ASTM C359-20

Standard Test Method for Early Stiffening of Hydraulic-Cement (Mortar Method)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The purpose of this test method is to determine the degree to which a cement mortar develops early stiffening. It is intended for use by those interested in methods for determining the potential early stiffening of hydraulic-cement.  
5.2 When used for estimating the relative tendency of a cement to manifest early stiffening, a judgment may be made by comparing the behavior in the penetration series (see 10.4.1 and 10.4.2) and the remix procedure (see 10.4.3) to differentiate a relatively less serious and less persistent tendency to early stiffening (false set) from one that is more persistent and, consequently, more serious (flash set).  
5.3 Severe false setting in a cement may cause difficulty from a placing and handling standpoint, but it is not likely to cause difficulties where concrete is mixed for a longer time than usual, as usually occurs in transit mixing, or where it is remixed prior to placing or transporting, in concrete pumping operations. It is most likely noticed where concrete is mixed for a short period of time in stationary mixers and transported to the forms in non-agitating equipment, as on some paving jobs, and when concrete is made in an on-site batch plant.  
5.4 Cements with severe false setting usually require slightly more mixing water to produce the same consistency, which may result in slightly lower strengths and increased drying shrinkage.  
5.5 Early stiffening resulting from false set is not likely to cause a cement to fail the applicable time of setting requirement.  
5.6 Early stiffening resulting from flash set, depending on severity, can cause a cement to fail the applicable time of setting requirement.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of early stiffening in hydraulic-cement mortar.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.  
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. (Warning—Fresh hydraulic-cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure.2)  
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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2020
• ICS: 91.100.10 - Cement. Gypsum. Lime. Mortar
• Technical Committee: C01 - Cement
• Drafting Committee: C01.30 - Time of Set

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: C359 − 20
Standard Test Method for
1
Early Stiffening of Hydraulic-Cement (Mortar Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C359; 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* mal Consistency of Hydraulic Cement Paste
C305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement
1.1 This test method covers the determination of early
Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
stiffening in hydraulic-cement mortar.
C511 Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets,
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the
standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are
Testing of Hydraulic Cements and Concretes
provided for information only and are not considered standard.
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
for Test Methods for Construction Materials
1.3 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes C778 Specification for Standard Sand
C1005 Specification for Reference Masses and Devices for
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
as requirements of the standard. Determining Mass and Volume for Use in the Physical
Testing of Hydraulic Cements
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
E2251 Specification for Liquid-in-Glass ASTM Thermom-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
eters with Low-Hazard Precision Liquids
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3. Terminology
(Warning—Fresh hydraulic-cementitious mixtures are caustic
and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon
3.1 Definitions:
2
prolonged exposure. )
3.1.1 early stiffening, n—the early development of stiffness
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
in the working characteristics of a hydraulic-cement paste,
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
mortar, or concrete; varieties include false set and flash set.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.1.2 false set, n—the early development of stiffness in the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
working characteristics of a hydraulic-cement paste, mortar, or
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
concrete without the evolution of much heat, which stiffness
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
can be dispelled and plasticity regained by further mixing
without addition of water; also known as “grab set,” “prema-
2. Referenced Documents
ture stiffening,” “hesitation set,” and “rubber set.”
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.3 flash set, n—the early development of stiffness in the
C183/C183M Practice for Sampling and the Amount of
working characteristics of a hydraulic-cement paste, mortar, or
Testing of Hydraulic Cement
concrete, usually with the evolution of considerable heat,
C185 Test Method for Air Content of Hydraulic Cement
which stiffness cannot be dispelled nor can the plasticity be
Mortar
regained by further mixing without addition of water; also
C187 Test Method for Amount of Water Required for Nor-
known as “quick set.”
4. Summary of Test Method
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C01 on Cement
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.30 on Time of Set.
4.1 Amortar is prepared with the cement to be tested, using
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2020. Published November 2020. Originally
specifiedquantitiesofcement,standardsand,andanamountof
approved in 1955. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as C359 – 18. DOI:
water that will produce a mortar with an initial penetration of
10.1520/C0359-20
2
46 63mm,usingthemodifiedVicatapparatus.Measurements
Section on Safety, Manual of Cement Testing, Annual Book of ASTM
Standards, Vol 04.01.
of penetration are made at stipulated intervals after the begin-
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
ning of the mixing procedure. Upon completion of the first
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
series of penetration measurements, the mortar is returned to
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. the mixer to be remixed. Following the remix procedure, an
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive,
...

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: C359 − 18 C359 − 20
Standard Test Method for
Early Stiffening of Hydraulic Cement Hydraulic-Cement
1
(Mortar Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C359; 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 the determination of early stiffening in hydraulic-cement mortar.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to
inch-pound units that after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered 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.
Warning: Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon prolonged
2
exposure.
1.3 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
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. (Warning—Fresh hydraulic-cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause chemical burns
2
to skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure. )
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
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C183/C183M Practice for Sampling and the Amount of Testing of Hydraulic Cement
C185 Test Method for Air Content of Hydraulic Cement Mortar
C187 Test Method for Amount of Water Required for Normal Consistency of Hydraulic Cement Paste
C305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C01 on Cement and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C01.30 on Time of Set.
Current edition approved Oct. 15, 2018Oct. 1, 2020. Published November 2018November 2020. Originally approved in 1955. Last previous edition approved in 20132018
as C359 – 13.C359 – 18. DOI: 10.1520/C0359-18 .10.1520/C0359-20
2
Section on Safety, Manual of Cement Testing, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01.
3
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.
*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 ----------------------
C359 − 20
C511 Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets, Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of Hydraulic
Cements and Concretes
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for Construction Materials
C778 Specification for Standard Sand
C1005 Specification for Reference Masses and Devices for Determining Mass and Volume for Use in the Physical Testing of
Hydraulic Cements
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
E2251 Specification for Liquid-in-Glass ASTM Thermometers with Low-Hazard Precision Liquids
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 early stiffening, n—the early development of stiffness in the working characteristics of a hydraulic-cement paste, mortar, or
concrete; varieties include false set and flash set.
3.1.2 false set, n—the early development of stiffness in the working characteristics of a hydraulic-cement paste, mortar, or concrete
without the evolution of much heat, which stiffness can be dispelled and plasticity regained b
...