnesium sulfate is used are normally higher than
C 670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
2 limits when sodium sulfate is used.
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
C 702 Practice for Reducing Samples of Aggregate to
NOTE 1—Refer to the appropriate sections in Specification C 33 estab-
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Testing Size
lishing conditions for acceptance of coarse and fine aggregates which fail
to meet requirements based on this test.
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ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeC-9onConcrete
and ConcreteAggregatesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.20 on
Normal Weight Aggregates.
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Current edition approved March 10, 1999. Published June 1999. Originally Annual Book of ATSM Standards, Vol 04.03.
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published as C 88 – 31 T. Last previous edition C 88 – 99. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
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Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.03.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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C88
4. Apparatus 5.1.1 Sodium Sulfate Solution—Prepare a saturated solution
ofsodiumsulfatebydissolvingaUSPorequalgradeofthesalt
4.1 Sieves—With square openings of the following sizes
in water at a temperature of 77 to 86°F (25 to 30°C). Add
conforming to Specifications E 11 or E 323, for sieving the
sufficient salt (Note 4), of either the anhydrous (Na SO )orthe
2 4
samples in accordance with Sections 6, 7, and 9:
6
crystalline (Na SO ·10H O) form, to ensure not only satura-
2 4 2
5
150 µm (No. 100) 8.0 mm ( ⁄16 in.)
tion but also the presence of excess crystals when the solution
3
9.5mm( ⁄8 in.)
1
300 µm (No. 50) 12.5 mm ( ⁄2 in.)
is ready for use in the tests. Thoroughly stir the mixture during
5
16.0mm( ⁄8 in.)
the
...