ASTM C156-20

Standard Test Method for Water Loss [from a Mortar Specimen] Through Liquid Membrane-Forming Curing Compounds for Concrete

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 The moisture retaining ability of a product as determined by this test method is used to assess the suitability of materials for contributing to an appropriate curing environment for concrete. The laboratory test method is used both in formulating and in specifying or qualifying curing products. This test method gives the user a measure of the ability of tested curing materials to impede the escape of water from a hydraulic cement mortar. Since it is desirable to retain water in fresh concrete to promote the hydration process, failure of the product to minimize the escape of water may lead to loss of strength, cracking, shrinkage, or low abrasion resistance of the hardened concrete, or a combination thereof.  
4.2 Many factors affect the laboratory test results. Test results obtained may be highly variable as indicated by the precision statement. Critical factors include the precision of the control of the temperature, humidity and air circulation in the curing cabinet, preparation and sealing of the mortar specimens, the age and surface condition of the mortar specimen when the curing product is applied, and the uniformity and quantity of application of the curing membrane.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers laboratory determination of the ability of liquid membrane-forming compounds for curing concrete to reduce moisture loss from mortar specimens during the early hardening period as a measure of their applicability for curing concrete.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this 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, 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  
1.4 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: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2020
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C09 - Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
• Drafting Committee: C09.22 - Materials Applied to New Concrete Surfaces

Relations

• Refers: ASTM C305-20 - Standard Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2020

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: C156 − 20
Standard Test Method for
Water Loss [from a Mortar Specimen] Through Liquid
1
Membrane-Forming Curing Compounds for Concrete
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C156; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber 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* C150Specification for Portland Cement
C230/C230MSpecification for Flow Table for Use in Tests
1.1 This test method covers laboratory determination of the
of Hydraulic Cement
ability of liquid membrane-forming compounds for curing
C305Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement
concretetoreducemoisturelossfrommortarspecimensduring
Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
the early hardening period as a measure of their applicability
C778Specification for Standard Sand
for curing concrete.
D1475Test Method for Density of Liquid Coatings, Inks,
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
and Related Products
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
D1653Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Or-
standard.
ganic Coating Films
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
D2369Test Method for Volatile Content of Coatings
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the E178Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3. Terminology
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
method, refer to Terminology C125.
(Warning—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic
and may cause chemical burns to skin and tissue upon
4. Significance and Use
2
prolonged exposure.)
4.1 The moisture retaining ability of a product as deter-
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
mined by this test method is used to assess the suitability of
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
materialsforcontributingtoanappropriatecuringenvironment
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
for concrete. The laboratory test method is used both in
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
formulating and in specifying or qualifying curing products.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
This test method gives the user a measure of the ability of
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
tested curing materials to impede the escape of water from a
2. Referenced Documents hydrauliccementmortar.Sinceitisdesirabletoretainwaterin
3
fresh concrete to promote the hydration process, failure of the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
product to minimize the escape of water may lead to loss of
C87Test Method for Effect of Organic Impurities in Fine
strength, cracking, shrinkage, or low abrasion resistance of the
Aggregate on Strength of Mortar
hardened concrete, or a combination thereof.
C125Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Ag-
4.2 Many factors affect the laboratory test results. Test
gregates
results obtained may be highly variable as indicated by the
1 precisionstatement.Criticalfactorsincludetheprecisionofthe
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on
Concrete and ConcreteAggregatesand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
control of the temperature, humidity and air circulation in the
C09.22 on Materials Applied to New Concrete Surfaces.
curing cabinet, preparation and sealing of the mortar
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2020. Published October 2020. Originally
specimens, the age and surface condition of the mortar speci-
approved in 1940. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as C156–17. DOI:
menwhenthecuringproductisapplied,andtheuniformityand
10.1520/C0156-20.
2
Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing,
quantity of application of the curing membrane.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5. Apparatus
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.1 Mechanical Mortar Mixer, as described in Practice
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. C305, or a larger size mixture operating on the same principle.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright
...

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: C156 − 17 C156 − 20
Standard Test Method for
Water Loss [from a Mortar Specimen] Through Liquid
1
Membrane-Forming Curing Compounds for Concrete
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C156; 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 laboratory determination of the ability of liquid membrane-forming compounds for curing concrete
to reduce moisture loss from mortar specimens during the early hardening period as a measure of their applicability for curing
concrete.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (Warning—Fresh hydraulic cementitious mixtures are caustic and may cause
2
chemical burns to skin and tissue upon prolonged exposure.)
1.4 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:
C87 Test Method for Effect of Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregate on Strength of Mortar
C125 Terminology Relating to Concrete and Concrete Aggregates
C150 Specification for Portland Cement
C230/C230M Specification for Flow Table for Use in Tests of Hydraulic Cement
C305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
C778 Specification for Standard Sand
D1475 Test Method for Density of Liquid Coatings, Inks, and Related Products
D1653 Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Organic Coating Films
D2369 Test Method for Volatile Content of Coatings
E178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C09.22 on
Materials Applied to New Concrete Surfaces.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2017Oct. 1, 2020. Published September 2017October 2020. Originally approved in 1940. Last previous edition approved in 20112017
as C156 – 11.C156 – 17. DOI: 10.1520/C0156-17.10.1520/C0156-20.
2
Section on Safety Precautions, Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
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 ----------------------
C156 − 20
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology C125.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 The moisture retaining ability of a product as determined by this test method is used to assess the suitability of materials for
contributing to an appropriate curing environment for concrete. The laboratory test method is used both in formulating and in
specifying or qualifying curing products. This test method gives the user a measure of the ability of tested curing materials to
impede the escape of water from a hydraulic cement mortar. Since it is desirable to retain water in fresh concrete to promote the
hydration process, failure of the product to minimize the escape of water may lead to loss of strength, cracking, shrinkage, or low
abrasion resistance of the hardened concrete, or a combination thereof.
4.2 Many factors affect the laboratory test results. Test results obtained may be highly variable as indicated by the precision
statement. Critical factors include the precision of the
...