ASTM C204-24
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by Air-Permeability Apparatus
Standard Test Methods for Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by Air-Permeability Apparatus
ABSTRACT
This test method covers determination of the fineness of hydraulic cement, using the Blaine air-permeability apparatus, in terms of the specific surface expressed as total surface area in square centimetres per gram, or square metres per kilogram, of cement. Two test methods are given: test method A is the reference test method using the manually operated standard Blaine apparatus, while test method B permits the use of automated apparatus that has in accordance with the qualification requirements of this test method demonstrated acceptable performance. The Blaine air-permeability apparatus consists essentially of a means of drawing a definite quantity of air through a prepared bed of cement of definite porosity. The permeability cell shall consist of a rigid cylinder, constructed of austenitic stainless steel. The disk shall be constructed of noncorroding metal, and shall fit the inside of the cell snugly. The plunger shall be constructed of austenitic stainless steel and shall fit into the cell. The filter paper disks shall be circular, with smooth edges, and shall have the same diameter as the inside of the cell. The U-tube manometer shall be constructed according to the design indicated. The manometer shall be filled to the midpoint line with a nonvolatile, nonhygroscopic liquid of low viscosity and density. The timer shall have a positive starting and stopping mechanism. The calibration of the air permeability apparatus shall be made using the standard reference material. The automated test method shall employ apparatus designed either on the principles of the Blaine air-permeability method or apparatus based on the air-permeability principles of the Lea and Nurse method. When the specific surface values determined by an automated apparatus are to be used for acceptance or rejection of cement, the method used shall comply with the qualification requirements. When standardization is required in order to achieve agreement between test method A and test method B, the apparatus shall be standardized according to the requirements prescribed.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers determination of the fineness of hydraulic cement, using the Blaine air-permeability apparatus, in terms of the specific surface expressed as total surface area in square centimetres per gram, or square metres per kilogram, of cement. Two test methods are given: Test Method A is the Reference Test Method using the manually operated standard Blaine apparatus, while Test Method B permits the use of automated apparatus that has in accordance with the qualification requirements of this test method demonstrated acceptable performance. Although the test method may be, and has been, used for the determination of the measures of fineness of various other materials, it should be understood that, in general, relative rather than absolute fineness values are obtained.
1.1.1 This test method is known to work well for portland cements. However, the user should exercise judgement in determining its suitability with regard to fineness measurements of cements with densities, or porosities that differ from those assigned to Standard Reference Material No. 114 or No. 46h.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.3 Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous substance that can cause serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for additional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury and/or mercury containing products into your state or country may be prohibited by law.
1.4 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 safe...
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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: C204 − 24 American Association State
Highway and Transportation Officials Standard
AASHTO No.: T 153
Standard Test Methods for
Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by Air-Permeability
1
Apparatus
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C204; 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.
1. Scope* responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
1.1 This test method covers determination of the fineness of
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
hydraulic cement, using the Blaine air-permeability apparatus,
in terms of the specific surface expressed as total surface area 1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
in square centimetres per gram, or square metres per kilogram, dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
of cement. Two test methods are given: Test Method A is the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Reference Test Method using the manually operated standard
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
Blaine apparatus, while Test Method B permits the use of
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
automated apparatus that has in accordance with the qualifica-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
tion requirements of this test method demonstrated acceptable
performance. Although the test method may be, and has been,
2. Referenced Documents
used for the determination of the measures of fineness of
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
various other materials, it should be understood that, in
general, relative rather than absolute fineness values are A582/A582M Specification for Free-Machining Stainless
obtained. Steel Bars
1.1.1 This test method is known to work well for portland
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
cements. However, the user should exercise judgement in
gregates
determining its suitability with regard to fineness measure-
C219 Terminology Relating to Hydraulic and Other Inor-
ments of cements with densities, or porosities that differ from
ganic Cements
those assigned to Standard Reference Material No. 114 or
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
No. 46h.
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the E832 Specification for Laboratory Filter Papers
standard. 3
2.2 NIST Standards:
1.3 Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regu-
No. 46h National Institute of Standards and Technology
latory agencies as a hazardous substance that can cause
Standard Reference Material
serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been
No. 114 National Institute of Standards and Technology
demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to
Standard Reference Material
materials. Caution should be taken when handling mercury
2.3 Other Document:
and mercury containing products. See the applicable product
BS 4359: 1971 British Standard Method for the Determina-
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for additional information. Users
tion of Specific Surface of Powders: Part 2: Air Perme-
should be aware that selling mercury and/or mercury contain-
4
ability Methods
ing products into your state or country may be prohibited by
law.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C01 on Cement the ASTM website.
3
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.25 on Fineness. Available from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2024. Published January 2024. Originally Bureau Dr., Stop 1070, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070, http://www.nist.gov.
4
approved in 1946. Last previous edition approved in 2023 as C204 – 23. DOI: Available from British Standards Institute (BSI), 389 Chiswick High Rd.,
10.1520/C0204-24. London W4 4AL, U.K., http://www.bsi-global.com.
*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
---------------------- Page: 1 ---
...
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: C204 − 23 C204 − 24 American Association State
Highway and Transportation Officials Standard
AASHTO No.: T 153
Standard Test Methods for
Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by Air-Permeability
1
Apparatus
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C204; 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.
1. Scope*
1.1 This test method covers determination of the fineness of hydraulic cement, using the Blaine air-permeability apparatus, in
terms of the specific surface expressed as total surface area in square centimetres per gram, or square metres per kilogram, of
cement. Two test methods are given: Test Method A is the Reference Test Method using the manually operated standard Blaine
apparatus, while Test Method B permits the use of automated apparatus that has in accordance with the qualification requirements
of this test method demonstrated acceptable performance. Although the test method may be, and has been, used for the
determination of the measures of fineness of various other materials, it should be understood that, in general, relative rather than
absolute fineness values are obtained.
1.1.1 This test method is known to work well for portland cements. However, the user should exercise judgement in determining
its suitability with regard to fineness measurements of cements with densities, or porosities that differ from those assigned to
Standard Reference Material No. 114 or No. 46h.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.3 Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous substance that can cause serious
medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution should
be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for
additional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury and/or mercury containing products into your state or country
may be prohibited by law.
1.4 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A582/A582M Specification for Free-Machining Stainless Steel Bars
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C01 on Cement and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.25 on Fineness.
Current edition approved April 1, 2023Jan. 1, 2024. Published May 2023January 2024. Originally approved in 1946. Last previous edition approved in 20182023 as C204 –
ɛ1
1823. . DOI: 10.1520/C0204-23.10.1520/C0204-24.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*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
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C204 − 24
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
C219 Terminology Relating to Hydraulic and Other Inorganic Cements
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for Construction Materials
E832 Specification for Laboratory Filter Papers
3
2.2 NIST Standards:
No. 46h National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Material
No. 114 National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Material
2.3 Other Document:
BS 4359: 1971 British Standard Method for the Determination of Specific Surface of Powders: Part 2: Air Permeability
4
Methods
TEST METHOD A: REFERENCE METHOD
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of
...
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